23 November 2008
Day 15: A Bumpy Ride South
- A bumpy ride in the South Atlantic as BT pushes south in lumpy seas, holding on to 2nd place 28 miles behind Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) and 11 miles ahead of Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2)
- The current conditions are expected to be in place for next 4 days as Seb looks ahead to the next obstacle on the Vendée Globe race course, the St Helena High pressure zone.
- Jeremie Beyou (Delta Dore), currently lying in 10th place, diverting to coast of Brazil to assess damage to his mast
In detail:
Following the crossing of the Equator on Friday night (Seb joked with his shore team that he had 'no sacrifice for Neptune - he had already given him too much.' ) 2nd placed BT had emerged from the Doldrums unscathed and is currently holding his position, gaining a few miles on the chasing Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec Virbac 2). But there is little between the leading pack of boats - still less than a 100 miles separates the top 9 - as they all push south in the south-easterly Trade Winds averaging around 11-12 knots of boat speed and covering approximately 290-300 miles in 24-hours. Tenth-placed Jeremie Beyou (Delta Dore) is diverting to Recife (Brazil) for an unaided stop to assess damage to his mast as two of his spreaders have detached themselves from the rig.
Conditions on board for Seb will be uncomfortable, slamming into lumpy seas, wet on deck, hot down below, but Seb will have the comfort in knowing that his closest rivals are in exactly the same environment. His index occupation will be ruminating over BT's route through the South Atlantic and getting passed the St Helena High which isn't behaving normally! This enormous area of light winds is usually situated in the eastern part of the south Atlantic closer to the African coast and traditionally the skippers round it to the west to pick up the stronger downwind conditions that will give them the slingshot into the Southern Ocean. But looking 3-4 days ahead the St Helena High is not where it should normally be having moved west and forming a long bubble of no wind is creating a 'wall' for the leaders to get round. "The St Helena High is situated more in the west than its classic location. It completely stands in our way. But in the coming days, it should move back to the east and allow us to find some good downwind condition."
Credit Photos: Thierry Martinez/SeaCo/ BT Seb Josse
|
