7 December 2008
Day 29: One month since the start and it could not be closer!
In brief:
- BT crossed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope at 0740 GMT yesterday (Saturday, 6.12.08) leading the fleet, and crossed the 2nd obligatory ice gate in the early hours of this morning
- Four weeks into the race, 7,000 miles covered and still distances between the frontrunners reindex incredibly close
- The skippers that chose a more southerly option in the first Southern Ocean storm have made significant gains
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In detail:
On Friday Sébastien spoke of the first Southern Ocean storm that the fleet had encountered delivering 6 metre high waves and strong winds. In these conditions boat preservation is uppermost in a skippers mind but BT survived unscathed, although it proved a tiring time onboard. At 0740 GMT on Saturday morning, BT led the fleet to cross the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope - the first of the three great Southern Ocean Capes.
This morning marks their first month at sea in the Vendée Globe at the distances between the frontrunners reindex incredibly close having covered over 7,000 miles of the course. At 1000 GMT this morning, having traversed the second ice gate, Jean-Pierre Dick onboard Paprec-Virbac 2 had claimed the lead from BT by 38 miles. What is clear is that the boats choosing to ride out the first storm of the Southern Ocean in a more southerly position encountering stronger winds have made advantageous gains. Along with Jean-Pierre Dick, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) is now third just 25 miles behind BT and Mike Golding is 4th - these two skippers enjoying their highest ranking in the race so far.
It is worth remembering that in the last Vendée Globe Mike Golding was 750 miles behind the leader at the same stage of the race and in 8th place - he went on to finish in 3rd! And 2000 Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux who was forced to restart two days later due to technical problems is now only 110 miles behind the leader in 9th place - there is no doubt the 'Professor' is back in the race!
BT is now the most northern boat of the leading group - approximately 60 miles further north of Loick Peyron and Roland Jourdain and 120 miles to the north of Jean-Pierre Dick - heading on a SE course, as opposed to easterly, at around 15 knots of boat speed.
Credit Photos: Thierry Martinez/ SeaCo/ BT Seb Josse
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Julie Royer
BT Team Ellen Communications Manager
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