18.11.2008
As fast as the wind
It’s already two days that Cheminées Poujoulat has been the fastest of the
Vendée Globe fleet. A stampede at 20 knots in the tradewinds is enabling the
haemorrhage in the position report to be stemmed even though, as Bernard
explains, the concertina effects may also work against him in the Doldrums.
It’s the end of the fair…
Cheminées Poujoulat is bolting along making 20 knots of boat speed in 20
knots of NE’ly, a fine tradewind air flow that Bernard has hooked onto and
hopes to keep holding onto for as long as possible. Hoping clearly isn’t
enough though and its through a series of manoeuvres and tricky gybes, that
Stamm is managing to keep his 60 foot Imoca in this favourable breeze. “Of
course it feels good to be able to slip along like this” explains Bernard
during a link-up with his shore crew, “but the leaders have slowed right now
and when they get going again it’s me that will be entering the Doldrums.
We’ll only be able to see if any gains have been made at the exit. As we say
in Brittany, it’s the end of the fair when you start counting the cow pats”.
Whatever the scenario, in the space of 48 hours, Bernard Stamm has made up
219 miles on the head of the race.
A race without any direct rivals
Without any competitors nearby to measure his performance, Bernard Stamm’s
race is proving more complicated. “It’s different, even though I’m trying to
sail as if they were alongside, or just ahead. I’m making sure that I snap
up every opportunity that arises. I’m sailing cleanly, but I’m sailing
another race”. The bowsprit which was repaired in a rush in Les Sables, is
showing no signs of weakness, as is the case with all the repairs performed
during the three day marathon. “I’m keeping an eye on things. Everything
seems to be in good shape and as I’m putting the boat through its paces, I
have no doubt as to the solidity of recent work”.
The Doldrums
The head of the race is already in the clutches of the first effects of the
convergence zone. Cheminées Poujoulat is set to reach this area in 72 hours
time. “I’m monitoring what’s happening with the leaders, but I’m not going
to position myself in relation to their course, even though their trajectory
will give me some indication about the current situation. For me things may
well be different. The Doldrums is moving and, what’s important is where and
how it’s shifting. If it’s very north and it drops down with you, the ordeal
could last several days…”
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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