25.11.2007
Stamm in the southern hemisphere
Cheminées Poujoulat crossed the equator today at 16 hr 35’ 31’’ (GMT). This
passage enables us to assess the progress made since leaving Les Sables on
13th November at 0325 hrs GMT, that is three days 15 hours and 23 minutes
after the official start of the Vendée Globe. Given the poor conditions
encountered in the Bay of Biscay where Bernard was considerably slowed, we
can observe that Cheminées Poujoulat has indextained identical if not better
averages than a lot of competitors, and that he has made up part of his
deficit on the latter. When Stamm crossed 0 degrees latitude, he had taken
four more hours than Gitana Eighty to make the switch into the southern
hemisphere, along the same course.
Cheminées Poujoulat at the equator later today
Cheminées Poujoulat will this evening be the next to cross into the southern
hemisphere after an express descent of the northern Atlantic. The hot
pursuit began two weeks ago and hasn’t relented. Bernard Stamm is continuing
to force destiny.
The big loop
At the front of the fleet the frontrunners are flying along and although
they’re heading due south, it’s not along the direct course. The reason for
this is the Saint Helena High which, as it happens, is not situated over
Saint Helena but a lot further to the east, off Brazil. This zone is
effectively sealing off direct access to the Cape of Good Hope, which may
bode well for Cheminées Poujoulat and the tail of the race. Indeed, the
boats at the head of the fleet will have to climb up towards the gate after
rounding the zone of high pressure and will probably have to traverse an
area of light winds. Those who come off best from this will open the route
southwards.
The equator in a few hours’ time
For the time being, Bernard Stamm isn’t watching his playmates at the front
of the pack who are 1,000 miles ahead “because it wouldn’t serve any
purpose. On the other hand, I’m clearly watching the evolution of the
weather in this zone. It’s still a long way off and it could change so
quickly that it’s really not worth getting hyped up about it”. Sailing
close-hauled for several days, Cheminées Poujoulat is carving out a route
whilst Bernard Stamm is constantly on top of the trimming. The passage
through the Doldrums proved to be quick but tempestuous, with never any less
than 18 knots of breeze, which was “stressful for the material and the man
alike. In the end though, the 40 miles further west than planned that I
covered whilst sleeping wasn’t as bad as all that in the end, because after
analysing the situation I concluded that it was something I would have done
anyway.”
In a few hours, Bernard will cross the equator. He no longer recalls how
many times he has made this symbolic passage and has no intention of
celebrating it in ostentatious fashion: “I’m not going to buy Neptune a
drink this time; we’re not really on good terms”.
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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