16.11.2008
On the approach to the Cape Verde islands
the fleet is beginning to stretch out lengthways
Last night the top 3 boats, positioned further to the east, were able to
reap the benefits of some steadier winds and made the most of the conditions
to get further away from their direct rivals, which has resulted in some
more substantial separation between them now. The first five boats are now a
hundred miles apart compared with around fifty yesterday.
Though Dominique saluted the performance by the top trio during the radio
session with Press HQ, quite rightly referring to their E’ly effort as a
“bonus for effort”, for his part he is continuing to make a great comeback
in the rankings, gaining another place and snatching thirteenth position.
Despite this Dominique did admit to not having much wind however. Indeed the
low situated further north is upsetting the NE’ly tradewinds and making life
considerably harder for the boats situated further back. The speeds recorded
at the position report confirmed the clear reduction in speed and revealed
the increasing separation.
After sailing at a reduced pace last night, Temenos II will have to make
every effort to cross this unavoidable zone of light wind, which is set to
last for at least the next 24 hours. Talking of “Lake Geneva style
conditions” and a “light zephyr” the Swiss skipper, nevertheless regretted
not being able to benefit from the “light coastal airs” as he did on the
lake.
With over 450m2 of sail aloft, under full indexsail and large gennaker,
Temenos II certainly isn’t lacking horsepower, but she could do with more
wind. “It’s a shame when you realise that all this well-trimmed sail area is
barely managing to propel the boat.”
The light, shifty wind requires incessant trimming and in such conditions
the skipper doesn’t have much time to take care of himself. However, he does
grant himself some 10 minute chunks of sleep and helms a lot. Added to this
he has to remember to set the onboard alarm to wake him, on pain of sinking
into a deep sleep. Any long periods of sleep can only be permitted once the
wind is well established.
The leading boats are set to round the Cape Verde archipelago tonight and
the wind will continue to be steadier for the head of the fleet. However,
managing the disturbances due to the effects of land will be tricky and
doubtless there will be some nice and some not so nice surprises in store
for certain sailors... (the highest point on the archipelago is the Sao
Felipe volcano at 2,829m).
The strategy aboard Temenos II, still some 400 miles away from these
islands, currently consists of shifting onto a more E’ly trajectory in the
hope they’re not caught up and halted by a windless zone taking shape at the
moment. As a result Temenos II is likely to mirror her rivals and pass
between the ten Cape Verde islands.
During the radio session Dominique looked back at his forced return to Les
Sables admitting that he’d headed back into the race “feeling very bad
tempered”. He recognised that this had boosted him in a different way, but
that his motivation and objective had reindexed intact…
A light, typically Swiss break for Dominique who tucks into a good slice of
Cénovis (a Swiss equivalent of Marmite or Vegemite)
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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