24.12.2008
Dominique Wavre (Temenos II) – Vendee Globe:
Another Christmas in the antipodes for Dominique and Temenos II
Christmases seem to be much of a muchness for Dominique. As was the case in
2007, the skipper of Temenos II is currently spending the festive period at
sea, only last year there were two of them aboard and they were competing in
the Barcelona World Race. The crew configuration makes a big difference at
these times where the absence of your nearest and dearest must be
particularly poignant.
A few hours ahead of European climes, Christmas and its wealth of emotions,
as well as its abundance of presents, have taken over the monohull, to the
great delight of her skipper. Contacted at the start of the afternoon,
Dominique had this to say: “I’ve just done a bit of tidying up. I couldn’t
use the chart table anymore with all the parcels! On opening the presents, I
went from laughing to high emotion, all this kindness took me over a bit.”
In order to fully experience this moment of communion, the skipper geared
himself up for a little moment of tranquillity. “I waited for sunset then I
put in a reef and left the pilot to helm so I could open my parcels. I cut
myself off from the boat a bit so my thoughts could centre on my nearest and
dearest. Christmas is a festival which you spend amongst your family. It’s a
privileged moment to think of those we love. You know that they’re thinking
about you too so it’s naturally an emotionally moment.”
The Christmas meal though is something that Dominique is saving for a little
later. “I’ve already succumbed and had a little foie gras and marrons glacés
so I’ll have to make a bit of room in my stomach before I tackle the rest!”
630 miles from Fremantle, Dominique isn’t yet able to give an exact ETA.
Though the Australia stopover is still scheduled between 27th and 28th
December, as Dominique explained yesterday, the high pressure is making
forecasts a little complicated. “A ridge of high pressure will pass over the
top of me. I’m expecting to have a fair amount of light conditions and I
don’t know how the boat will handle in the calms. I’m not ruling out the
fact that I may have to alter course a little. I’ll certainly have to hoist
the large gennaker and I’ll be at the helm if the wind drops below 10 knots,
or I may rely on the engine. I’ll have to find a good way of preventing the
boat from getting too shaken about.”
For the time being Temenos II still has an average of around twenty knots.
“The wind isn’t adhering to the forecasts at the moment. They should be
lighter than they are right now.” Aboard Temenos II, the current weather is
just another little Christmas present for the skipper…
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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