Oceanracing 2009 - Transat Jaques Vabre 2009

Transat Jaques Vabre 2009 Le Havre - Costa Rica, Start 7. November 2009
www.jacques-vabre.com - Übersicht

08.11.2009
heading for the sun (ultimately)
The weather had cleared up in Le Havre this morning, bringing a nicely relaxed feel to the Paul Vatine Basin before the boats set off to head for the start line. "The conditions will be good to start off with", said a smiling Seb Josse, "I have my good friend Jeff with me, the boat's on top of her form, so it's all perfect!"

The first 36 hours should prove tactically tricky due to a succession of transition zones, and the BT boys were eager to put brains and muscle at work in order to earn their place in the leading pack right from the begnning. Having taken a nice clean start under gennaker in a weak breeze of around 10 knots, Seb and Jeff were definitely among the frontrunners just minutes after the gun, making the most of their monohull's speed potential downwind in medium conditions. "Seb and I have trained hard, spent long and tough nights at sea, I know my way around the boat and this race is going to be a sprint, we won't have time to get bored I'm sure!" Both men insist on the fact that their complicity is one of their most important strong points, and that it will shape their "watch system": "We don't want to set a fixed schedule, we'll play it by ear", explains Seb. "If I feel perfectly fine at the helm and Jeff is asleep, I'll let him rest and I know he'll do the same for me. It's important to look after each other, to ease the burden whenever possible." The wind is expected to increase significantly this evening, and the already rough sea state - it's been blowing hard on the Channel for a week - should be a bit unpleasant for the first night of the race.

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For further information on the BT Team Ellen contact: Julie Royer, BT Team Ellen Communications Manager, Email: [julie.royer@ocgroup.com], Tel: +44 7501 723 121