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MOD 70 - KRYS OCEAN RACE 2012
www.krys-oceanrace.com - Übersicht
PRess Release • 9 July 2012
Living on the edge
Even the most battle hardened crews have been finding the very
wet going and relentless high speeds tough as the MOD70 fleet
devour the Atlantic miles en route for Brest. With winds of up
to 35kts, it was the hours either side of midnight last night
which saw the speeds again peak at well over 30 knots for
sustained spells, making life exhausting for the five teams as
they pushed the red line constantly.
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Foto: Th.Martinez/Sea&Co
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It was during these most demanding conditions that Yann Guichard
and the crew of Spindrift Racing which includes Pascal Bidégorry
– the skipper who set the current Atlantic record – slid
inexorably into the race lead on their slightly more northerly
routing.
Through Monday Spindrift racing lead over Sébastien Josse's young
crew on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild and Michel Desjoyeaux's
FONCIA has climbed progressively. From 3.6 miles at 2200hrs UTC
last night, by afternoon Spindrift were 23.1 miles ahead, still
showing a speed which reindexs quicker than the next two boats.
Managing the crew physically and mentally starts to be critical
after the first 48 hours of racing. Adrenalin and sheer
motivation will only fuel the crews for so long. All have
reported how hard it is to snatch any kind of restful sleep.
Guichard said early this morning that his crew had their first
freeze dried meal since they left New York on Saturday morning
(local time):
"We got to eat properly until last night when we made our first
freeze-dried meal: it is pretty rock and roll below! We have to
keep our strength up and getting any sleep is proving to be
quite difficult." Guichard reported.
Conditions were due to ease slightly as Monday rolls on, with the
SW'ly breeze expected to drop back to a more manageable 25 kts
and with it some of the sea state which at times has been quite
problematic.
Michel Desjoyeaux's FONCIA reindex firmly in touch, calculated at
less than half a mile behind Groupe Edmond de Rothschild on the
midday rankings, but had dropped a dozen miles during the
afternoon.
The fleet leaders had less than 2000 miles to sail to Brest with
Spindrift reeling off an incredible 639.9 miles 24 hours run to
1300hrs UTC today.
Forecasts suggest that the high speed chase to Brest will
continue for another two days at least, with the MOD70's
enjoying a dream debut spurred by a fast moving front which has
really proven 'to order'.
After leading during the first 24 hours of the KRYS OCEAN RACE
Sidney Gavignet's Musandam-Oman Sail has been forced to back off
on their assault after their port foil failed during Sunday
night. Gavignet reported today that they have had to retrieve
the foil into the boat and have consequently been sailing slower
than their rivals.
"We were going between 30 and 32 knots in about 25 knots of
breeze when we noticed the boat had slowed down and the bow was
digging in deeper than usual," explained Gavignet.
"We didn't feel anything and couldn't see any reason why it did
happen. It is not good news - we are now sailing at 70% of our
potential – the other boats are going at 30 knots but we are at
around 25 which is disappointing but there is nothing we can do
until we get the boat to Brest and have a look. Until then, we
will just keep going."
Stève Ravussin's Race for Water are also compromised after
damaging their centreboard during the first night of racing and
were lying fifth, around 20 miles behind Musandam-Oman Sail.
Quotes:
Sébastien Josse, skipper Groupe Edmond de Rothschild: "We have
had 30 to 35 knots with quite a few squalls and quite a rough
sea with 3 to 3.5 metre swell/waves. Things should ease off a
bit towards the end of the day; well, ease off is a relative
term, as we should get 20 to 25 knots and maybe 2 to 2.5 metre
waves.&xnbsp; Either way it will be a lot easier to sail. There are
patches where the sea state is very disorganised and then others
where it is more regular.&xnbsp; We are doing out best, getting past
this rougher bit so that we can then sail at our optimum. To
ease off we can open the angle a bit and keep in a couple of
reefs and sail with our Solent.&xnbsp; We have not set a speed limit,
but rather work by the feeling of the helm and the sea state,
and gusts need to be dealt with by the helm. We must avoid
putting the boat under too much stress."
Michel Desjoyeaux, skipper FONCIA: " We are going fast and it is
very, very wet.&xnbsp; At the helm and in the cockpit you get swamped
by the waves coming over the boat, so then as soon as you get in
below deck it is wet there too as you need to go below to get
your foul weather gear off.&xnbsp; Wind conditions became stronger
over night but have eased off a bit now.&xnbsp; On the strategic front
, there is not much we can do as we are pretty much all following
the same option.&xnbsp; We are keeping ahead of this front, which is
not bad really because we can indextain the pace and go fast.
For the foreseeable future we stay with these conditions as we
keep ahead of the front. Then we will see how things develop in
two to three days time."
[http://www.krys-oceanrace.com]
13 or 14 July: Estimated Finish
14 July: KRYS OCEAN RACE Prize Givin
16 JULY 2012
BREST CITY RACES
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