Press release • 11 juillet 2012
Lined up nicely
With under 900 miles left to sail to the finish line in Brest of
the first KRYS OCEAN RACE, Yann Guichard, the skipper of leading
MOD70 Spindrift racing, considers that strategic options for
their nearest rivals Groupe Edmond de Rothschild and FONCIA are
running out.
With the wind and seas easing slightly Guichard and his crew have
indextained their punishing pace, seemingly still averaging that
consistent 30kts which no other team has managed to sustain with
anything like Spindrift racing's regularity.
With 750 miles, or about 36 hours, to make to the Scilly Isles,
the breeze is rotating back to the SW as they cross the ridge
extending from the Azores high. After FONCIA repositioned
themselves directly in Spindrift's wake, taking a short hitch to
the north late yesterday afternoon, all three are very much in
line now, with a similar course. With his rivals now astern
where they represent less of a threat, the Spindrift racing
skipper said they have been attacking in the more settled sea
state.
Guichard, sounding quietly content when contacted early this
morning stated: "We are much less tired than the previous nights
: it is quieter at this time (0530hrs UTC/GMT) because the sea is
flatter. We've always been fast but it's definitely more
peaceful and we start to attack a little. We will soon be able
to target the Scilly because gradually the wind turns to the
southwest. "
Spindrift racing has close to 70 miles of margin on Seb Josse's
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, with FONCIA lurking only 11 miles
behind them in third.
Time is running out for the leading trio to utilise the KRYS
OCEAN RACE's 'ghost mode', which allows the teams to disappear
from the tracking for three successive rankings. But it must be
used before the longitude of Fastnet Rock and after that line
ghost mode racers reappear.
With few tactical options on the table perhaps it will go unused,
or maybe a team or teams will use it nonetheless?
From the nav station of Musandam-Oman Sail this morning, Sidney
Gavignet reported that they are back sailing at near normal
speeds – using their starboard foil in the port box, but have a
little less wind than the leading trio.
Yann Guichard, skipper of Spindrift racing:
"Last night was a bit calmer and that the sea was much flatter
but the wind is going to build again. We re on a heading for the
Scilly Isles, pretty much on a straight line, port tack and the
wind should build over the next six hours, back up to average 30
knots.&xnbsp; We expect to get to the Scilly by around midday tomorrow
.
Strategically there are not all that many options now, it is a
matter of keeping up the rhythm and try to indextain the speed.
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild and FONCIA are going a little faster
, but we are level in terms of speed.&xnbsp; We make the most of the
daylight to do a boat check and prepare for the strengthening
conditions."
"Next is looking at all the weather files to see how things will
evolve with the weather front that we have been on for the last
few days on what will be a reach to Brest. We have had a bit of
fog and drizzle, it is not quite Breton weather though!"
" We keep an eye on the radar which really show up the squalls
well and then now for the approach will be good for the maritime
traffic. In terms of food, we have been stuck with the freeze
dried stuff and apart from a few apples at the start have not
enjoyed any fresh food."
Check latest position reports at:
[http://www.krys-oceanrace.com/en/race-data.html]
Latest photos:
[http://www.krys-oceanrace.com/en/pictures.html]
Latest videos:
[http://www.krys-oceanrace.com/en/videos.html]
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