Normandy Channel Race 2014

Caen, 22.05.-01.06.2014
www.normandy-race.com -Übersicht

28.05.2014
According to weather conditions on the western section of the Irish Sea, Race Management, in agreement with the Race Committee, has decided on
the first change of course after Tuskar Rock: delete Fastnet Rock

The new course after “Tuskar Rock round to port” will be the following : Wolf Rock leave to starboard Lizen Ven Ouest buoy (West cardinal 48°40.53N 004°33.60W) round to port The island of Guernsey round to port Finishing line according to S.I.8.1

Sylvie Viant Direction de Course/Race Management Roland Galliot Président du Comité de Course/Principal Race Officer

News No.6 from this morning – Normandy Channel Race 2014 – 28 May 2014
Patience and perseverance in the Celtic Sea! Patience and perseverance were last night’s watchwords aboard the Class40s competing in the Normandy Channel Race. Patience was key on CONCISE 2 and SWISH for example, neither managing to make it around the south-west tip of the UK until midnight due to a lack of wind and punching tide. Roderick Knowles on SWISH explains: “I’m happy to announce that Concise 2 and ourselves have now managed to escape Land’s End. We had to wait for the tide to turn in our favour and it’s been very frustrating… We’re now sailing on starboard tack in a light north-westerly breeze, but we’re not sure of its strength as our on-board instruments appear to be on strike… 7 knots maybe?”

Perseverance proved more useful on GROUPEMENT FLO skippered by Brieuc Maisonneuve and Rémi Aubrun, who have been holding firmly onto the head of the ranking since yesterday afternoon. Feeling sure of themselves, the skippers from Lower Normandy, left the direct route after Land’s End and persevered with their strategy, which took them towards the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel, to the west of England. A band of breeze accompanied them the whole way and the red and white Class40 has managed to assure her position.

TEAM PICOTY – Lac de Vassivière opted for the same strategy and is currently lying in 6th place. Between the two, the battle is raging with 4 Class40s opting to remain prudent and stay close to the direct route towards Tuskar. CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE (2nd), GDF SUEZ (3rd), L’EXPRESS – TREPIA (4th) and ERDF – Des pieds et Des mains (5th) are keenly awaiting the results of these different options.

The fleet is now being swept by a 10-knot northerly wind, which could pick up as far as Tuskar Rock. “It sure is an intense race, even though Groupement Flo has gone off on a bit of flyer, but there’s still everything to play for as is often the case and that’s just how we like it!” admits Jean-Christophe Caso on TEAM PICOTY – Lac de Vassivière.

Quotes from the boats received this morning:
OBPORTUS - Philippe Burger (2100 GMT): News from the front, not from 3945. The battle is raging. It’s too deep to weigh anchor. Added to that it’s cold. All’s well aboard. We’re stacking the sails to the right and left and forwards and aft so we’re keeping busy. It was a very beautiful sunset though. Until tomorrow.

SWISH - Roderick Knowles (2220 GMT): Hello, I am pleased to report that we and Concise have now managed to escape Land’s End on the tide after a frustrating wait with inadequate wind to take us around against the tide. We are now on starboard tack heading into a light north-westerly - not sure how light as wind instruments have gone on strike, but perhaps 7 knots. Code zero up, we’re currently almost laying Tuskar rock. It is unusually a beautiful night out on the Irish Sea with flat water and rising stars. Last night there were nice shooting stars. Tonight the visibility is good so we can hope.

I did not manage to get a good Internet connection around Land’s End so I am not yet sure how far ahead the others are, but we remain in good spirits and are trying to find out! Bonne nuit!

CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE - Miranda Merron (0200 GMT):
Light and shifty. General park-up at Lizard and Land's End, a close look at Longships, and now the fleet has split in two. Groupement Flo is leading the sightseeing tour to Lundy, and GDF SUEZ and Campagne de France have opted for the Far West tour. Results later today.

GROUPE PICOTY - Lac de Vassivière - Jean-Christophe Caso (0500 GMT):
Hello everyone! Not easy, not easy… A very nice afternoon yesterday, pinned down with 3 knots of wind on flat calm seas. If we were able to make headway as fast as it was pretty on the water, we’d already be at Tuskar almost! It was very pretty so we didn’t make any advances… that’s how it goes.

The early evening was a little better. We decided to head off to the right, along the English coast, for the night, trying to position ourselves for rounding Tuskar, which is what we did in the early hours. Even though we’re on a course taking us straight to our target, there are sure to be some tack changes coming up: after a (superbly starry) night here the battle is sure to be intense again once morning breaks. Groupement Flo has gone off on a bit of flyer but there’s still everything to play for as is often the case, and that’s just how we like it! Enjoy your day. We’re thinking of you! The Picoty boys, Aymeric and JC

ADVANCED ENERGIES - Carac - Louis Duc (1237 GMT): We’ve suffered serious damage but we’re continuing on! On Sunday evening, around 2000 GMT, after a few hours’ racing, we wanted to prepare a hot meal. Damien set the stove going and after a few minutes, the usual flames sparked into life all over… except from the burner… after a quick assessment, the on-board medic deemed it unfit for purpose! To put it plainly, we won’t have anything hot this week. It’s a bit of a shame. The early mornings are still a bit cold, but our dishes can be eaten very easily when they’re cold too…

That’s no excuse for being where we are after a fine battle at the start of the race in the leading pack! We’re off Mount’s Bay accompanied by our friends from Serenis Consulting, waiting for the light SW’ly which is taking its time in coming! Meantime, inland, the others are gently doing a bunk in a small band of breeze along the coast. It’s impossible to go and join them when you’re at a total standstill…!

The light SW’ly did eventually turn up, albeit very late, to carry us on to Land’s End, where we were punching tide in a very, very light breeze… The light anchor was in position on deck and we tried to get as close to the coast as possible so we could protect ourselves from the current and weigh anchor at a reasonable depth. We managed to carry the spinnaker in the apparent wind created by the cross current, which enabled us to crab our way towards the coast and the rocks, the latter of which came very, very close! We tried to catch hold of a crab pot on our way through, but we didn’t make it. Both of us broke out into a cold sweat and we gybed to try and get out of trouble and prevent us drifting and tried to weigh anchor before the rocks around the headland. Fortunately a surprise gust came along and sent us on our way out of trouble past the crab pot… we couldn’t believe it!!

We held onto a little band of wind on the coast for a while, which then enabled us to put in some tacks between the rocks and recover from the counter current as you might do on a sports dinghy along the beach…

In our little nightmarish spell, it was also a very nice little moment slaloming along this superb, wild coastline at the end of the day in glorious sunshine. We could have made a very nice postcard!! We were also accompanied at one point by a rower and some fishermen picking up their pots. Right now we’re still making 2 knots and we reckon we’re happy because it’s pretty much in the right direction. Goodnight all, Louis. Advanced energies Carac.

MS-SAILINGTEAM – Maxime Sorel (0500 GMT): "Hi everyone. We’re breakfasting on MS-SAILINGTEAM / VAINCRE LA MUCOVISIDOSE in a north-westerly wind of 8 to 10 knots, close-hauled, bound for Wales. On this morning’s menu we have crêpes with butter/nutella and a little Earl Grey tea! Early last night we were making very little speed in very little wind, but a 3 to 5-knot north-easterly kicked in and carried us towards Ireland. With regards to the ranking, I think we’re still in on the action. We’re not giving an inch but the boat’s speed potential at certain angles is limited in comparison with the more modern boats. We had some restorative sleep last night, which has done us the world of good! I think we’ll be tacking the whole day long to reach TUSKAR ROCK at the end of the day. We’re listening to the "POGUES" at full volume in the boat to motivate us and give us a foretaste of the Irish coast. Enjoy the start to the day. Maxime SOREL. MS-SAILINGTEAM / VAINCRE LA MUCOVISIDOSE, FRA 45"
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression