19.05.2010
A change of scene
The entry into the Celtic Sea between the North of Cornwall and the South of
Ireland, skirting the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, saw the 9 competitors in
the Normandy Chanel Race experience a sudden switch in conditions. From a
very light W’ly breeze in the Channel, the fleet quickly found themselves,
without a transition zone, in downwind conditions making headway in a SSW’ly
wind increasing to 20 knots. Spinnakers rapidly came to the fore and the
speeds immediately began to soar.
Making an average of nearly 10 knots of boat speed and well positioned for
the next passage mark at the Tuskar Rock lighthouse, to be left to port,
Thomas Ruyant and Tanguy Leglatin were the first to hit the favourable wind
and make good their escape. This morning their lead has stretched to over20
miles ahead of the "Flying Dutchmen" (a nickname given to the Dutch-Belgian
duo Kleinjans-Franssens by the colourful character Halvard Mabire) on
"Moonpalace", and 25 miles ahead of "40 Degrees", skippered by Mabire and
Peter Harding. For the time being the concertina effects are proving
disadvantageous to the rest of the fleet, with "Groupe Partouche" and
"Spliff" bringing up the rear, over 100 miles behind the leaders and only
just clear of Land's End.
Following on from the tiring work of making headway against the wind in the
Channel, the night messages are coloured by the delight of being able to
slip along at speed. However it’s certainly not fair weather sailing with
fog, drizzle, cold and heavy seas in these Irish waters, and the sailors are
having to draw on their physical reserves in a bid to set their medium or
large spinnakers in the big chop and obscurity. It is a high risk and at
times costly exercise, as was the case aboard "Phesheya" (Nick
Legatt-Philippa Hutton Squire) and Novedia Initiative (Tanguy De
Lamotte-Jean Galfione), both victims of spinnaker issues...
Beyond Tuskar Rock, it’s an entirely different scenario on offer to the
protagonists of the Normandy Channel Race, as the head of the fleet make for
the legendary Fastnet with the wind on the nose. Another day, another
setting....
Latest news:
Yvan Noblet returns to race mode!
Message to Sylvie Viant, race director at 0904 GMT from ‘Appart City’: “I
confirm that we’ve managed to repair the stay and untangle the whole thing.
As such we’re making normal headway again towards Tuskar Rock. If we have
any problems sailing upwind I’ll doubtless put into port in Ireland so I can
sort everything out”.
Original plan to retire by Yvan Noblet and David Taboré, since which time
the crew have been able to repair the stay and return to race mode:
Yvan Noblet “Appart City”: “We’ve taken the decision to retire from the
race. A section from the bottom of the stay has come away and all of a
sudden we’ve found ourselves in a position where a dismasting was imminent.
I’ve secured the mast, but in doing so the genoa has wrapped itself around
the stay and the spinnaker’s all jumbled up too. I’m planning to shelter in
Milford River to untangle it all and find a solution for carrying out
repairs”.
>> “Destination Dunkerque” reached Tuskar Rock at 0730 GMT
Follow the Normandy Channel Race by visiting :
http://www.normandy-race.com/, an official
position report will be online each day at 5, 8, 11, 15 and 1900 hours
Rights free photos for the press and web by Jean-Marie Liot
www.jmliot.com
User name: media@ncr2010.com
Password: ncr2010
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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