05.06.2010
http://www.vendeestpetersbourg.tv/directPlayer.php?ids=4c0aa5a4c4f9c&idv=1000&idu=MAN5393805610
Tagesvideo
Vendée - St-Petersburg
Out on Thunder Road
The Channel crossing is a high voltage affair for the two leaders. Aboard their trimarans, Yves Le Blévec (Actual) and Franck-Yves Escoffier (Crêpes Whaou ! 3) have not finished playing cat and mouse with each other in the light airs caused by the thundery low building over the race course. The first to pick up the north-westerly air stream is likely to be the one that makes his getaway. The crew of PiR2, which was dismasted early this afternoon is heading for a Danish port.
You are not likely to find many sailors, who look forward to thunderstorms. Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening... But above all it means they have to face unstable winds on top of this risk. On this return leg from St. Petersburg, it is more and more like a game of Russian roulette in the English Channel. In these conditions, uncertainty will reign concerning the name of the future winner until the finish off the harbour in Saint-Gilles Croix de Vie.
The gang of four splits up
In the North Sea, those chasing after the frontrunners have started to see their speeds climb again, but the ridge of high pressure has left its mark. Région Aquitaine Port-Médoc now has a lead of twenty miles over Naviguez Anne Caseneuve, which in turn is keeping Erwan Le Roux's FenêtréA Cardinal at bay at around the same distance. The last twenty-four hours have brought some clarity to the situation out on the water. It may well be less exciting, but it is probably much less stressful for the competitors.
PiR2 on her way to Denmark
Of course, this is a huge disappointment for the crew of PiR2, who although they have not managed to keep up with the rest of the fleet, were expecting to complete the race, as they managed to do during the outward leg. The choppy, confused seas off Denmark put pay to that little plan. The crew is now heading for the port of Skagen, which offers shelter and above all is on a route that is closer to the wind on their stern, and so is more comfortable. Without being able to put to one side the disappointment of not completing this adventure that they were so enthusiastic about, Françoise Hanss and Etienne Hochédé have already expressed their desire to return to the Multi 50 circuit as soon as possible. We certainly have not finished seeing that very particular silhouette of PiR2 on the race course. A sight that is always accompanied by the enjoyment of the crew, and of their opponents, as this unusual project just goes to emphasize the variety that exists within the class.
From the boats
Françoise Hanss (PiR2) during the lunchtime radio session: "We've just rounded the north-eastern tip of Denmark. We've got around twenty to twenty-five knots of wind. The sea looks a beautiful colour, but is quite choppy. The weather we are experiencing is different from what the others have. The sea is magnificent and now that we have rounded the tip, we feel like we're on our way home. We have headwinds on our way down, but at least the sun is out. Etienne is at the helm and I'm busy inside, as it's a bit too rough to be outside."
Yves Le Blévec (Actual): "We came up here to look for some favourable currents off the Isle of Wight. We're focusing on what we're doing and it's all very studious. The situation ahead looks very complicated and it's not easy drawing up a strategy. Anything can happen and it's very difficult to be certain about the forecasts. In any case, the boat is sailing well and we've got a real battle going on here with Crêpes Whaou ! 3. The coming hours are going to be crucial. The first one of us to pick up the north-westerly air stream is going to be best placed."
Hervé Cléris (CLM): "We've got a boat that is certainly no spring chicken, but is very comfortable, but in light downwind sailing, the weight-sail surface ratio is what counts. We're trying to work out what is happening ahead in order to get around the calms that are trapping our opponents. This morning, the skies are slightly veiled, but the seas are a strange colour. You'd think you were in the Bahamas. The weather is complicated, which is no bad thing for us and in this sort of situation, it's preferable to be the chaser rather than the one being chased."
Positions in the 1400 hrs rankings
- 1 Actual (Y Le Blévec) 303.2 miles from the finish
- 2 Crêpes Whaou ! 3 (FY Escoffier) 23.6 miles from the leader
- 3 Crêpes Whaou ! 2 (L Féquet) 134.5 miles from the leader
- 4 Région Aquitaine Port-Médoc (L Roucayrol) 346.9 miles from the leader
- 5 Naviguez Anne Caseneuve (A Caseneuve) 365.6 miles from the leader
- 6 FenêtréA-Cardinal (E Le Roux) 384.2 miles from the leader
- 7 La mer révèle nos sens (P Hingant) 419.3 miles from the leader
- 8 CLM (H Cléris) 469.1 miles from the leader
- 9 p R2 (E Hochédé) 962.5 miles from the leader
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