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MOD70 European Tour 2012
Leg 1 : Kiel - Dùn Laoghaire (Dublin)
www.mod70-europeantour.com - Übersicht
05.09.2012
Leg 1 : Kiel - Dùn Laoghaire
Leg 1 : Kiel - Dùn Laoghaire
5 September 2012
No Sleep 'til Dun Laoghaire
Just as it was widely predicted since well before the MOD70 fleet left Kiel, Germany on Sunday afternoon, the finish of the first leg of the MOD70 European Tour is shaping up to be a close, slow cliff hanger.
There was no standout favourite before the start but even now with less than 85 miles to the finish it is no easier to predict which of the five teams will break the finish line off Dún Laoghaire early Thursday morning.
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Groupe de Rothschild
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What reindexs almost certain is that it will be slow and difficult as the breeze shuts off completely due to the presence of a high pressure system which is centring itself over the fleet this afternoon and evening.
Yann Guichard's Spindrift racing has lead for more than 1000 miles of the passage. They passed Michel Desjoyeaux's FONCIA in the very early hours of Monday morning when they stood further off the NW Danish coast. Since then FONCIA has been a constant threat in their rear view mirror, all the way through last night's high speed headlong dash, making more than 190 miles in one sustained nine hour spell.
"We have seen FONCIA pretty much since leaving Kiel and now they are on our axis downwind about five miles away. " reported Spindrift racing's Leo Lucet this afternoon, "We are not especially focused on them, instead just working at our speed and mode but just keeping an eye on them. It is a bit quieter on deck as we have not been able to stick to watches much, there were too many manouevres. We are being especially careful not to break anything and get some rest as soon as possible".
The highly experienced six strong Spindrift racing crew skippered by Yann Guichard is well stocked with experts from the intense Solitaire du Figaro circuit, including 2012 winner Yann Eliès, Erwan Tabarly a veteran of 11 editions of the solo one design offshore race and Pascal Bidégorry, winner ten years ago. They have indextained their cool under pressure from FONCIA, which has Charles Caudrelier – Volvo Ocean Race and Transat Jacques Vabre winner – navigating for three times Figaro winner Michel Desjoyeaux.
The Celtic Sea is a well trodden path for the Figarists, who are renowned offshore for their exceptional stamina and focus, well used to the sustained concentration required to gain tiny advantages during the small hours of tight one-design races. And once again the MOD70 class, for all of their remarkable speed potential, is offering incredibly tight one design racing!
Since Land's End there have been no real tactical options on the upwind leg. FONCIA had closed again, poised less than five miles behind Spindrift racing this afternoon but in turn they have third placed Groupe Edmond de Rothschild breathing down their necks on their quarter, within half a mile.
And with such a total shut down in the breeze expected from around 1800hrs this evening, dying first for those ahead, the fourth and fifth placed duo of Sidney-Gavignet's Musandam-Oman Sail only half a mile ahead of Stève Ravussin Race for Water should not be discounted as potential winners, even though they are about 15 miles downwind from the leading trio.
What's the best strategy? That is the key question to which there is no simple answer. Usually keeping between the finish line and your opponent is a good maxim to follow, but equally the leader's usual advantage is often overturned as they effectively mark the lightest, stickiest patches. So all of the crews were doing their best to ensure they are as well rested as possible, saving themselves for the final decisive miles.
It is likely to be early Thursday morning, between 5 and 8 local time when the leader breaks the finish, but which team it will be is anyone's guess!
Rankings 5 September at 1400hrs UTC
1- Spindrift racing FRA (Yann Guichard FRA) at 92,2 miles from Dun Laoghaire
2- FONCIA FRA(Michel Desjoyeaux FRA) at 5,5 miles from leader
3- Groupe Edmond de Rothschild FRA (Sébastien Josse FRA) at 5,7 miles from leader
4- Musandam-Oman Sail OMA (Sidney Gavignet FRA) at 21,8 miles from leader
5- Race for Water SUI (Stève Ravussin SUI) at 22,3 miles from leader
Quotes :
Leo Lucet FRA, project manager, bowman Spindrift racing:" We passed the tip of England about four hours ago and are in starboard tack, sailing upwind at 18kts making course of 350 degrees. There is a swell and this morning the seas were quite rough, sailing with one reef in the indexsail and the staysail. But the more we get north the seas flatten and the winds get a little lighter. We have set the full index and the genoa. The wind will go more north and we will tack probably in a couple of hours around 14h, it is all a bit more like ocean sailing now
We have seen FONCIA pretty much since leaving Kiel and now they are on our axis downwind about five miles away. We are not especially focused on them, instead just working at our speed and mode but just keeping an eye on them. It is a bit quieter on deck as we have not been able to stick to watches much, there were too many manouevres. We are being especially careful not to break anything and get some rest as soon as possible."
Brian Thompson GBR, watch captain Musandam-Oman Sail this morning:
"We had a good last 24 hours, and although we were caught by Race for Water in the Thames Estuary; that was just some bad luck with the wind, we sailed well all the time, and over the course of 18 hours slowly reeled them back, overtaking in spectacular fashion as we were both blasting along under gennaker doing 32 knots:
Only small drama was that the fuse pin broke on the central rudder so we had to fix that going upwind, and Jeff Cuzon had to go up the mast twice to work on the lazyjacks , our specialist navigator/bowman!
Its going to be light airs at the finish; as a big pressure sits over Irelands capital; so ETA hard to call and it will be all to play for in the finishing order: Emerald Isle here we come!"
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7/09 : Dùn Laoghaire City Race
8/09 : Dùn Laoghaire City Race
9/09 : Start Leg 2 Dublin - Cascai
Estimated Finish Leg 1
6th September 2012
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