JP on the Approach...
News
February 13, 2005
Jean Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec is currently on a direct course towards Les Sables d’Olonne in an established NW’ly wind set to fill in as he closes in on the shore. 20, 30 and even gusts at 40 knots are expected for the finish. For the moment though, JP is “piano-ing” along 100 miles from land at an average of 7.3 knots of boat speed. Other news is the passage of the equator by Benoît Parnaudeau (Max Havelaar/Best Western) at 1905 GMT yesterday evening and the 32nd birthday of British skipper Conrad Humphreys.
Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec) is on a direct course to Les Sables d’Olonne from which he was 120 miles away at the first position report at 0500 GMT this morning. He is 70 miles SW of the island of Belle-Ile off Quiberon making a steady 7.3 knots of boat speed in 20 to 25 knots of NW’ly. Keen to protect his boat, JP is making gentle progress through the Bay of Biscay and is expected in Les Sables d’Olonne at 1600 GMT. With possible gusts of 40 knots, the wind isn’t going to make things that easy for the finish and any spectator boats are going to be under high surveillance.
Back in tenth position Benoît Parnaudeau (Max Havelaar/Best Western) crossed the equator last night at 1905 GMT. Benoît is now back in the Northern hemisphere after 97 days 7 hours and 3 minutes of racing. He is currently 45 miles above the imaginary line and sailing at an average of 5.7 knots over the past half hour. Fortunately for the La Rochelle skipper the Doldrums don’t look to be particularly stormy at present at 1° of latitude North and he should have a fairly calm passage of the zone.
Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto) and Joé Seeten (Arcelor Dunkerque) are continuing to battle it out for seventh off Portugal. A little over 30 miles separate them in the rankings but Conrad is currently on a heading of 50 degrees bound for Cap Saint-Vincent while Joé is suffering light winds close to the centre of the anticyclone. Both of them are likely to be in NW’ly winds of varying strengths. For Conrad there is upwind on the menu with more pressure East of the centre of high pressure. Making headway is likely to prove pretty tricky for both skippers today!
For American skipper Bruce Schwab (Ocean Planet), the small depression under the Canaries is not helping him gain northing. In fact the NE’ly trade wind is currently being unsettled by this little depression causing it to clock back slightly. As a result Bruce is being forced to sail close-hauled when normally he would be benefitting from a steady NE’ly allowing him to make headway on a single tack. He is 780 miles SW of Tenerife (Canaries) right now.
Anne Liardet on Roxy is now targetting the equator. She has rounded the horn of Brazil and is now 213 from the little archipelago of Fernando do Noronha in an ENE air flow generated by the SE’ly trades blowing in the Southern hemisphere.
Raphaël Dinelli (Akena Vérandas) and Karen Leibovici (Benefic) are easing along in a fairly light NNE’ly wind. On a port tack the former has covered just 136 miles over a 24 hour period, 126 miles for the other. Less than 200 miles separate them now, Raphaël likely to be the first to hit the favourable SE’ly trade winds.
Translation Kate Jennings
Back in tenth position Benoît Parnaudeau (Max Havelaar/Best Western) crossed the equator last night at 1905 GMT. Benoît is now back in the Northern hemisphere after 97 days 7 hours and 3 minutes of racing. He is currently 45 miles above the imaginary line and sailing at an average of 5.7 knots over the past half hour. Fortunately for the La Rochelle skipper the Doldrums don’t look to be particularly stormy at present at 1° of latitude North and he should have a fairly calm passage of the zone.
Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto) and Joé Seeten (Arcelor Dunkerque) are continuing to battle it out for seventh off Portugal. A little over 30 miles separate them in the rankings but Conrad is currently on a heading of 50 degrees bound for Cap Saint-Vincent while Joé is suffering light winds close to the centre of the anticyclone. Both of them are likely to be in NW’ly winds of varying strengths. For Conrad there is upwind on the menu with more pressure East of the centre of high pressure. Making headway is likely to prove pretty tricky for both skippers today!
For American skipper Bruce Schwab (Ocean Planet), the small depression under the Canaries is not helping him gain northing. In fact the NE’ly trade wind is currently being unsettled by this little depression causing it to clock back slightly. As a result Bruce is being forced to sail close-hauled when normally he would be benefitting from a steady NE’ly allowing him to make headway on a single tack. He is 780 miles SW of Tenerife (Canaries) right now.
Anne Liardet on Roxy is now targetting the equator. She has rounded the horn of Brazil and is now 213 from the little archipelago of Fernando do Noronha in an ENE air flow generated by the SE’ly trades blowing in the Southern hemisphere.
Raphaël Dinelli (Akena Vérandas) and Karen Leibovici (Benefic) are easing along in a fairly light NNE’ly wind. On a port tack the former has covered just 136 miles over a 24 hour period, 126 miles for the other. Less than 200 miles separate them now, Raphaël likely to be the first to hit the favourable SE’ly trade winds.
Translation Kate Jennings
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