Vendée Globe

The Plymouth-based yachtsman Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto) is maintaining his lead over Joé Seeten (Arcelor Dunkerque) and is thus in with a serious chance of winning seventh place in the final rankings of this edition of the Vendée Globe 2005. Less than 200 miles from the finishing line, Conrad is benefiting from a full set of sails to keep a 50-mile lead over Joé. Having to make do without any power and therefore electronic navigational aids, the British sailor may cross the line in the middle of the night. The weather and tides make this a possibility. The northerly wind is steady in strength and direction and so the day looks good for a rapid descent towards les Sables d’Olonne. The only difficult factor to calculate is the tiredness of the racers. Without an autopilot, Humphreys slows his boat down, as soon as he needs to sleep. As for the sailor from Dunkirk, it is under mainsail and 44 sq.m staysail that he is hanging on in there, doing his best to meet up with his supporters already lined up waiting for him in Vendée.

The ETA for the next competitor in Les Sables d’Olonne is between midnight and 4 a.m. according to the Vendée Globe race organisers. Conrad Humphreys has told his shore team that he does not intend to slow down to wait for daylight. Joé Seeten, who is some 50 miles astern, could enter Les Sables 4 or 5 hours later.

The American Bruce Schwab is sailing off Lisbon. He is facing strong headwinds of 20-25 knots, torturing his nerves and his mood by giving Ocean Planet a real battering. The sinister creaking sounds coming from the keel that he first noticed in the deep south, appear to be growing louder. During the night, Bruce attempted to tack eastwards to ease off on his boat with less pressure on the sails closer to the coast. In vain. The more he tries to find a good angle by opening up his sails, the more he heads north north west, reducing his VMG. This upwind sailing is likely to continue until at least Monday, when the wind is expected to come around to the north west. Bruce could then change tack and resume making headway towards Les Sables.

The influence of the high centred to the west of Brittany is being felt all the way to Benoit Parnaudeau (Max Havelaar Best Western), who has passed the Cape Verde Islands. For him, as for Anne Liardet (Roxy) coming along behind, it’s time to sail upwind in winds that are becoming lighter and lighter. Anne Liardet is still on a north westerly bearing. The young woman appears to be trying to round the ridge of high pressure on the other side, where winds are more favourable.

The Doldrums look tougher than expected for Raphaël Dinelli (Akena Verandas). They are moving up at the same time as the French yachtsman, whose speed has really dropped off. Karen Leibovici (Benefic) is 430 miles from the Equator.

Dvdb

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