Golding up to second

News

December 12. 2008 at 11:21
Golding up to second
© JEAN MARIE LIOT / DPPI / Vendée Globe

The gains are in the south as the leaders pass Heard Island this morning, with Jean-Pierre Dick increasing his lead by ten miles over the six hours between 0330hrs and 0930hrs GMT, while Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover) holds his best position yet on this Vendée Globe, now second with Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) in third just 1.9 miles behind

 

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) has slowed in the north, five knots slower over the last hour than the trio in the south. Foncia is passing just 55 miles south of the Kerguelens, while Dick leads Golding and Bilou on the lower road, about the same distance off Heard Island, and about 120 miles between the different routes.

 

Golding has been quickest over the last hour up until 0930hrs GMT making 18.6 knots to Dick’s 18.1 knots.

 

Dominique Wavre is applying the pressure to Marc Guillemot, chasing in the wake of Safran. The Temenos skipper just saying this morning to the Radio Vacs that he is happy at good speed again. Waves are six metre metres and high speed sailing.  Slid off a wave at 30 knots. Few birds.  No albatrosses, but a few petrels.  He has been pushing hard to make gains.  It is very noisy, so is listening to recorded radio programmes with headphones to forget the noise.  In spite of full moon the nights are dark as very cloudy skies. Black shadowy mountains of waves but no icebergs.  Has been in contact with Yann Eliès and Marc Guillemot about risk of icebergs in the area. Dominique hasn't spent much time at the helm.  The sea temperature 3°, so outside he very quickly feels frozen