Vendée Globe

Remarkable British solo skipper Sam Davies on Roxy rounded Cape Horn at 0920hrs this morning in difficult conditions, over 40 knots of wind and big seas, weather completely typical of what one would expect for the windswept legendary rock at the tip of South America.

Davies’ time from Les Sables d’Olonne is 62 days 21 hours and 18 minutes.
She told this morning’s visio- conference that she had been scared for the first time in her incredible race, shutting herself inside Roxy as a big, 50 knot squall hit knocking Roxy over.

“It's incredible to be here, especially after horrible conditions over past 24 hours.” Said Davies, who rounded in fourth place, “I have had 50-knot winds and so it was a relief to see the Rock, as the boat went right over during the night. I had to wait for the wind to drop to 40 knots to gybe.”
“ Now we still have 42 knots with boat sailing at peak speeds of 25 knots on the waves.”  I am a bit sad though to leave the Pacific after such a great voyage.”


At the front of the fleet Roland Jourdain in second place has lost another 13 miles this morning, and is now 225.5 miles behind Michel Desjoyeaux sailing 700 or so miles SE of Rio de Janeiro. They are through the centre of the high now which has moved slightly east, but they anticipate the arrival of a small active low pressure system which will give them 35-40 knot winds.
Desjoyeaux is making 12.1 knots and has been the best part of two knots faster than Bilou for much of the time.

Armel Le Cleach’s gains have stabilsied for just now, repairing about 50 miles since yesterday morning but has slowed a bit this morning, going upwind. For him the pressure looks a little better for him in terms of distance to sail as it is narrower now, but he’ll be more upwind but looks a little more striaightforward for him than the leading duo have had. So it does look like a profitable few days ahead for Armel.

Marc Guillemot has been going well Safran has been quickest overnight and this morning….still 360 miles behind Sam – sailing with 3 reefs but he will not attempt to make repairs in the archipelago at Cape Horn or nearby, more likely to wait now until the Falklands where there would be a chance to pick up a mooring buoy.

Brian Thompson has made his repairs – not as difficult as the last two but still time consuming when he should be sailing hard, one of the smaller longitudinals in the bow, he is happy with it and has been going OK since. He still has a very serious blow to contend with before Cape Horn which is about 1000 ahead for him, so he anticipates rounding late Tuesday, or early Wednesday.

Dee Caffari still has big mainsail problems, the sail is now delaminating on the other side too and so Dee needs to nurse the boat to Cape Horn and has this low  with 55 kts winds and she is now 31 miles behind Boissières.

Steve White has been making good speeds and is 600 miles to the last gate while Rich Wilson passed the SW Pacific gate at about 0130hrs GMT last night and has been slower since, in recovery mode. Norbert Sedlacek is preparing for the arrival of an intense, very active low pressure system which will bring big seas, up to 8m and winds to 55 and 60 knots.

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air): Bit rougher with some strong winds over the past few hours, but temperature is warmer now. Doing some spring cleaning and airing out the boat.  Getting used to different points of sail, but pleased to find seas that were easier to deal with immediately after the Horn.  Looking at distance to Les Sables.  On the one hand the impression that this is the home stretch, but at the same time the climb up the coast of South America can be tricky.  Needs to make sure boat is in shape for the trade winds, which offer faster conditions.  Less stress now he has passed the Horn, but at the same time constant worry about making sure the boat manages to complete the voyage.

Marc Guillemot (Safran):  28-33 knots of wind, low visibility and rough seas.  Boat speed 17-22 knots. Has removed his tent from inside to air out and give himself more space.  Has radar on to keep watch particularly as he is approaching last location of VM Matériaux.  Thinks he will be rounding the Horn during the night, so not likely to see much. Last time was in 1994 with Eric Tabarly. Has been suffering from tiredness and can't wait to get to the Horn.  Will be carrying out a pit stop in the Falklands as  too windy around the Horn. Maybe at a naval buoy or in lee of mountain (Mount William)


Ends
 

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