Armel Le Cleach (Brit Air) has the simple priority of safe, prudent sailing at the moment in second place, but he is facing a long, tough final 500 miles, mainly upwind. Le Cleach’s main task is going to be keeping up fair averages and keep everything in one piece.
He has a front arriving later today and from there on it will be upwind virtually until his arrival. He will have 35-40 knots N’lies and gusts to 50 and 55 knots.
Le Cleach could average 10-12 knots but the seas are rough, 6-7m swell from ahead. The most recent ETA is somewhere around about Saturday midday with 500 miles to go and was making 14kts this morning. He made the most miles in the fleet this last 24 hours, 258.
Safran is moving across the westerly edge of the high pressure, and has slowed –making just 3.2 knots VMG between 0330hrs GMT and 0930hrs GMT. But Guillemot will emerge later today to catch a front which will give him 25-30 knots of SW and W wind and he can run with this low pressure system close to the finish, making steady 15-16 knots averages.
Sam Davies is going to be upwind for another 36-48 hours, she is crossing the high pressure too, on the east side and has always slowed making 7.3 knots this morning, and 4.6 knots VMG.
Bahrain Team Pindar has 17-23 knots of trade-winds and still very bumpy and unpleasant sea state Brian is looking at the westerly option, same as Guillemot. He is now 179 miles ahead of Dee Caffari who is continuing to catch him. She has made 125 miles on him in 48 hours but some of that gain is relative to the theoretical course, while Brian is now going more west than her. Thompson is about 100 miles west of the track taken by Guillemot and 70 miles east of Sam’s track.
Dee Caffari is quickest in the fleet this morning, 14.9 knots of boat speed, upwind tradewinds sailing, 15-20 knots of NE’ly trade winds, and she is erring towards a more easterly course.
As the Axores high pressure moves SE she can cut a few miles off the corner.
Steve White is at last making some easy miles, in 12-16 knots of NE’ly winds. His problem ahead is that the Doldrums are going to be wider, 500 miles at the moment and that could prove very frustrating when he just wants to get home, to keep his place and get his race over safely. He is 175 miles SE of Recife.
And Rich Wilson is making easy miles too, is 385 miles SE of Florianopolis Brasil, making 13-14 knots under grey skies.\
Raphael Dinelli had his abortive attempt to stop in the Falklands yesterday, was dragging his anchor and had to cut it and get going again before he could make his repairs, but not before he received his medicines for his tendonitis in his elbow – anti inflammatory and anti-biotics – he is going OK at 6-7 knots but is heading into the big high pressure system
And after the excitement of the Cape Horn rounding yesterday, it is slow going for Norbert Sedlacek on Nauticsport Kapsch. He is making just 3.1 knots this morning and average, but he will pick up a northerly airstream soon with 25-35 knots
Here is the summary of what the French speaking skippers said this morning:
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas): Rough night, but sunshine this morning. Had to take in a reef in the middle of the night for first time for a while. Now under staysail with one reef in the mainsail. Difficult to sleep as heeled over and slamming – similar to what he had last year in Jacques Vabre and it’s likely to continue to the Canaries. Still has his two cuddly toys on his chart table. Very happy for the moment with his “old” boat and will see in a few weeks whether Santa Claus will offer him a new boat. ETA: 15-20th Feb
Marc Guillemot (Safran): I’m reaching the “mark” I was aiming for. A few slow hours to get around the high and from tonight or early tomorrow morning should have good wind angle to head for Les Sables. ETA 10th in evening or 11th in morning. Reckons it will be early on 11th. Slow today, but a rapid finish in view. Based on weather charts and routing, he has been comparing Roxy’s progress with each new forecast and it looks each time that he will be at the Azores before Roxy. A few weeks ago, was aiming to finish ahead of Armel, but now he thinks Armel will arrive a few hours before even taking into account redress difference. Pleased to have done so well in spite of mast track problem. Pleased to have this race with Sam to motivate him.
Sam Davies (Roxy): 15 knots of wind sailing upwind. Blue skies with a few clouds. Still managing 10-11 knots. Doesn’t know whether she is tackling the high or whether the high is attacking her. Doesn’t know who is doing best in fight with Marco. She has stopped looking and is racing as she thinks fit. In any case, he has redress, so no point in worrying too much. Concentrating on her trajectory and sailing quickly
Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air): Conditions still rough. Off Cape Finisterre. Heavy seas and a lot of wind and boat slamming. ETA Saturday morning. Slowed down because he doesn’t want to take any risks in heavy seas. Crossed seas with big swell. Heavy squalls where wind strengthens. Hasn’t had any wind vane for 3 weeks or a month so doesn’t know exact wind strength – reckons about 35 knots. Sailing under staysail with three reefs. Hopes it will ease off and he will be able to finish in a 25-knot NW’ly. Stressful with slamming and with cargo vessels nearby.
