Vendée Globe

November 12. 2008 at 11:06Today's radio session, 12h-14h

Exceptionally, today's radio session will be between noon and 14h (local time) because of the official inauguration ceremony for Race HQ…Thank you for your understanding.  See you shortly...

November 12. 2008 at 11:06Jean-Pierre under spinnaker

«I'm sailing under spinnaker. Everything is fine on board. It feels good. I'm getting used again to life at sea. I slept well during the night and am starting to eat properly. The fresh produce is gone and I'm on to the freeze-dried. Yesterday evening it was pasta bolognaise and this morning scrambled eggs, my favourite breakfast. After the Gulf War (the Gulf of the Bay of Biscay), it's time to recharge the batteries. At the moment it' s a bit choppy with 20 knots of wind and little gusts in every direction. With our towering sails, we need to be careful! Today, I'll continue my inspection of the boat to make sure everything is OK and then I'll be spending time at the nav desk drawing up the strategy for the coming hours. Time to go, as the wind is getting up!» Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2)

November 12. 2008 at 11:01Golding holding station

On his 0900GMT morning media call today Mike Golding (Ecover 3) reported that he was relatively content that he is holding his position on the lead boats, and is following the routing close to the rhumb line. Winds are still reasonably gusty with quite a big sea running and he reported that he is sailing under a big gennaker and full main. He had encountered a period of nasty adverse current during the night.

“We are just trucking south really, rotating around the high pressure there will always be some compression ahead, and then extension again, but that is really looking at what is happening over the next five days or so."

November 12. 2008 at 10:22Trade winds today

The Azores high (1032 hPa) is moving eastwards, while a low 1014 hPa far off the Canaries, is almost stationary. The wind, which is due to be a 15-20 knot NNW'ly off Cape Finisterre, will ease off to 5-10 knots and veer N'ly, which is not very favourable for Michel Desjoyeaux… Ahead, off Madeira, the wind will be blowing at 18-23 knots between the east and north-east, causing the leaders to gybe during the afternoon.

November 12. 2008 at 08:50Race HQ opens tomorrow in Paris

Vendée Globe Race HQ has now moved to Paris and the facilities are currently being installed. It will be open to the public from 10h to 19h (local time). An opportunity to attend the radio sessions from 11h to 13h, look at the latest developments in the use of satellite data and watch the latest videos from the race.
Please note: Race HQ will be open to the public from Thursday 13th November.

November 12. 2008 at 07:23Jean Baptiste Dejeanty back in Les Sables d'Olonne

On his arrival back in Les Sables d'Olonne at around 4h this morning, Jean Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve) said a few words about the damage that had forced him to turn back:

«It was as the front was going over in the middle of a squall. I had just changed tack and was taking advantage of the wind dropping off to stack inside the boat. A wave that was more violent than the others lifted up the boat. It felt a bit like floating in space. The boat came crashing down. I think she came down on two big waves, one at the bow and one astern. The keel between the two made a loud cracking sound. It was like a gun going off inside the boat. My ears were ringing. On the way back, the water was halfway up to my knees inside, but fortunately the pumps worked perfectly. Structurally inside, nothing has changed.
I don't really understand. I have sailed 25,000 miles with the boat and have never seen that. It was just bad luck and that's what I find hard to take. I had already experienced heavy seas like that before on several occasions. Maybe the only difference was the boat was loaded in Vendée Globe mode, meaning the strains were that much higher. I think the boat has done well given the violence of the impact. Personally I took a while to recover. We'll see what we can do. An engineer is on his way and an expert should be here later today to look at the damage more closely. With the team we'll discuss whether to set out again or not. »

November 12. 2008 at 06:08Hugo Boss due in later this morning

At 5h00 this morning (Wednesday), Alex Thomson was 25 miles from Les Sables d’Olonne. However, Hugo Boss will probably have to wait for a few hours off the South Nouch Buoy until the tide late this morning.

November 12. 2008 at 04:37Last night's messages

4h16 : «Gliding along nicely. The cleaner has tidied up the "Veranda" and hung up the washing. The sails are shining in the moonlight and it's a pleasant night to be at sea; a few cargo vessels, a few dolphins, a bit of music... In short, everything is great! Like my fellow racers, I'm getting in position to pass Madeira.» Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)

4h57 : «A rough night with very variable winds and sudden squalls, although the moon was up early on. Moonlit nights are just wonderful. The seas are still rough, not exactly head-on, but almost. We're still getting a pounding on occasions. So, I haven't had much sleep tonight. 70 miles NNW of Gijon. » Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)

5h02 : «Stopped during the night to clear the keel. The good thing was that it was easy to do in the beautiful moonlight, which lights us up as if we were indoors. See you soon. » Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement)

November 12. 2008 at 02:45Stamm due to set out again on Wednesday afternoon

After removing the mast on Tuesday morning to replace a part where the spreaders are attached, Bernard Stamm's support team (Cheminées Poujoulat) finished repairs on the bowsprit and the various collateral damage due to the collision with the Maltese cargo vessel. The mast is due to be stepped this morning (Wednesday) enabling Bernard Stamm to be able to set sail on Wednesday afternoon's tide.

November 11. 2008 at 21:52Dee's Tea For Two

Dee Caffari commented on the changed conditions today:" The difference today is unbelievable. The sky is clear apart from cumulus cloud, the sun is shining and you have great visibility. The wind has now moved and is coming from the north and I am sailing in much better conditions, smoother water and with a full main and code 3 up. I can now try catching up with sleeping, eating and generally living now."

She also sent this message: "I spoke to Sam on Roxy today on the VHF and we decided to both have an afternoon cup of tea. The Spanish Coastguard plane was out and doing fly pasts so I waved and he wished me luck for the rest of the voyage on the VHF, which was cool."