Vendée Globe

November 14. 2008 at 16:11Jean Le Cam's little family

Everyone will remember how in 2004, the skipper of VM Matériaux charmed us with stories about his little family.  There was his automatic pilot, Popaul and his mainsail, "Big Denise." The family has just grown with the arrival this year of Eleanor, the wind generator.
 

November 14. 2008 at 14:37Dee's pin-ups

There were several pleasant surprises for Dee Caffari (Aviva) yesterday that she enjoyed talking about with Sam Davies (Roxy) during their little chat.  She explains today what she found so amusing...

"I couldn't stop laughing. The boys had left photos of themselves naked in areas of the boat that they had been working on so when I was in the aft department bailing out some water and looking at the steering gear, I turned round and there was Craig (Thompson) on the transom with strategically placed pots of resin. There was one of Martin (Piquet) coiling a line in the sail locker and one of Joff further forward. I haven't found Rob (Sleep) yet but that is something to look forward to. I have seen a side to all the boys that I'd not seen before. They are certainly not shy."

More seriously, looking at what has been happening in the race, Dee expressed her feelings about her own situation and about Alex Thomson's retiral.

"It didn't surprise me that Brian Thompson overtook me yesterday. The fact that I'm in with this pack at all is awesome. It makes me smile every time I see the positions come in - just being in the same bit of the chart as them is really cool."

"To have gone through everything they did to get to the start line and having worked so hard, it would have been heartbreaking for Alex to go back in. I really feel for them all. He now has to wait another four years - it's really sad. But there is so much more to him than a pile of carbon fibre. He now has another four years to do more and everyone should be very worried about Alex for the Vendée in 2012."

 

November 14. 2008 at 10:23Unai touches base

From Unai Basurko, Pakea Bizkaia " How is everything?  I have begun to enjoy sailing with a good wind, full moon and the boat in a perfect state.  I hope that all the problems that people have had after the front that we have been through can be solved.  I have spoken today to the Spanish press and there is a lot of excitement about the Vendee Globe. A big hug from A big hug from Pakea Bizkaia, enroute to the Canary Islands."

November 14. 2008 at 06:46Last night's messages

"Gliding along under moonlit skies. Need to watch out for squalls, which keep reminding us that this is no holiday cruise. After an afternoon with the speedo going crazy, I'm back in sight of Vincent the Terrible. Everything was going well and I was in my bunk when a 30-knot squall appeared and woke me from my nap.  Half an hour later, and with a few drops of rain on the fleece, as it wasn't worth putting on the wet weather gear, old Riou called me up:  "So "Memel", you were sleeping too when the squall arrived?" That's what it's been like during the night. In the end it was all good practice for the Doldrums.  But that's another story...Speak to you soon."
Armel Le Cléac'h on BritAir

"Hi there,
Early in the night, the wind got up offering fine surfing conditions with speeds up to 24 knots.  Beautiful moonlit night with great clouds.  All's well, but I didn't get any sleep.  Not to worry.  I'll take a nap after the Canaries."
Arnaud Boissières on Akéna Vérandas

 

November 14. 2008 at 06:40Michel Desjoyeaux's bad dream

Message received from Foncia during the night:
"Hi to everyone ashore,
It's not taking off that quickly.  I woke upwith a nasty nightmare, which isn't easy to explain, but that's the mystery of sleep: how do we come up with all these ideas, which could be the basis of a good police story? The nightmare was there in my head and although my night vision was limited by the overcast skies, I wasn't seeing the same wind speed on the dials as a few minutes before.    Only one action: It had to be done . A gybe.  let's get out of this high, before we get sucked right in.  Let's go south, as that's where we're supposed to be going."

 

November 13. 2008 at 19:04Radio Vacs: Bullet point summary of French speaking skippers

Here is an abbreviated summary of what French speaking skippers said in today’s radio vacs:

Vincent Riou (PRB):
Getting better.  Wind picking up.  Not thinking too much about it, but moving to W of Madeira to avoid wind shadow.  Not a real option, but simplest solution.  Tired and bruised after two days of bad weather so taking it easy.  Has rarely been shaken up as much.

Asked about the lack of  Desjoyeaux  at the front? 
Sorry for him, but thinks still possible. Had a slight problem with ballast too with broken pipe, but nothing like Desj problem. Was able to repair it.

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)
Starting to rain in squall.  Leaving Madeira to starboard.  More wind but more northerly and variable. 15-28 knots of wind.  For route past Canaries will decide this evening.

Loick Peyron (Gitana 80):
Seas still choppy, but good speed.  Computer came up with route to west.  Hadn't really thought much about it.  Peak speed 20 knots averaging 15 knots. Requires a lot of work.  Hasn't really slept since start.  Wind so variable and lots of manoeuvres.  Need to remain attentive to wind shifts.  Little repair jobs.  Twice boat bore away.  Tiring with movement in storm.

Raphael Dinelli (Océan Vital)
Doesn't have same sails as others.  Thinking of going east of Madeira.  Keeping an eye on batteries as down to 50% due to lack of sunshine.  Has been tidying up, adjustments, little repairs.    Squalls during the night. Broached for first time.  In 5 or 6 days will be able to judge whether batteries able to cope.  Cloudy weather ahead...  So reducing energy consumption.

Yann Eliès (Generali) 
Under small spinnaker.  20-25 knots of wind and 14-20 knots of boat speed.  Cautious about squalls and acceleration, but on the attack, as wants to get back with leaders.  Most of the time out on deck, but gradually confidence building.  About to eat chicken curry.   Only 50 miles behind but regrets tactical errors.  Wanted to be within 100 miles of leaders by South.

Jean Le Cam (VM Materiaux)
Hesitates about whether right choice (going east), but not too badly placed.  Speed between 16 and 20 knots Wind  strengthening so hopes to do better
 

November 13. 2008 at 17:02Message from Jonny Malbon

"Another tricky old night on board. I had to gybe away from an area of light winds early this morning, hoping that the wind would come round to the ENE allowing me to point to my next waypoint around the Canaries. This all went to plan until about an hour after I had gybed, when a series of big squalls have pushed the wind back round more to the north. This is not great, but every now and again I get a glimpse of the true wind direction, so hopefully it will come good. If doesn't I will have to gybe back once I have the next weather model in.
One of the stand-up blocks across the semicircular track has lifted off the deck, so I have to try and put it back down. It is quite a time consuming job, important that I get it right, if it peels off then only the satellite dome on the back will take the load of the traveller - and not for long!
Still very frustrating being so far behind. It's not the boats fault, I think she is quick, I just haven't been able to get the most out of her - yet. It is suddenly clear in a fleet of this calibre.
We finally have some sun this morning which is nice, all I need now is a nice wind shift and the day will be great!! Am trying to get into a routine with the weather, food, charging the batteries etc, which will help things. Would have liked to have been into this routine sooner, but have not had time, as I have felt that the boat has not been all that fast."  Jonny Malbon on Artemis 2.

November 13. 2008 at 16:01Maisonneuve ready on Sunday

«This evening, we will have finished almost of the external work: port hull and starboard deck. There will remain the starboard hull and all the inside with a lot of stratification to do to ensure the joins.» Soizic Dubois, Maisonneuve team manager.
 

«The work goes on around the clock.  The conditions are quite good: no wind and dry weather with sunshine by day, although a bit too cold at night. Under the tarpaulins with fan heaters, we've managed to receate the conditions to bake the composites.» Malric Leborgne, engineer in composite structures. 

Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty's boat could be ready to set sail on Sunday evening.

 

November 13. 2008 at 15:02Jérémie's calms

«I've fallen into some calms! I thought everything would be fine, if we skirted by the edge of the high, but the wind died away! I've had to do a lot of gybes to get away from this area. I did several tacks yesterday afternoon. The wind shifted by 40° from one side to the other. The lads up at the front got away at good speed. I thought PRB and Brit Air would be in the same mess, but they got through. That's the way it is! What reassures me is that behind, they are not doing any better.  I think too, I haven't always made the right choice of sail. One thing for certain, I've left behind life on land. I've stopped thinking of the office and all the worries you may have ashore. I'm not missing that.  Now I have to set myself a pace.  Since the start I haven't spent much time at the helm and I'm missing that.  At the moment, I'm spending too much time dealing with video equipment adjustments and not enough on the weather. The wind got up again recently.  I've just gone through a few squalls. Got to go, as the wind is back again.» Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) talking to his shore team.

 

November 13. 2008 at 13:59Eliès feeling more relaxed

"By the time I made it to the deep south I wanted to be within 100 miles of the leader.  I've already used up half of that and so I think it's time to get a move on.  It's a bit tricky at the moment, as the wind is still variable and I'm not completely used  to my sail plan. I'm afraid of broaching, but I must say my latest pilots are working miracles, immediately taking into account the slightest change in direction on the crest of a wave."