Vendée Globe

November 15. 2008 at 14:50The Life of Brian: Day 6

I’m not just a dot on the screen!
  
" A very busy couple of days on Bahrain Team Pindar, as I head southwards towards the equator. I am just passing the Canary Islands which are 140 miles to the east now. It really feels like hardly any time has passed since the start, it has been  so full on since then, concentrating on getting the most out of the boat, navigating and dealing with the inevitable problems along the way. I realized that it was high time to write a report and tell you my latest news. "

 

"Literally as I was writing this, the autopilot just decided to turn itself off!!!!!!  This was a minor disaster..We had a full main and fractional code0 (reacher) up in 20 knots of wind, and the boat went into a gybe, ending up 60 degrees on her ear, with keel and stack on the wrong side.I had to sort all the gear out (runners, keel, main, mast rotator, jib sheets, etc), and unfortunately in the melee, one of the reef lines got around the wind generator and broke it off its mount at the 45 degree bend in its support tube. Otherwise boat unscathed, but  a loss of the wind generator is a really big problem for our fuel consumption but I think I can find a way to fix it on to the remaining tube. I think I can do it. The bigger issue, is this going to keep happening to the pilots? This is my 4th time so far over on my ear, which is unheard of in such a short period. I am not keen to do one of these with a spinnaker up, it is very likely to damage the spinnaker."

 

" Nobody said the Vendee was easy, that’s the challenge, and its normal to be dealing with a myriad of issues as well as sailing around the planet, and I was about to write about those issues when this new one just came along! "
 

November 15. 2008 at 12:41Armel missing his croissants

"Hi everyone,
The sun came up and everything is fine on BritAir. Lost some ground to Vincent during the night.  I dozed off at the wrong moment..but now, we're off again and we're already west of Mauritania with the Cape Verde Islands ahead.  It's the weekend, so I'm treating myself to a couscous and chocolate cake for lunch.  Couldn't find any baker's out here selling croissants for my breakfast. If anyone knows a good address around here, let me know!
See you soon"
Armel le Cléac'h on BritAir

November 15. 2008 at 11:44Time to tidy up

"I'm up with the first group and hope it will last, as this morning I got into a bit of a mess with the sails.  The light wind backed northerly, as I was changing the sail. Because the wind was blowing across the route, I did two gybes and for a while had the solent, gennaker, and spinnaker up. That requires lots of manoeuvres and a lot of energy for nothing in the end. I'm waiting for the next rankings.  I hope I don't get caught by the calms that are behind and that the leaders avoided... Now we're going to have to get ready to attack the Cape Verde Islands.  Just the west of the islands, it looks dreadful.  This is going to be the first tricky zone, with the second being the Doldrums.  Te sun is out now, but that's only just happened. I'm still in a fleece and am wearing the foul weather gear simply for manoeuvres, because it's a bit wet.  Aboard the boat, it's still a bit of a mess. I need to air her out and tidy up, get out the wet clothes and dry them... " Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore)

 

November 15. 2008 at 11:30Morning message from Jean-Pierre Dick

"The wind eased off during the night. When the sun came up, it was a beautiful day.  I'm finally going to be able to dry my foul weather gear and boots after a busy week. Today is a transitional day with very little wind. That means checking the adjustments to make sure the boat is at her best speed. Over the past 24 hours, I've managed to get a good rest. I slept for 5 or 6 hours and spent three at the chart table, while the rest of the time I was out making fine adjustments. I took some time out to listen to some music too. "  Jean-Pierre Dick on Paprec-Virbac 2.

 

November 15. 2008 at 09:50Dee still quite pleased

"I have been really struggling with finding the right rhythm and pace for Aviva over the last couple of days. Too much sail I kept wiping out on my ear or only able to hand steer or I reduce sail and wallow in the huge waves that have been surfing us along. It has been strange, a huge sea state that blasts you forward at 20 knots or allows you to sink the depths of the craters the waves create. Trying different combinations has been tricky also as the wind speed is gusting as high as 27 knots or settling at just 15 knots.
I am not complaining just looking at awe of the speed the others are getting with their boats. I have promised Aviva that we will get there and she can go and play with everyone again, until then we shall concentrate on getting past the Canaries and at least staying in touch with the leading pack. I am still pleased to even be on the same chart area as them without having to pan out too much still."
Dee Caffari on Aviva

 

November 15. 2008 at 08:39Message from Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)

"Hi everyone,
Calm night under spinnaker still.  Very variable wind.  Have been at the helm a lot.  Had a good sleep. Peaceful, but not very fast.  The wind is really calm here for the moment.
Have a good weekend
Mich"
 

November 15. 2008 at 08:20A fright for Dominique Wavre

"Fine night, choppy to begin with, but steady trade wind with a moon lighting the way. Broad reaching with automatic pilot and big gennaker.  I start to snooze, keeping one eye on the dials, as frequently surfing at 20-22 knots, and heeling over occasionally.  All of a sudden the pilot alarm went off.  I rushed outside and saw we were broaching.  I leapt to the helm without my foul weather gear on, with tons of water crashing down.  We were under gennaker (300 m2), staysail and mainsail and heeled over at 50°. I turned the alarm off and bore away and to my surprise, Temenos righted herself.  We were still sailing quickly and the leeward rudder stayed in the water.  Got the boat back on track and put the pilot back on and it seemed to work....Hurried back inside to start up the engine to charge the batteries, as sometimes the problem can be electrical (I'm a bit wary after the problem at the start).  I stayed up for a couple of hours and all seems well.  Waiting to see whether pushing the boat so hard has paid off and whether I've narrowed the gap." 

Message from Dominique Wavre (Temenos)


 

November 15. 2008 at 06:49Message from Arnaud Boissières

«Hi, Who's stolen my washing up liquid? I did a spot of advertising for the verandas in the  Canaries; I didn't hang around, but I'm sure the message was understood. In any case, very busy on board and very little sleep… »
Arnaud Boissières aboard Akena Vérandas

 

November 15. 2008 at 06:43Message from Bernard Stamm

"Hi, I'm just off Cape Finisterre, the tip of Spain. All is well on board and I'm under spinnaker and full mainsail, taking advantage of the strengthening of the wind at Cape Finisterre.  You can't say I've been spoilt since returning to the race. Contrary to four days before, there was hardly any wind in the Bay of Biscay.  But that's behind me now. Have a good day."
Bernard Stamm on board Cheminées Poujoulat

 

November 14. 2008 at 18:46Jean Baptiste Dejeanty-decision tomorrow

The skipper of Maisonneuve, who returned to Les Sables d’Olonne on the night of 11th November after cracks opened up in the deck of his boat, told us in today's radio session that he would decide tomorrow morning, whether he would setting off again or not. Here is  what he said:
«The repairs are 80% complete. According to the inspection, there is in fact nothing more than what we could see on the surface (no structural problem - editor). We still have some work to do.  As far as getting back in the race is concerned, were giving ourselves until tomorrow lunchtime (Saturday) before taking a decision. It's great to start out again for the team for posterity on the one hand, but at the same time, we need to be rational to ensure that in all the excitement, we don't set off again only to fail again after ten days at sea. We're going to have to find the motivation to get the boat moving with no one around to emulate. I'm having dinner tonight with my  sponsor.  I've been talking it over with the team and my weather expert.  Personally, I really want to experience this adventure, but as a racer, it's tough. We're not talking about sailing a long way like Moitessier, but completing the Vendée Globe. »