Newswire : Brian Thompson through the middle of the islands

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November 18. 2008 at 07:21Brian Thompson through the middle of the islands

Brian Thompson (Pindar) has just passed the Cape Verde Islands and last night explained his decision to cut through the middle.
"I was not expecting to take this route through the islands, but the weather reports from both the European and US models were showing very light winds to the west of the archipelago for when I got there. Going west would be the route that I would normally want to take. The two weather models are wildly divergent on what will happen after the islands. The US model shows 25 knots of wind and the European one 5 knots! Something in between would be fine by me. The doldrums still look messy, and I am sure all the skippers are looking at the satellite pictures, quickscat data and gribs, and still looking at their tea leaves as well."

November 18. 2008 at 06:14Last night's messages

"Hi there, a dark sleepless night. Lots of sail changes in the pleasant warmth of the night. Sailed upwind of Boavista, but couldn't see anything."
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)

"The half moon is shining and the stars are out. The spinnaker and mainsail are looking very white in the moonlight. Calm seas given the wind. 20-24 knots of wind and a boat speed of 14-16 knots. The boat is sailing well and I'm doing fine. See you tomorrow..." Rich Wilson (Great American III)

November 17. 2008 at 20:04Discovering the world

Currently sailing at the latitude of Mauritania, Steve White is in 17th place this evening, 450 miles from the new leader Jean Le Cam.

"It's like an oven here today, we have complete unbroken cloud cover and it is very hot and humid indeed, although I suspect it will get more so as we are a way off the equator at the moment. I am further south than I have ever been I think, having just passed the latitude of the Bahamas. That's the thing with sailing, point the boat in one direction for a few days, and you finish up in a completely different world - if I had some good (very good) binoculars I could see Cuba to my right, and lions and such like to my left, which is incredible if you think about it, we only left home a week ago. Somehow I don't expect this when I go sailing, it's not like flying where it is never a surprise to disembark in a foreign and different country; but when you step ashore in a new country from a boat, you feel so much more like you've earned the right to be there."

"A friend of mine bought me a Breton Fisherman's prayer on a clay tile - not very good for weight, but I've stuck it up anyway! It is below the boat's own lucky charm which is a bolt from the Cutty Sark, which was a present to the boat when Josh had it. It was to bring good luck for getting around Cape Horn, as this bolt has apparently been around there a few times successfully when it was a part of the ship! "

"I found the vegetable oil to go on the Tortellini I had for lunch - it is a four litre bottle! Besides making it difficult to add a few drops (for "drops" read "large uncontrolled splashes"!), if it bursts I could have a major clean up operation on my hands. Still, It's good for upping my calorie intake - when I get back I am going to join one of those on-line dieting clubs and recommend a few of my own recipes...."

Steve White (Toe in the Water)

November 17. 2008 at 19:11A busy day for Sam

"Today has been a busy day. In the early hours, the wind came aft enough to need the spinnaker. I waited to check it wasn't a momentary shift, and then went to change from gennaker to spinnaker. Unfortunately, the wind decided to play games today. After a couple of hours great spinnaker running, the wind increased.... turned.... that's not the end! In total, here are the sail combinations used today: (in the order of changes)

Gennaker + full main
Spinnaker + full main
Spinnaker + 1 reef
Solent + 1 reef
Solent + full main
Gennaker + full main

and the day is not yet over! I have a feeling another couple of changes yet, especially as the Cape Verdes will probably change the wind all over the place. So,as you can imagine, I am quite tired..." Sam Davies (Roxy)

November 17. 2008 at 18:42Wavre pleased with his westerly option

The first to return and start again from Les Sables d’Olonne after a stopover of 6 hours, Dominique Wavre (Temenos), in 14th place, 303 miles from the leader, spoke to his shore team this afternoon.

"It’s grey weather; the light is very white. I have between 15 and 20 knots of wind and, for the time being the seas aren’t really big and I have all the sail aloft. The automatic pilot is doing a good job but I go and help it at the helm from time to time because there are few waves so the boat is having some difficulty surfing. I’ve had more wind since midnight, and as the pilot was helming well that enabled me to get a little sleep. I am happy with my W’ly option, even though it cost me some miles yesterday. I was caught by a zone of high pressure and I lost ground but I tried to make up as much as possible of that today. I have a good angle in relation to the wind, which is allowing me to make some fairly good averages. It was a position based on gains in the long term. Statistically it’s the ideal trajectory but from time to time there are zones of high pressure dotted about the course, which can spoil even the best calculations. The different American and French models don’t concur, but on average neither of them give too much wind so it’s clearly not a lively tradewind. It is fairly spread out at the moment. I’m targeting a little gateway that I spotted, which may work on Thursday or Friday, but we’re still a long way off for the forecast to be reliable. Down below it is sticky and heavy so it’s more pleasant to be at the helm.”

November 17. 2008 at 18:05A tough day for Jérémie Beyou

"It was a tough day today. In fact, it's been tough since yesterday!
Yesterday there were choices to make in terms of the trajectory based on the weather models, which didn't agree with each other, and depending on the islands and positions of our fellow competitors. My aim was to sail as quickly as possible, to make it through a bolt hole to the north of the islands. I thought I'd found a good ploy...and then, in the ranking an hour later and in the next lot of weather charts, I saw that my friends out to the west were better off.
Then, there was an urgent repair job to do down in the bilges at 40°C, so this evening Beyou is furious and sweaty. Life isn't that easy around here. Lots of tacks to get back in the right place, looking after the speed and then the wretched Doldrums don't want to tell us what they are up to either." Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore)

November 17. 2008 at 15:23First one in, first one out

"It's clear that the Doldrums can sometimes widen the gap, but the fleet will be grouped together, so I don't think it is likely that we'll see any major upsets. The positions will simply be squashed up. The first one in will be the first one out, as there's very little difference in longitude. In terms of latitude however, Jean is 200 miles to the east, way over yonder. The others are 70 or 80 miles away. All of the routes will tend to converge." Vincent Riou (PRB) on today's radio session.

November 17. 2008 at 15:13Derek Hatfield thinking of his supporters

"The high pressure that has captured me has my full attention. A bit of bad luck on my part had me sitting becalmed yesterday and last night for long periods. In my anxiousness to get around Cape Finisterre, I think I cut the corner just a bit too tight as the wind hole there will be one to be remembered. I've always said that light air and no wind is much more stressful than too much wind. As I jibed south this morning, the wind is slowly building from 4 knots and the weather files show it gradually building to 15 knots from the North East. It's a long race and I will be able to catch up at certain points for sure. I will certainly try hard knowing that all the supporters back in Canada are watching. "

"It's getting warmer as I head south, it's 26 C inside the cabin today so almost time to take off a mid layer but it's much cooler on deck, especially in the shade. It won't be long before I'll be into shorts. I had a visit from a large pod of dolphins just before sunset yesterday. There must have been 50 or more, all playing around the boat. They always cheer me up as they look like they are having so much fun. More tomorrow. "

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss Spirit of Canada)

November 17. 2008 at 14:08Nothing is impossible

"I've got 25 knots of wind and Cheminées Poujoulat is sailing downwind with the sea just about cross enough to make it a bit tricky. There's a lot to do out on deck, but we're making good headway. I'm trying to sail cleanly, making as few mistakes as possible. I'm hoping to move up a few places, as there are a few boats within my grasp. After for the others, that's a different story. However, there's a long way to go and a lot of complicated weather patterns ahead, so nothing is impossible. " Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) on today's radio session.