Vendée Globe

November 19. 2008 at 19:55Peyron's ponderings

Loick Peyron: “I’m well rested, which is preferable given what lies in store for us. It’s currently 32°C inside Gitana Eighty and the water temperature is 29°C”. Loïck Peyron can’t resist a hint of mischievousness: “I’m considering the possibility of having a little dip, especially if the wind continues to drop away! It’s gradually easing, very slowly. I think we’ll hold onto this for another 24 to 30 hours at this pace. Today the exit would seem to be located 300 miles ahead if all goes well. However, as we all know, launching into predictions here smacks slightly of utopia. You have to bear in mind that it could change for the better or worse without warning! For the time being it’s sunny, which contrasts with previous days and there is still no sign of the classic Doldrums”.
“I forced my way down last night so as to position myself directly in line with the chasing pack. I may serve as a pacemaker to them of course but I didn’t want to find myself in an extreme situation. I am happy with my new position. My strategy is clear; to make headway to the south and above all not think about it too much. I’ve made my decision and I’m calmly sticking to it! I will be the first little boy to give sweets to the nasty lady and I really hope I don’t have to leave her too many…”.
 “I’m helming a little in the shade but I sometimes leave the pilot to helm whilst I keep watch. You have to be on top  of things as some very fine and tricky trimming is required. All’s well aboard though. I still have some fresh food in the locker and I’m making the most of it in this heat. I’m thoroughly respecting the rule of five fresh fruit and vegetables a day!”

November 19. 2008 at 19:35Dominique Wavre slowed down

"I have less than 6 knots of wind at the moment. The grib files forecast a little more for me today. It feels like I’m already in the Doldrums, even though I’m still some 200 miles away. I’m making 6 knots of boat speed. We’re being shaken up by a slight swell and the boat is struggling to find a favourable point of sail. This zone of high pressure has been slowing me down since midday. I felt it gradually creep up on me in the early hours and the situation hasn’t really sorted itself out since."
Dominique Wavre (Temenos)
 

November 19. 2008 at 19:02Beyou becoming a boar

"Since the start I've become more like a boar rather than a civilised being!  A boar, because I've grown a beard and worry about my machine and the weather, and am completely obsessed by my performance. The boar's only concern  is to be ahead of the pack and make sure he has enough to eat in the evening. Take advantage of these final sentences that remain understandable, before I become increasing inward looking.  This race is tough and takes over.  While it is a pleasure to share my feelings and experiences, I get the feeling that the further I go, the different the language we speak. 20 knots under spinnaker, is a bit too much.  Got to go now!" Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore).

 

November 19. 2008 at 18:32Today's best performance

The skipper of Cheminées Poujoulat is currently sailing downwind off the Canaries, and covered  277.9 miles over the past 24 hours. Pushed along by a steady trade wind, the Swiss sailor was pleased with the conditions he has been experiencing since Cape Finisterre. Ranked 24th, 1133 miles from the leader, of all of the fleet, he made the best progress today.

 

November 19. 2008 at 17:40Squalls for Derek Hatfield

The skipper of Algimouss Spirit of Canada, sailing off Madeira, sent this message to the race directors this afternoon:
"All OK on board, trying hard to make some inroads to boats ahead. There are some squalls around that are threatening to upset the sailing routine and I must be vigilant to avoid breakages during the storms.  All the best, Derek" 
 

November 19. 2008 at 14:53Some tough choices for Jonny Malbon

"Well I have to say it has been another difficult 24 hours on board. None of the weather models have borne any resemblance to reality. This makes planning anything very difficult, but worst of all it leaves the day wide open to worry and check and double check all the routing solutions. This is very time consuming and very unrewarding when you come away with no real answers, predictions or routes!  It also leads me to think that all my instruments were misreading, and giving false readouts!! This is not good especially when I am sailing downwind and each gybe (change in direction) takes about 40 mins and is VERY labour intensive. Anyway I think I have cracked it; rather than barrel west to get in line behind the others I have gybed back to the south. We shall have to see if it pans out over the next few days. I have some confidence in this particular model, so I will be keeping my fingers crossed! If things don’t materialise quite how I envisage, I can still head west after the Cape Verde islands which are now approx 100 miles south of me.

My beard is getting long enough not to be itchy now, so I will have to decide whether to keep and go full man of the sea, or whether to have a shave in the doldrums. Tough decision I hear you say!! Those are the kind of things that fill up the rest of my day – shall I have a cup of tea now, or in five minutes is another common one!!"

Jonny Malbon (Artemis) currently in 19th place, 467 miles from the leader

 

November 19. 2008 at 14:07Fancy meeting you here

"Having gybed onto starboard to get a bit further West, I took the opportunity to climb up my mast to check everything was OK. It is easier for me on starboard tack and I think this the last time I'll be on this tack for a while!
A great view from up there! All was OK, so I whizzed back down to ground level.  Then as I was getting ready to gybe I saw a little sail on the horizon! Pindar!!  
So now we are sailing along, side by side (well, almost - I'm just in front for the moment actually!) with Brian. We had a quick chat, but I didn't want to stop him from his sail repair for too long! It's nice to sail in company for once - and funny to think in an ocean so huge that we can "bump" into each other like that!"  Sam Davies (Roxy) currently in twelfth place 267 miles from the leader.

November 19. 2008 at 06:57No new record

The first intermediate record between Les Sables d’Olonne and the Equator, held by Jean Le Cam with a time of 10d 11h28’ in 2004 is not going to be broken. To better this, the leaders have until tonight (0h30 to be precise) to cross the Equator, which this morning is still some 500 miles ahead.  Covering this distance in 24 hours appears to be even more complicated, as there is the obstacle of the Doldrums blocking the way. The difficult weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay explain why this year's race is slower than the 2004 Vendée Globe.

 

November 19. 2008 at 06:24Stamm off the Canaries

Message received last night from Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat), 24th, 1173 miles from the leader.
«Hi,
News from Cheminées Poujoulat. Things are going rather well.  I'm taking advantage of a decent NE'ly flow to make good progress. I'm starting to see some squalls. The air is much more unstable and there are a lot of sail changes and trimming to do.  Each time I can, depending on the wind oscillations, I gybe to head a little further west, as I move southwards. The sea is a bit choppy with some short waves. But I think the wind is likely to ease off. The high speed sailing is over and it will be much quieter.  I haven't yet seen any flying fish and the moon is just disappearing.  I think we're lucky, as it will be back with us as we enter the Indian, when we really need it.  Having some problems with the video system, which isn't working now.  Think it comes from when we removing the mast and restepping it back in Les Sables. I hope to be able to see what's wrong. There's also something with the camera,as the battery charger has a bug. I'll sort it later on and hope to be taking pictures and filming as soon s possible.
Enjoy the rest of the night.»

 

November 19. 2008 at 05:40Desjoyeaux passing through

Message received from Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia, 18th) at 1h00 this morning:
«Going through the islands in about an hour from now. Lots of waves up to fifteen miles upwind of the islands. It's strange, as I hadn't noticed it, but it's warm.  You imagine that it's going to be sunny  all day long and ideal for sunbathing, but in fact, it's not at all like that.  It's cloudy throughout the day, but for two days now the skies have cleared at night, which has allowed me to appreciate my mentor, Orion the hunter, who's looking down on me. He may be a hunter, but he doesn't have a gun or sword.  The close combat stuff with a sword is for later, I hope..."