Vendée Globe

November 23. 2008 at 18:34Popping the cork

You can watch Dee Caffari (Aviva) cross the Equator in her latest video.  She offers a gift to Neptune and toasts him with some champagne.  Just click on 'videos' in the media section.

 

November 23. 2008 at 17:44Séb Josse's analysis of the weather

"The St. Helena high is much further west than usual. It is completely blocking our route, but in the next few days, it should move back eastwards. That is exactly what we want, as we should then  be able to return to downwind sailing." Sébastien Josse (BT)

 

November 23. 2008 at 14:51Derek's daily message

Currently to the north-west of the Cape Verde Islands, Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) is in 25th place 1401 miles from the leader.  Here is his daily message:

"Hot hot hot. 34 C inside the cabin so I will be quick today. As I sit here dripping with sweat, the trade winds are weak again today so a little slower progress. All is well and I have been able to make some headway with the charging system and I think we at least have a chance to fix the wind generator. I have to wait for a calm day to go out on the back of the boat to try the repair."

 

November 23. 2008 at 13:37More gifts for Neptune

"Hi there, I crossed the Equator at 10H40 UTC.  Offered a gift to Neptune, some vanilla cream, a nice glass of water (mineral water) and the southern hemisphere welcomed me with a big squall with 25 knots winds and heavy rain to wash off the Veranda and its owner.  Goodbye to the northern hemisphere.  See you in  a few weeks!"
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)

 

November 23. 2008 at 10:51Decent speed for the moment

"Everything is fine here! I'm still sailing in the trade winds. On board the boat, all is well. I slept well during the night and am eating well.  I'm taking advantage of some quiet time to carry out some repairs before reaching the far south in ten days or so. My home is heeling over and it's wet out on deck. This tack looks a bit long. I'm trying to keep ahead of those chasing after me.  The goal is to stay in the first three.  I've a decent speed for the moment, but everyone is sailing quickly!" Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2)

 

November 23. 2008 at 10:28Celebrate with Sam

You can watch Sam Davies (Roxy) cross the Equator in her latest video.  Just click on video in the media section.

 

November 23. 2008 at 09:03Bernard enters the Doldrums

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat)is now in 23rd place 881 miles from the leader.  During the night he overtook Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch).
"The fun and games started a bit further north than expected, but they are clearly here.  The first squall turned up early in the night and as there is no moon, I didn't really see it coming. I could feel something strange in the air and by the time I put on the radar, the squall was already here.  Sailed in under full mainsail and big gennaker. Fortunately the wind didn't get above 30 knots but it lasted a good half hour with heavy rain and lightning. Then the wind came around 120° and I was back with the conditions I had had before the squall. So downwind in 15 knots of wind. Very soon after another squall appeared, but this time I had time to hoist the solent and take down the gennaker. Since then, I have been sailing close-hauled in 15-20 knots of wind in the rain and I am on the course I wanted.  So what is good is that the wind is blowing. Have a nice day, Bernard"

 

November 23. 2008 at 08:24Dee rediscovers upwind sailing

Dee Caffari (Aviva) is in sixteenth place this morning 419 miles from the leader.
"Well the Southerly winds that met me from cloud number five on Friday night grew in strength and before I had time to realize it this was me clear of the doldrums. I was now upwind and feeling all out of sorts with the boat heeling over again. It has taken the best part of today (Saturday) to get my upwind feel back for the boat again. I have had a reef in and out within the hour, ballast tanks are being filled and emptied while I try to get a feel for what Aviva wants. The wind is not helping as it is very inconsistent in strength, so hard to set up for. Also in the back of my mind I am aware that Foncia slipped past in the rain clouds last night and now Cali onboard Akena is pushing at the bit once more so I really have no time for any rest and recovery. The only concern I have at the moment is wondering when the wind will back and allow us to get some more south in our course as I wasn't planning a stop in Brazil!"

 

November 23. 2008 at 07:50Never satisfied

Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) in tenth place, 94.7 miles from the leader, has been sailing in the southern hemisphere for about 24 hours now and is already asking questions about the steady conditions.

"How long is this going to last!? We were looking forwards to the SE'ly trade winds like a kid on his last day of school. We couldn't wait for stable winds and reliable forecasts and we're not disappointed about that.  It's blowing and we're leaning over. We're making steady headway and it's bumpy. And it's going to last.  As we're never satisfied, we can't wait for the moment to turn left.
Ahead of us the high stretches out.  Will we have to go all the way around? Will there be  a low to give us a hand and cut through the middle? Or will there be several options: teh leaders going around and the second group going straight through?
Mystery! Patience! And no big ideas, as we will only be disappointed.So we continue on our way; preferably going as fast as those nearby. That is the only option, and while it may be a bit boring, we have to keep at it. Sailing a boat healed over in choppy seas is noo easy mattter. In fact, heeled over, everything becomes complicated: preparing meals, writing, changing...Try it at home: cut two legs off your chairs, beds, tables and desks.  Some people will tell you that you're crazy, but you'll understand what we're going through!  It works too if you have one leg shorter than the other.  I told you, we were never satisfied!!"

November 23. 2008 at 07:21Champagne and chocolates

Sam Davies (Roxy) crossed the equator at 14h53 yesterday.  Last night, she sent a message concerning the celebrations.
"Hello from the Southern Hemisphere!

Well today's big news is that the water goes the wrong way round when it goes down the plughole!!! If I had a plughole....
 I offered my traditional Champagne and chocolate. After the celebrations were over, I was busy trimming the sails, and I hadn't noticed that Lucky and Foxy (my lucky duck and his flamingo girlfriend) had pinched the rest of the champagne and were finishing it off. They weren't feeling too good, being in the wrong hemisphere and all that....  Thankfully, the champagne has worn off and I have managed to persuade them back to their home at the chart table where I can keep an eye on them!"