Vendée Globe

November 29. 2008 at 14:17A fairground ride

Sam Davies (Roxy) is in 13th place, 194 miles from the leader. 

"Yesterday I managed to get some rest and recharge my batteries. The upwind conditions continue but were pretty stable allowing me to chill out, just with the occasional trim, or ease, of sheets to be done from time to time. And at the end of the day I was treated to a  beautiful sunset which I will share with you!

Yet again, today dawns to show a bumpy and confused sea, and now the wind is a lot less stable - between 18 and 26 knots. Roxy isn't really happy and I have been struggling to find the right configuration for her. It is a bit like being on some kind of fairground ride that is totally unpredictable. Just when I think I have got used to the motion, we find another "hole" in the sea, and go crashing into it and that trips Roxy up and quite often takes me by surprise too! This is maybe a sign that we are nearing the high pressure and conditions are soon to change....Making tea this morning is going to be a high-tariff manoeuvre!"

 

November 29. 2008 at 13:07Into the Land of Shadows

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) is in second place, less than a mile from the leader.
"I'm a real fan of heroic fantasy and have with me the saga of the Lord of the Rings. In fact there are quite a few similarities between Tolkien's heroes and the Vendée Globe competitors: We are on a quest too, where there are a number of hurdles to overcome!  It's funny as I've just finished the first volume and the hero is about to continue his journey in the land of shadows… rather like us…" 

 

November 29. 2008 at 12:37Foul weather for Derek

"Slowly, ever so slowly the wind backs as we beat and thrash our way upwind. Most  uncomfortable. I'm not sure if the fleet ahead of me had upwind conditions like this but it would explain why they did not pull away after the doldrums like I thought they should have. Normally we would be close reaching down the coast of Brazil. Ironically when we come this way again in
7 or 8 weeks, we will probably be upwind again past Brazil towards the finish line. The humidity is taking its toll in skin rashes and blisters. Everytime I go on deck it's either a salt water shower or foul weather gear while sweating to death underneath. After more than two weeks at sea, I
begin to wonder if "foul" weather gear refers to the outside or the inside of the gear. Time for a good rain shower I'm hoping, before it gets too cold in another week or so. Time for lunch; chicken with noodles and  bread and peanut butter and jam.  And a French chocolate pudding for dessert."

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) in his daily message.

 

November 29. 2008 at 11:10Cooling off...

"Lots of work to do during the night making small adjustments, as the wind was variable in strength and direction. I'm sleeping a bit outside in my red seat to be able to react quickly.  It's not very easy to rest but I don't know if the race will ever be!  The weather is really complicated.  Should we be on the direct route like Jean Le Cam and run the risk of getting close to the heart of the high or should we take the long way around like Loïck prolonging the distance? I prefer to go more slowly taking the middle route.  It's starting to get cold.  I have put on some extra layers of clothes, as the temperature is not going above 10°C.  In latitude, we're at 35° south, further down than South Africa. We're getting close to the Roaring Forties." 

Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) this morning. 

 

November 29. 2008 at 10:32Pac-man Fever

"When I was a teenager there was an electronic game, where you had to eat up the points in a maze,  while avoiding being eaten by the little creatures, who added a touch of spice to the race.  Chasing after the competitors here and catching them reminds me of that game.  Sorry Raphaël.  It was only logical as the boats are not at all the same.  If I didn't catch you it would have been worrying.  So now on to the next.   It's Rich's turn.  He's on a boat I know well ,  as in 2003 it was in  Around Alone sailed by Thierry Dubois, my closest rival.  Once again, the boats are from very different generations.  Today, it's overcast and lots of squalls and it's raining.  It's not as hot now, which is good."
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) in his daily message

 

November 29. 2008 at 09:56The International Jury's first decision

Case No. 8 Jury International c/ Bahrain Team Pindar

Facts found
After the preparatory signal (P), Bahrain Team Pindar still had support-crew
on board. They left the boat 2 mn before the starting signal.
Bahrain Team Pindar that acknowledges the infringement prior to the hearing,
states that they did not understand that channel « P4 » was not the « P4 »
already on their VHF and that they did not find the information that it was
in fact channel 24, on their supplied pack.

Conclusion
Bahrain Team Pindar has broken the principle that the Vendée Globe is a
single-handed Race, as stated in the Notice Race 2.

Decision
Bahrain Team Pindar is given a 4 hours penalty, to be taken in accordance
with S.I. 26.4(h) and be completed before the boat reaches the longitude
01°00 East.

Date : 28 November 2008
International Jury
Bernard BONNEAU (FRA – Président) ; Ion ECHAVE (ESP) ; Trevor LEWIS (GBR) ;
Christian PEYRAS (FRA) ; Jean VERMANT (BEL)
 

November 29. 2008 at 09:44Second decision from the International Jury

DECISION DU JURY INTERNATIONAL

Cas n°2 : Aquarelle.com
Cas n°4 : Nauticsport
Cas n°5 : Great American III
Cas n°6 : Toe in the water
Cas n°7 : Artemis


The Race Committee protests boats Aquarelle.com, Nauticsport, Great American III, Toe in the water and Artemis for non compliance with required side of buoy D.

Facts found

After the start, boats Aquarelle.com, Nauticsport, Great American III, Toe in the water and Artemis left on port the buoy D, course mark stated in SI Appendix 3a – Course, as a mark to be left on starboard.
The buoy D was properly laid approximately 2 NM from the starting line, at the position stated in SI Appendix 3b.

Conclusion

The boats Aquarelle.com, Nauticsport, Great American III, Toe in the water and Artemis infringed RRS 28.1 by not complying with the required side of mark D.

Decision

The boats Aquarelle.com, Nauticsport, Great American III, Toe in the water and Artemis are given a 30 minutes penalty.
The penalty shall be taken as described in SI 26.4(h) and be completed before the boat reaches the longitude 01°00 East.

 
The penalty does not apply to Aquarelle.com who has retired.

Date : 28th November 2008

International Jury
Bernard BONNEAU (FRA – President) ; Ion ECHAVE (ESP) ; Trevor LEWIS (GBR) ;
Christian PEYRAS (FRA) ; Jean VERMANT (BEL)

 

November 29. 2008 at 08:40Too cold for flying fish

Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) is in 11th place, 191 miles from the leader and is currently sailing at the latitude of Uruguay. Like his fellow competitors, he is looking ahead to the southern seas, while enjoying the final days of warm weather, as he explained in his log last night. 
"A stunning day, there is not a cloud in the sky and the water is a sparkling blue. It is starting to feel colder, and I am wearing my foul weather gear on deck for the windchill and the spray. But I am going to remember this bright and sunny day at 30 degrees of Latitude, so that I can imagine it when I am in the cold and drizzle of the South, when you think that there is nothing more in the whole world than the 100 metres of murk around you. It will help to keep pushing when you can say, only 10 more days of this cold and dampness, and then there will be light and sunshine, it is around the corner, just keep going!  Cabin temperature is 28 degrees and water temp is 19.4 degrees.  Seen several birds at a distance, but maybe the water is now too cold for the flying fish, as not seen any today."

 

November 29. 2008 at 04:09A bumpy ride

"OK.  I admit it.  What may in a month's time seem like nothing remains the focus our attention.  I'm talking about the start of the high-speed sailing as here the seas are still choppy and although I'm huddled in my seat, it's not easy to type when you are hitting 40km/h in a ploughed field in a Golf with the tyres pumped right up, so I won't go into the subject for now."  

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his e-mail from last night

November 28. 2008 at 18:23Mich Desj' looks ahead

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is currently in 14th place, 290 miles from the leader and around fifty miles from his next target, Sam Davies.
"I don’t have the pressure of being with the leaders. I’m driving the boat at my pace and in a more relaxed manner. I’m not going to catch them up in two days… Look at the time I’ve taken to catch up with those with boats with less potential… It’ll be more difficult to catch the latest generation boats, which is entirely normal!  Currently I’m looking as far as the first gate. We should get there around 3rd December and then we’ll bounce from gate to gate, which should take about 5/ 6 days of sea. This will enable us to have fairly high quality weather data, which will make the tactics fairly interesting and not such a lottery."