Vendée Globe

December 01. 2008 at 06:30Already like the Forties

"It feels like the Forties already. A bit warmer and with fewer birds, but apart from that, it's the same. Low cloud cover with intermittent rain.  The wind is stronger than forecast gusting ten knots above the average speed, which isn't very stable either in strength or direction. In general the wind is on the beam, which means foul weather gear is required out on deck. However, this is allowing  Cheminées Poujoulat to make good headway and in the right direction, which is excellent. If all goes well, this wind should keep blowing until tomorrow afternoon. However, it's not really that pleasant, as the seas are coming towards us slightly, so the boat is being tossed around from wave to wave.  Already getting a meal is complicated. Thanks for all the birthday greetings..."
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) in his night message

 

November 30. 2008 at 20:04Another great run for Bernard Stamm

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) was once again today the competitor covering the most miles towards the finish.  Over the past 24 hours, Bernard, in nineteenth place, covered 327 miles.  He is now only 54 miles from Jonny Malbon (Artemis) and 702 miles from the leader.

 

November 30. 2008 at 19:32Dee shows us her damage

Yesterday, Dee Caffari (Aviva) suffered damaged to the tack fitting and spinlock jammer  for her staysail.  In her latest video, which you can view online, she shows us the damage and the lashings she has had to put in place.  Click here to see this video.  

 

November 30. 2008 at 17:54Marc Thiercelin our special guest tomorrow morning

Marc Thiercelin will be taking part in tomorrow's French radio session. The skipper of DCNS will talk about what exactly happened when his boat was dismasted and he will also be telling us about his future projects.  Remember you can listen to the show everyday live on the website and read about what the French skippers have been saying shortly afterwards. 

November 30. 2008 at 17:42Too dangerous in the lee of Trindade

At 17h15, Raphaël Dinelli informed the Race Directors that the conditions are stopping him from sheltering in the lee of Trindade. The swell is too high (1.5m to 2m), the wind is gusting, because of the effect of the volcanic island and the shoreline is too shallow, making it too dangerous for the boat.  He is therefore looking elsewhere to be able to stop in order to repair his mainsail halyard.  Once he has found somewhere, he will inform the Race Directors.

 

November 30. 2008 at 17:33Derek Hatfield trying to ward off Dejeanty

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) in 24th place is now only 16 miles ahead of Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty and some 1468 miles from the leader.

"The wind had backed enough to start reaching again and it feels great not to be upwind. I am on the direct route south and the weather files look interesting ahead for the mid fleet positions. I think that there might be some room to make up some time on the frontrunners. Yesterday, my inexperience in the IMOCA 60 boats came to the fore as I tried all day to get the boat balanced and up and running smoothly. It was a very frustrating day knowing that Jean is moving up from behind and there is nothing I can do about it right now. I must have tried every sail configuration possible with the limited number of sails that I have to try and get the boat balanced so that I felt that it was meeting potential. I don't think I ever succeeded for more than a few hours at a time. The wind was variable and shifting 25 degrees each side as well. Today is a much better situation and I am trying hard to hold Jean of as long as possible.  If the weather files are correct, we might have downwind conditions with 30-35 knots in a few days. It's time to start thinking about those high wind days that we all want to experience in the south." 

 

November 30. 2008 at 17:04Trindade pit stop

At 16h30, Fondation Ocean Vital was a few hundred metres south of the island of Trindade and is due to drop anchor in the next hour.

November 30. 2008 at 16:32Solo sailors, but not quite so alone

Roland Jourdain has his crickets.  Sam Davies, Lucky and Foxy, her duck and flamingo. Jean Le Cam has Léon the hedgehog and his friends.  Today, we discovered that Yann Eliès (Générali) has Aquilon the crow, a cuddly toy given to him by some French school children, and which he is proud to show off in this photo.  

November 30. 2008 at 12:45Brian Thompson completes his penalty

Brian Thompson has completed the four-hour penalty that the international jury awarded Bahrain Team Pindar on the 10 November

November 30. 2008 at 12:20DIY jobs for Sam

Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily log:

"Hello everyone from a bit too near the middle of the St Helena high pressure!  I have had a busy morning, as I have quite a few jobs on the job-list and a lot of checks that I want to make. At about 5 am when the wind had dropped and freed enough to be safe for me to go out on my bowsprit, I got busy with the first job - replacing the gennaker tack line. With that job ticked off, I hoisted and unrolled the gennaker! The next job was the trickiest one, as part of my rudder system had broken, and I didn't have a replacement piece, so I had to get the tools out and make one! I had checked out with the Roxy team what we thought the safest and best solution would be previously. The broken piece is on the starboard rudder, so I needed to gybe to finish the work! Luckily, there was a nice wind shift, so I managed to gybe and install my new piece.  I had been hoping for light winds for the repair to the rudder, but now I have finished it, I am hoping that I have not cut the corner of the St Helena High Pressure too much, and that the wind gods will be kind to me an let me escape!"