Vendée Globe

December 02. 2008 at 20:09Greatest distance in 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, it is Dominique Wavre (Temenos), who has covered the greatest distance towards the finish, clocking up 392.4 miles.  He remains however in twelfth place, and is now 233 miles from the leader.  In the leading group of 12 boats, he is currently the furthest north.

 

December 02. 2008 at 19:17Life in the Forties

You can see what sort of conditions the sailors are now experiencing in the Forties in the latest video from Dominique Wavre (Temenos).  No more T-shirts.  It's on with the foulies in the colder and wetter weather in these southern latitudes.  Just click here to see Dominique on Temenos.

 

December 02. 2008 at 18:50Take it easy

Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) in a message to his team: « Because of the changing wind, I have to keep nipping in and out on the deck to check everything is just right.  But unlike yesterday, we are not expecting to gybe and are set to continue on the same tack throughout the day. For the moment, I prefer to take it easy. It's true that later on, there will be moments of frustration as the boat is not sailing to her full potential, but it's very easy to make a mistake and that can cost you dearly. I prefer to remain cautious.»

 

December 02. 2008 at 17:23Rich able to use his bunk

"Last night was a huge step forward for my ribs and for my sleep. For the first time since the start, I actually slept in the bunk. GA3 is fibreglass hull, so also has longitudinal bulkheads running bow to stern about 1 meter from each side, for fore/aft stiffness. The bunks are in compartments outside these bulkheads, and are accessed by small openings. The pain of my fractured rib was such that it was utterly impossible to do the gymnastics required to get into the bunk, let alone, out. So its been curling up at  the chart table for 3 weeks. Last night, got into the bunk with minimum agony, and had 4 good 50 minute sleeps. Woke 1 time, panicked at not seeing all the twinkling/glowing lights of the nav station, thought maybe a full power outage, but no, just a new sleeping spot. It's the only drawback, to not see the instruments if you wake for a second and want to take a check."  
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in 20th place, 877 miles from the leader, in his daily message.  

 

December 02. 2008 at 16:10Mike waiting for a better opportunity

"It's now properly cold. Yesterday whilst gybing I took the full brunt of a very steep wave - it was freezing! Once the gybe was completed and by now fully shivering I slid below to slip into some thermal mid layers and a fresh pair of boots/socks.  So that’s it, its official - we are definitely in the South.  Rounding the high did not work out so well for me. I was happy with my positioning and from every weather model I saw, I should have earned more gains than I actually did. Then again, arriving in the breeze I cut South again hoping to reach the stronger breeze first - again this really did not work out as well as I had hoped. Now we are all spaced inside a 100 mile corridor of stronger breeze blowing almost directly at our short-term goal, the first official ice gate. Boats are gybing to the north and south within this band of breeze and opportunities for gains are few and far between. I think perhaps that its best for me to sit this one out and wait for a better opportunity."  

Mike Golding (Ecover 3), currently in 9th place, 94 miles from the leader.

 

December 02. 2008 at 15:41Watch Unai at work in his cockpit

Among the new videos on display today on the website, some shots of Unai Basurko (Pakea Bizkaia), who is currently in 21st place, 938 miles from the leader, sailing in the South Atlantic at around the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope.  To view this video click here.  

 

December 02. 2008 at 13:57Cutting the corner

"Seems everyone from midfleet back has the pedal down trying to cut the corner and save some miles. It certainly looks do-able from here and the weather files indicate the opportunity. An intense low pressure system to the west will push the high to the north east and may allow us to sail more directly to the first gate. I'm watching the weather with hopes that the current forecast will not change. Jean (Baptiste Dejeanty) has managed to get by me. He's doing an awesome job after a problematic start. "

Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada), currently in 24th place, 1523 miles from the leader and 3 miles behind Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty, in his daily message.

 

December 02. 2008 at 11:45Squid attack

"It seems that as the temperature drops, the size of squid increases, so does the intensity of its ink, thus increasing the overall mess on the deck! Last night's suicide attacker was just one, rather  large, inky squid, who landed just aft of the cockpit next to the starboard tiller! That means he managed to cross the cockpit in mid-air. Lucky I was not out there at the time! I thought getting walloped in the face by a flying fish was bad enough, but I dread to imagine getting "squidded" in the face..... must be a bit like getting pooed on by a seagull in Lorient.  Last night was the first "rock and roll" sailing of this race. Windy, but not too much, just to get used to it! 22 knots was the surfing speed. Although Roxy was totally under control, I found it hard to sleep. This will take some getting used to!"  
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message.

 

December 02. 2008 at 09:25Jonny completes his penalty

Jonny Malbon (Artemis) completed his 30-minute penalty this morning at 8h05 UTC.  Like several other competitors, he was given the penalty by the International Jury for passing a buoy on the wrong side shortly after the start from Les Sables d'Olonne.  

 

December 02. 2008 at 08:08Jonny hits a whale

"At approx 1236 UTC today I hit a large animal, probably a whale at 15 knots.  The boat stopped dead in the water, and remained there for about a minute until the animal released itself from the daggerboard. I was under 1 reef and Jibtop at the time.  Once we had broken free, we sailed off very quickly, but I could clearly see the animal astern in a lot of trouble.  I have some serious damage to my starboard daggerboard, but the boat is fine and the structure surrounding the daggerboard is intact.  We have not taken on any water. I will be continuing to race, and will monitor the condition of both the board and the boat."  
Jonny Malbon (Artemis) in his early morning message