Vendée Globe

December 03. 2008 at 20:05Jonny's damaged daggerboard

In his latest video, Jonny Malbon (Artemis) explains the damage to his daggerboard.  A chance too to see the new-look Jonny with his beard.  Just click here to view the clip.

 

December 03. 2008 at 19:10Snowing over Temenos

"Last night I experienced a snow squall just behind the front. There wasn’t enough to build a snowman but mid manoeuvre I could see the snowflakes falling in the light of my head torch. You can sense that the weather’s going to change thanks to the appearance of the sky. Yesterday there were some cirrus clouds really high up and today we’re surrounded by low cloud. When the lows hit in this part of the world, it’s always preceded by this type of sky. For the moment, we’re still feeling the effects of the high pressure to our left, but this will give way to a fine low. We should get a good thirty knots or so tomorrow, and that’ll be just the beginning...”
Dominique Wavre (Temenos) in 12th place this afternoon, 260 miles from the leader

 

December 03. 2008 at 18:13How to pass the Ice Gates

The Ice Gates are there firstly for safety reasons: they stop the fleet from going too far south  and coming too close to the ice.  They are a sort of firewall.  To pass a gate correctly, you need to either:
- Cross at least once through the gate from south to north
- Cross at least once through the gate from north to south
- Remain on a route to the north of the gate
In short, for a valid passage, a competitor must be positioned at one moment to the north of the points of the segment comprising this gate.

 

December 03. 2008 at 17:36An English voice in the South Atlantic

"I got within 3 miles of Gough Island, a dark mass covered in clouds, full of sea birds with dozens of seals around.  Suddenly I saw a house on the cliff.  There can't be many around here.  I called up on the VHF just to see and five minutes later, a woman answered in English.  They were doing scientific research… We chatted together for a quarter of an hour.  It was a magical moment.  We talked about this and that, the race, what they are doing there… " 

Marc Guillemot (Safran) talking to his shore team today

 

December 03. 2008 at 17:02A personal best for Derek

"Great sailing for the last 24 hours, a personal best in mileage at around 368 miles. Knock on wood (carbon), the weather forecast is still showing the possibility of cutting the corner on the St. Helena High and making some miles on the leaders. I'm watching this very closely as I don't want to get caught in the high pressure system that is coming, it will be brutally windless in this area for a few days on the weekend. The temperature is still very warm and daytime it's shorts and t-shirt and night time a fleece. I can feel the coolness in the air as I head south and it won't be long until the full layers of long underwear and fleece are required. Of course, on deck, it's foul weather gear all the time due to the spray and waves breaking over the boat. Top speed last night was 22 knots with sustained surfs on 18 knots for long periods of time, it was fantastic sailing. Today I've had to back off a gear from the genoa to the solent as the wind is getting up to high 20's. The boat is on the very edge of control and I felt it better to save the genoa to fight another day, given that it's the only one I have on board." 

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

 

December 03. 2008 at 16:08Good or bad vibrations?

"Last night had a development. Normally, at 12+ knots, we have a low hum in the keel. At about midnight, suddenly there was a new sound, a very high pitched vibration, very loud, coming also from the keel. Rapid inspection of bulkheads, plus the two huge stainless steel pieces that hold the keel hinge, plus inspection inside the keel compartment, both visual and manual, feeling for cracks, or anything unusual, showed nothing. The keel could cant normally. It was not an electric sound from the motor. We have 2 half conical pieces outside the hull which are fairings for the water to flow past the hinge of the keel. In the past, we have had a corner, or piece, or nick of one of these come off, and I'm pretty sure that that is what our new sound was. The fairings are not structural. The sound was loud and insistent last night. This morning, the sound was different, not so loud, different pitch, mostly water sound, not the sound of something vibrating. Another complete inspection this morning showed nothing unusual in the structural parts, at least what can be seen. So I think we're ok, we've just lost part of a fairing."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily blog.

 

December 03. 2008 at 15:22Acrobatics

"The wind has eased off and it's much quieter.  I did a few acrobatic tricks in the night. I broached at one point and hurt my foot, but nothing's broken. As a result of that, I don't feel like hoisting any more sail.  As far as the decision to move the gate is concerned, I think that's very wise.  Sending us off to play in the ice would make no sense.  Well done to the organiser."  

Vincent Riou, PRB, on this morning's radio session.

 

December 03. 2008 at 14:30Riding on a juggernaut

Dee Caffari (Aviva) talked again today about her knee infection.
"I still have to be careful and am shuffling everywhere on my bum. I am wearing a knee pad all the time and trying to stay off it but it is amazing how many times you wedge yourself in using your knee – I never realised how much I did it. Even if you are putting a reef in and leaning over a winch, you generally bend your knee and wedge it against something but I can’t do that with that leg.  I have been doing 22 knots and the boat felt like it was a juggernaut but it’s not because it is really windy. She just catches a wave and she’s off on one. It’s a bit weird It’s like being on a train on the edge of control. The noise is awesome - down below you are thinking this is absolutely horrendous then you go up on deck and the boat is fine. The noise does not relay how good it is. ."
 

 

December 03. 2008 at 13:20Thrills and spills in the Forties

Discover what it is like to plough through the southern seas by watching the latest video sent back by Yann Eliès on Générali. Wet, noisy and thrills guaranteed...  Just click here to view this short clip

 

December 03. 2008 at 11:55Jean-Pierre Dick on the attack

"Conditions are not making it easy to sleep. There are sudden gusts of wind, where you have to be very cautious. Yesterday, there was a lot of hard work.  I decided to go on the attack, as I was feeling on form. I kept the small spinnaker up. There was a large swell, but the boat sailed well and kept on track without pitching.  The trim tabs are down and I have stacked everything at the rear.  I spent a  long time at the helm and I'm back in the running. Even if it took a lot of energy, it was worth it. The toughest moment was gybing in the night. I'm heading for the ice gate, which I should reach tomorrow.  this morning, I'm grabbing some rest as there is a steady 25-knot wind." Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) talking to his shore team this morning