Vendée Globe

December 18. 2008 at 07:45Technical problems in the virtual Vendée Globe

Due to technical problems, the Virtual Vendée Globe is currently not accessible. We are doing all we can to resume normal service as soon as possible and offer our sincere apologies for this interruption

 

December 18. 2008 at 06:51Why Rich is going north

"Making fast progress with solent and 3 reefs in the main. Read Seb Josse's account of using his reacher and 3 reefs in the main, talk about front-wheel drive! So tried with solent and worked well. Lashed the two pieces of the broken titanium support railing together with vectran (non-stretch) 6mm line. The two exposed ends of the titanium weld are nasty sharp, and the opening between them had already captured the windward staysail sheet! Took a piece of sticky-back dacron tape and then wrapped it around the edges of the tubing after the lashing brought them together. Think it will do OK.
I remember on our New York - Melbourne voyage of 2001, I commented to Murray Lister who had been Chief Mate aboard New Zealand Pacific, the world's largest refrigerated container ship, when they rescued us off Cape Horn in November 1990 after our capsize and rerighting, about the beautiful arcing route that the clipper ship Mandarin had made into the deep south, skirting to the south of Kerguelen, and then back up to Melbourne, following the great circle route. Murray said that although their shortest route would have been the same, from Europe to Sydney, "even though we were in a 250 meter (815 feet) ship, we would never have considered taking New Zealand Pacific south of Kerguelen Islands." NZP rescued us back then so we'll take his advice now and go north of Kerguelen."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

 

December 17. 2008 at 20:05Greatest distance over 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) sailed the greatest distance towards the finish.  Between 19h yesterday and this evening, the leader, currently 13,243 miles from the finish, covered 369.5 miles.

 

December 17. 2008 at 19:35Dolphins flying through the air

 "Today I have been overtaken by a depression travelling at 35 knots, and been dealing with all the windshifts as it passes by. Not particularly fast today as had some light winds ahead of the cold front, this low has had the boats behind seeing gusts of over 50 knots, so I will have to be careful tonight. The cold front has just arrived now, and I am on the look out for any squalls. Just a few birds this morning, but otherwise the quietest day yet in the Southern Ocean for seabirds. However, I did see a spectacular sight this morning of three dolphins about 400 metres back launching themselves out of 7 metre waves, appearing to be having a look at Bahrain Team Pindar from afar. They were travelling the same speed as me, about 17 knots, and followed for a few minutes, before going off for lunch. It was quite amazing to see them flying through the air, appeared like three torpedoes from the middle of the wave."
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in his daily message

December 17. 2008 at 17:04Loïck making slow headway to Australia

Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) continues to make slow headway towards Australia under jury rig.  Forced to abandon the race since his boat was dismasted, he still has around 1800 miles to sail.    He talked about this unexpected voyage with his shore team today, "This situation isn’t very pleasant for a whole host of reasons, primarily because I’d really prefer to be racing rather than where I am. Without a mast it’s very uncomfortable to make headway, especially as there’s a steady wind at the moment – around 35 knots since yesterday – and the seas are big and very confused. Gybing under jury rig is pretty full-on… but luckily there aren't many manoeuvres to do. Fortunately I’ve got my big collection of books, so I’m trying to pass the time reading them. I’m also mulling over the light winds to come and on rigging up a third sail so as to make better headway in the light conditions."

 

December 17. 2008 at 16:29Wavre up against it

Dominique Wavre contacted his shore team this morning with concerns that the very large steel part  weighing almost 100 kilos which had been attached to his keel head was   not resisting the huge strains that are being imposed on it.  

The Swiss skipper reported this morning that the winds have been much more than forecast and that he has been struggling with an acceleration zone around the Kerguelens, and the skipper is currently dealing with a cold front  in cross seas and winds varying between 30 and 40 knots

Temenos II was reported to be sailing at slow speed with all his ballast tanks full in order to give the boat maximum stability, with both dagger-boards down the movements have been stabilised. Wavre has been managing to make headway at between 8 and 10 knots under storm sail and three reefs in the main. To escape these strong winds, Wavre has no choice but to head north, but the damage to the keel limits the point of sail he can choose.

December 17. 2008 at 15:26Derek looking ahead to the Kerguelens

"The fresh winds from the new low pressure system in the south are propelling me along very efficiently towards the next gate and I'm making some miles on the next boats as I bring in the new wind. I suspect the gains will diminish as I get closer and they start to experience the same wind conditions. I am watching the weather closely and trying to make the decision on a strategy to get around the Kerguelen Islands. I have this theory about islands in the middle of the ocean. They are magnets for carbon boats. Seems no matter what, they eventually become an obstacle that has to be dealt with.  The night was relatively easy but at one point the winds reached 37 knots and it was time to furl the solent as the boat was getting over stressed.  I was getting exhausted as I was unable to sleep with the speeds and noise of the waves and boat on the edge all the time. Sometimes you have to throttle back just a bit to save some energy. I slept for two hours in cat naps and feel much better today for it. The winds have diminished slightly and the solent is back working again."
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada)

 

December 17. 2008 at 11:02Cheminées Poujoulat loaded on the Marion Dufresne

Cheminées Poujoulat has now been successfully loaded aboard the supply vessel Marion Dufresne.  Bernard Stamm is on board, and is said to be relieved, but tired.  The boat is due to leave the Kerguelens in a few minutes according to the government representative, Frédéric Martineau.

 

December 17. 2008 at 09:17Very rough seas for Norbert

"Last night at 1000 utc a very strong squall hit Nauticsport-Kapsch. I was sailing at high speed under genoa 1 and mainsail 2.  As much as I tried, I was not able to continue in these stormy conditions. I had to stop for around one hour to bring both sails down. It was a tricky manoeuvre, the genoa went in the rough sea and all the lines from the mainsail got tangled.  In the end I was able to manage the tricky situation without losing a sail or having important equipment broken, just the genoa has a few little tears near the head. Right now I am again under sail heading to the next waypoint.  The sea is very rough and it is not a nice sail so that means it can only get better."  Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) in his daily message  

 

December 17. 2008 at 08:18Temenos II on her way to Australia

In an e-mail sent this morning to the race directors, Frédéric Martineau, the government representative on the Kerguelens confirmed  that Dominique Wavre set sail this morning at 05.15 UTC.  The Swiss sailor set out «feeling much happier and pleased with the new part, which will allow him to move his keel slightly, thus enabling him to feel much more confident about the next few days of sailing as he makes his way to Australia.»