Vendée Globe

December 31. 2008 at 13:33Yann back in Brittany

Yann Eliès flew into Paris early this morning with his family on a flight from Perth. He then took an internal flight to Lannion in NW France accompanied by a doctor and nurse. He will thus be back in Brittany with his friends and family to see in the New Year, although it will be in a clinic, rather than in his home. On his arrival in Paris, Yann expressed his thanks to the medical team in Perth, who confirmed the fractured femur and spotted a fractured pelvis and backbone. Following an operation he has been able to move around in a wheelchair and regained a semblance of independence. He now faces 6 weeks of complete rest in the clinic and this will be followed by six months of therapy.
 

December 31. 2008 at 12:47Bernard Stamm on Reunion Island

Bernard Stamm arrived on Reunion Island yesterday morning (local time) aboard the Marion Dufresne supply vessel. They were able to unload Cheminées Poujoulat and place her in a secure zone, where a thorough inspection will be carried out.
 
“We are in the NNW of the island, in a port situated between Saint Denis and Saint Paul and referred to as the Old Harbour in Reunion. We are housed with a local family. Yesterday, after getting off the Marion Dufresne, we thanked the crew and then went for dinner and off to bed. I removed the keel during my stay aboard the Marion and today we’re going to clear away everything we can on Cheminées Poujoulat so that Jacques Le Berre (an expert in composites) can get to work to assess the damage. What happens after that will depend on the results of this analysis. Things are a little better on a personal level, even though it’s high time I saw my family again. In the meantime I wish you all festive tidings and above all a very happy new year.”
 

December 31. 2008 at 10:46Easy miles for once

"We've been making good time today, in the right direction, with little loading of the boat, I can't remember when we last did this. The boat is sailing very well, balanced, nearly full keel cant, for the slight variations in the wind direction and speed that are normal, the balance of the sails and the autopilot is good, we keep charging along, and power occasionally up to 16/17 knots, but without the chaotic charges down waves up to the 20s that we've had in the storms before. We can see the horizon, it's been a while since we've seen that also, so I keep looking for ships, but have seen none. A few albatross circle; the sky is very gray; misty rain comes along occasionally; yet the rainsqualls have only an extra knot or two of wind, not an extra 20 knots. Needed this day, needed to make some easy miles ..."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

December 31. 2008 at 06:24Sam's brains

"Did you know that offshore sailors (maybe everyone) actually have two brains? Well, we do! One is a clever brain, that makes all the right decisions, is sensible, tidy, rational and patient; the other is the "stupid brain" that makes silly mistakes, and generally tries to create havoc! Normally, we exist with the two brains in "synch" and fortunately the clever brain seems to keep the stupid brain in check most of the time! There are, however, small flaws that can cause "hiccups" if not best avoided. The clever brain is not perfect, and it is certainly not a "morning" brain! It takes a lot of time to wake up and get functioning. Unfortunately, on wake up, the stupid brain is up and running at 100% in a matter of seconds. This stupid brain then tries to persuade you that it is your clever brain so it can get control.....Obviously, lacking the clever brain, (who has pressed "snooze" on its alarm several times by now) you are unable to analyse which brain is in action, and that is where potential disasters can happen! Thus, the moral of the story is - when you wake up after a little sleep beware of the stupid brain, and wait a bit before trying to do something complicated or making a tactical decision, to give the clever brain time to get going!Just this morning, I made the error of listening to my stupid brain and I gybed too early! How annoying is that? It's been a long time since I fell into this trap. And if you ever hear me talking rubbish on the "vacation radio" you now know that it is probably because I've just woken up and its my stupid brain talking, not the clever one, so just ignore me!"
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

December 30. 2008 at 20:05Greatest distance over 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) currently in the lead, 9158.2 miles from the finish, sailed the greatest distance towards the finish. Between 19h yesterday and this evening, he covered 399.4 miles
 

December 30. 2008 at 15:56For your gifts, think Vendée Globe

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December 30. 2008 at 14:26Yesterday once more

"I have checked my watch and then checked it again as I am now confused. In the early hours of this morning I crossed the date line and now sail in a westerly longitude that is decreasing. This now means that it is yesterday once more. After sailing across the date line three times now in the last four years, it is great to finally get a day back in my life again. If you are confused, don't be. It is a little complicated so to avoid any time calculations I keep Aviva in UTC so my time is the same as at home. This makes life easy for weather files and communications; however it really does confuse the stomach as to what meal it should be consuming. The Pacific has so far been kind with smoother seas and fair winds but not very nice weather to match. I have spent lots of time in mist and fog and general drizzle which emphasises the greyness of the Southern Ocean. I am slowly making my way towards the next ice gate that should be my New Year’s present to myself."
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message
 

December 30. 2008 at 13:59And then there were three...

Loïck Peyron is due to reach Fremantle tonight at the end of his long voyage under jury rig aboard Gitana Eighty. It will have taken him three weeks to cross the Indian Ocean since his boat was dismasted and he was forced to retire from the race. On his arrival he will be assisted by Dominique Wavre and Mike Golding's team, as Ecover 3 and Temenos II are already moored in Fremantle. In mid-January, Gitana 80 is due to be transported back to Europe aboard a container vessel, but Loïck will only be spending a few hours in Australia before flying back to France.
 

December 30. 2008 at 09:26Rich past the East Australia Gate

"The gales, the lows that have crushed us for a week are gone for now, which sounds as though we must be mightily relieved, and we are, except for what has happened in the aftermath. Not quite fetching the west end of the east Australian ice gate, I gybed last night north east, to get to more wind on the grib file. The file showed a little wave, a smaller front, that would roll through in the night. It had 15-20 knots of wind. That was in the computer file. On deck, we had a series of squalls in the high 30s, then in the high 40s, seeing 48 knots in 3 different squalls. Between these, the wind would drop to 12 knots. What to do with the sails? Go up tentatively, and come down in a panic. At one point, I went from 2 reefs to 3 and rolled the solent entirely with the biggest blackest cloud in the book about a half mile astern and coming fast. Finally, with 3 reefs and no jib, I trusted the pilot and climbed into the sleeping bag, there was nothing I could do on deck to stabilize this weather or our sailing, so might as well try to rest rather than exhaust myself. Finally it has stabilized at 25+/- and we're moving with solent and two reefs, still a bit tentative. A milestone today, we passed the west end of the east Australian ice gate, so one more mark checked off."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

December 30. 2008 at 07:48The Doors and the Gates

"Good morning or good evening, depending on where you are. I've made it to 179 W.  The wind shifted, as forecast, making it a little more difficult since this morning. Listening to the Doors and thinking of the next Pacific Gates.   I force myself to carry out a tour of inspection each day both on the deck and down below. Problems happen so suddenly.  I just found a packet of cake I had lost. I also discovered I have some presents for the New Year.  Father Christmas was really generous this year!"
Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas)in his daily message