Vendée Globe

January 17. 2009 at 15:10A great welcome for Unai

After a long voyage back up the Atlantic following his retirement from the Vendée Globe on the 7th December because of a damaged rudder, the Basque sailor Unai Basurko finally reached his home port of Getxo (Bilbao) late this morning. It was clearly an emotional time for the skipper of Pakea Bizkaia, as the crowds turned out to welcome him home in brilliant sunshine.
 

January 17. 2009 at 09:10Bailing, draining, pumping

"Earlier we sailed directly into the trough of the elongated low, the extra tropical storm HETA, which has been sitting here in mid-Pacific spinning off secondary lows. Heta is finally about to move itself to the southeast and on to Cape Horn. After getting the big wind shift at the trough mid-point, we are coming out the east side and heading directly for the east Pacific ice gate. The wind will build, and the seas will build, and so we are hunkered down with the sail combination ready for when that happens, giving up some speed, but its OK for me. Even though we're going across the seas, the boat is pounding as it goes off waves and crashes into the troughs. Some of these are absolutely bone jarring. Last night, when we gybed in the trough to go east, I went forward and bailed the forward compartments, 4 buckets from the forepeak, and had to use the bilge pump system to bail the sail locker amidships. Also, since I could still hear water sloshing in the compartment underneath the cockpit, and our two autopilot compasses are in there, I got the water out of there, not by going back and bailing in the lazerette, because that was far too dangerous and ineffective, but by draining the compartment into the main cabin. We have a small screw drain plug between the two compartments, and although it took a while to get comfortable with draining water into the cabin, it was the simplest. Good news is that the water stayed on one side of the centerline, and I could bail it into a bucket, pour that into the sink in the main cabin, and then pump it overboard. It was simpler, and we got 4 buckets out of the cockpit compartment."
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

January 17. 2009 at 08:43Arnaud back in the Atlantic

"Yesterday will remain an extraordinary day for me; I arrived off Tierra del Fuego in a breeze, then squalls with 50-knot winds and after that the skies cleared enabling me to see the snow capped mountains (magical!). The wind then eased off and I found myself with no wind and had to carry out manoeuvres with the dolphins alongside; the Horn was just ahead, but the wind was a header and I could only see it from afar. I was the seventh to round close to Dee. Sailing in the Southern Seas was an enriching experience, both in terms of the sights and the general atmosphere. the Ocean rules and does not hesitate to remind us of that. Then, there are the marvellous albatrosses. Thanks to the South! I'll be back having gained a lot of experience and having learnt a lot. As the seas were rough, I decided I would only open the bottle for the Cape tomorrow. the worst of the wind is behind me, but I need to remain cautious; the seas are still high and offering some incredible surfs"..
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) in his daily message
 

January 17. 2009 at 08:02Looking forward to 2012

"I have just spent the longest time just gazing out of my door looking at all that is around me. It won't be long now and the Southern Ocean will be behind me, for a while at least, and I shall really miss it, it has been fantastic - bleak, desolate, isolated, powerful, all of those things, but immeasurably beautiful too, with undoubtably the best sailing in the world. I am ready to leave the South though now; firstly before I break anything else more serious than the loo seat and the kettle handle, both casualties of the last blow, and secondly because then it will be nearer the time when I can come back better prepared and more knowledgable, and as much as I love my old boat, I would like to return in a faster one and keep up with the front runners. As such my thoughts are turning in earnest to looking for a sponsor to take us through to the 2012 Vendee Globe. It will be strange indeed to get back on that treadmill, but I think things will be different for us after this, and people will take us a bit more seriously. I always thought that I would want to do 2012 as well, but now I have experienced most of this race, I know I want to, and there is a big difference. First, however, I have to get home. The breeze has constantly been ranging between fifteen and thirty five knots under some enormous cumulus clouds, which makes sail choices difficult, but we are moving, and I am grateful for that, and we have only two days to go to Cape Horn. The blow we had did us some favours though, it was good fast sailing, downwind and then reaching in strong conditions with a good sea state, and the most wind we saw was about forty eight knots, so not bad at all really and certainly not as bad as forecast, so we made some good time. After the worst of the weather had passed us by, I was drying out my swamp downstairs, bucket and sponge in hand, when there was a big hissing noise, then a thump, and the boat fell over. It seemed for the longest time like water just poured and poured over the boat, shutting out the light, but in reality it probably only lasted a few seconds. I banged my cheekbone on something trying to hold onto a half full bucket of grubby bilge water! I remember thinking "Well that'll teach you to speak too soon!" I don't know if I have a bruise, the only mirror I have is just about good enough to check I haven't chopped my ears off whilst shaving! (Kim was horrified because I asked her to bring some shaving oil to Les Sable when she comes out to the finish as I ran out ages ago, and when I told her I was using cooking oil instead she was horrified! She says she doesn't want me coming home smelling, but the thing is, when I've had a shave I smell like tortellini, and that makes me hungry!) When I went outside all of my normally neatly bagged bits of string were streaming out behind the boat! Luckily the storm staysail in its bag in the cockpit was tied on! There was no sign of my big wave, it had just blended into the scenery and gone. I was glad I hadn't been on deck....."
Steve White (Toe in the Water) in his daily message
 

January 17. 2009 at 07:42The need for speed

"I admit last night was better than the night before or the day before. Never-ending tacks in squalls. You end up feeling that you're really finding your way forward step by step, which is never enjoyable sailing. Sailing under ten knots may not sound that bad, but I wasn't happy. It reminds me of another experience: During a friendly race in the Figaro Grand Prix, I took aboard a businessman, a leading light in the area, who had all sorts of diplomas. His assistant told him he was "with Desjoyeaux, as he's the best and always wins." We started. A false start and we had to go back and start again. We ended up 15th, I think. During the race, the bloke never touched a single rope, never asked a single question and just chatted way to his friend throughout the entire race. Back in the harbour his assistant was waiting. "So Mr. President, what happened?" A curt reply: "I don't like rankings with two digits." Not a thank you, not a look of acknowledgement. Well, I don't like single digit speeds! But today, it's better. I like it like that."

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message
 

January 17. 2009 at 07:12Norbert meets Raphaël

"In the last few hours I had a great situation finding Dinelli in the middle of the South Pacific. We got contact with iridium and then later with VHF and came very close to make some pictures and videos. It is really sensational how the different situations are developing in an adventure like that. Raphael and I will see that we sail the southern Pacific together, then after Cape Horn maybe Raphael will stop to do some repairs. So in the end it was one of the most beautiful days during the race and I am very very happy about the date with Raphael and wish for the day when we have a drink in les Sables together to talk about this great moment !"
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport Kapsch) by e-mail during the night
 

January 17. 2009 at 06:50Sam's foam party

"I braved the bow of Roxy with my soap and shampoo and took my first sea water shower of the Northbound trip! The first wave was a bit of a shock, but after that it was just great! I was so covered in shower gel and shampoo I must have looked like someone in a "foam party", and as I was ready to rinse off, the wind dropped temporarily and there were no more waves!! So there I spent a good ten minutes all covered in foam, sliding around the bow of Roxy waiting for a wave! Today the wind is being good to us and allowing us to go fast in the right direction. This section of the race is pretty complicated and it is hard work trying to understand the weather and work out the best route. Between sail changes, trimming (and my shower!) I have spent a lot of time studying different weather forecasts and running routing calculations to try to get me and Roxy into the trade winds as quickly as possible."
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

January 16. 2009 at 09:58Unexpectedly upwind

"I have had the most surreal night. It has felt so strange just sailing and not trying to go anywhere. The most amazing fact of the night was that I was sailing under South America upwind. Now twice before I have sailed upwind in this neck of the woods but I never expected it on this race. So three times round Cape Horn and every time upwind, can you believe it? Aviva, true to form as always became a land magnet during our tour of the Continental shelf and we visited the Islands of Diego Ramirez. In that area and we were there for a while, I was surrounded with dolphins and countless birds. It was awesome. It was also at this time where I was struggling to stay away from the Islands that the centre of the low came over me and I had no wind and what little my instruments thought there was, was from all over the place. Here we go I thought the time has come. I was driving to try and stay away from the islands and get some boat speed. The clouds were building to my south and I knew rain and wind was coming. As I popped below to get my wet weather jacket I noticed we needed to charge. I turned the generator on and it started and stopped. Now was not a good time. Twice this happened and then I knew I had to become a mechanic. However, with rain and wind about to arrive, Islands close by and a storm to prepare for having a generator in pieces was far from ideal. The reality was I needed to charge. Time was now of the essence though and I think I even impressed myself that 40 minutes later I was back on deck sailing with the new breeze and the generator charging my batteries. The next bizarre moment was not long after this as the wind built quickly as expected. I put my forth reef in my mainsail with 20 knots of breeze. Hardly racing trim, but we needed to go slow to allow the depression to move and I knew that shortly I would be faced with huge winds and I needed to protect what little there is of my sail. I spent some time trying to cover the exposed fibres with bits of good sail and tying it up so now my fingers are crossed that it survives. Next stop is changing my staysail for the storm staysail and then I am as ready as I am going to be to face the music of our parting gift from the Southern Ocean."

Dee Caffari in her daily message
 

January 16. 2009 at 08:01Even the dragons are scared

«In the Finistère Course au Large training centre in Port La Foret, an info board offers information about the Vendée Globe to inform visitors about how those from the centre are doing. We have in particular the five frontrunners (6 if you count Vincent). Kate has left a book for visitors to sign and among the messages, they had the following one. Ewen, 3 and a half: “Since Mummy put Michel Desjoyeaux in my bedroom, the dragon has been frightened and has left me and I can sleep without any worries!" A nice message?... What is reassuring is that I scare kids less than the nasty dragons..."
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message
 

January 16. 2009 at 07:33Sam reefed in with 4 knots of wind

"Here, conditions are very very changeable! At the moment there are just 4 knots of wind (downwind), but only a few hours ago there were 40 (upwind)! This has left a bit of tricky sea-state and for most of the afternoon and evening I had to slow Roxy down as she was flying off the waves that were coming in the wrong direction! Very frustrating. Right now, the sea is still bad, so I have taken a reef in the main to prevent the sail from shaking the rig around too much as it "clack clacks" in the swell! Its the first time I've reefed in 4 knots of wind!Hopefully this calm patch will only last a few hours and we will pick up some Westerlies again in the morning. I'm not complaining at all, when I know that Dee, Brian and Cali are enduring the worst storm of the race at Cape Horn. My thoughts go out for them at this difficult moment in the race, and I hope they find adequate shelter and that the storm doesn't do any damage."
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message