Vendée Globe

February 02. 2009 at 15:01Latest ETAs

Armel Le Cléac’h, now in second place is expected to reach les Sables d’Olonne between 00h00 GMT on 5th February and 06h00 GMT on 7th February.
Samantha Davies and Marc Guillemot are likely to reach the finish between 12h00 GMT on 9th February and 12h00 GMT on 11th February.
Brian Thompson ETA between 10th and 12th February.
Dee Caffari between 11th and 13th February
Arnaud Boissières between 13th and 15th February.

For the final four, the ETA’s are still not very precise. Steve White should finish around 20th February, Rich Wilson on around 27th, Raphaël Dinelli around 6th March and Norbert Sedlacek on 11th March. These ETAs are based on the current positions and do not take into account changes in the weather for the weeks ahead.
 

February 02. 2009 at 10:55Dee's thoughts on Michel Desjoyeaux

“To watch him is totally inspiring. Even for people who are not interested in sailing, it has been an amazing performance. It makes me think about what I have to do to be like that. If you look at the race, it has probably been the hardest race there has ever been so his victory means so much more. It’s a bigger achievement than previous wins. There were 30 skippers at the start and now there are 12 and all the things that have happened along the way means that if you finish, you can take a lot from it. It’s no mean feat. He didn’t just win, he did it in such style. He had to restart and was 40 hours behind everyone else when he did that. He sailed a truly incredible race throughout. It is impressive to be part of the same race. And then when he arrived in Les Sables d’Olonne he would have looked cool. He would have had a shave and a wash and a change of clothes. He would not have come in looking like he’d spent 80 days at sea. He would have come in looking like he was going out for dinner. That is part of the Desjoyeaux package. So cool."
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message talking about Michel Desjoyeaux’s victory
 

February 01. 2009 at 21:10The most difficult 24 hours

“The past 24 hours have been among the most difficult so far. A huge low, much wider east-west than forecast, has taken its toll. After finally  getting to the west side which had the southerly winds, we took off at high speed with storm jib and 3 reefs in the mainsail in the late afternoon/evening. Into the dark the wind built from 25-30-35-40-45-50knots. It turns out that we had the fastest run for that period in the fleet. It was not intentional. The pilot was doing well, set on its highest response settings, but the wind and boatspeed kept rising. The highest I saw was 24.5 knots, the fastest of the whole race. Finally at about 3 am I realized that this could only end in disaster, the wind was not abating, and there was not way to know how much we might get, or how big the seas might get. Already, they were 25' and climbing, just gigantic, breaking in every direction, angry, and huge, gigantic masses of water with no good intentions. Another risk is if the mainsail is down and the boatspeed drops to 4 or 5 knots with just the storm jib, then you are at the mercy of the seas, and could get rolled over. There is dynamic stability in speed. Anyway, decided to try, had one arm in the foul weather gear, and the worst happened, the boat veered high, then low as the pilot tried to correct, I saw the number 40 degrees low, OH NO, then a huge CRASH, and the boat laid over on its side. The boat had gybed, and now the wind was on the wrong side of the mainsail, and the keel was canted fully on the wrong side. The boat laid over at about 70 degrees of heel and just sat there, then the autopilot alarm went off, just to add to the fray. Got the jacket on, helmet on, gloves on, and went into the cockpit sideways. All old handholds are useless when you turn your world on its side. Waves were washing down the deck, but not too much coming into the cockpit because it was to leeward. The mast was still there. I tried to jam the tiller over, no response. Then I remembered, that is not the sequence. This has happened in various conditions 3 times before. OK, got to the keel, walking along the walls below, center the keel with the keel motor winch, was able to do this, and good that the batteries were up. Then go to the cockpit and try the tiller again, to try to gybe back. The boat was now more upright with the keel movement, and I pushed the tiller over hard, nothing, then something, then here it comes, she's turning, oh boy there's going to be a gigantic CRASH when it gybes back, hang on and duck, BAM, the mainsail gybed back again. I write this in the late afternoon, the wind is down to 35 knots, the seas are still gigantic, and perhaps I'll try to get the main back up before it gets dark if the wind continues to abate a bit. Anyway, dodged a gigantic bullet there, could have lost the rig, runners, could have gotten hurt trying to get the boat back in its right direction, or in bringing the sail down.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

February 01. 2009 at 20:45From one champion to another

"A truly remarkable performance. Michel did well in every area. He managed to do everything it takes to achieve a victory: a well prepared boat, few mistakes during the race and he was destined to succeed. You don’t ask questions in such cases. He quite naturally won. Simply because he was the best!” - Vincent Riou

February 01. 2009 at 20:01Brian's reaction to Desjoyeaux's victory

“Today is Mich Desj day. He finished earlier today, to indicate what a big deal this is and how big sailing is in France, I have been told that his finish was live on 3 terrestrial TV channels – for 2 hours. What an incredible impression Mich has made on this Vendée. After having won 8 years ago, the only way to top that was to give everyone a head start and still win, and that’s exactly what happened! He was relentless in catching up and then consolidating his lead. He is a great champion, and in the world of sailing his talents in single handed racing are just as exceptional as those of Russell Coutts in the America’s Cup and Ben Ainslie in the Olympic arena. It’s been amazing to watch and also exciting and challenging to see how much more achievable work there is to be done to get to his level in both personal performance and boat performance. The only person who was able to keep up the pace for a long period was Bilou, and in an older, though very fast and well tested boat, his performance was exceptional as well. I really hope that after his keel failure the weather allows him to finish this Vendée, though it won’t be easy for him in his 60 foot dinghy with a lot of Northerly winds coming over his route. Certainly Armel should sail calmly into 2nd place before the finish, but no one can doubt Bilou’s achievements and abilities, whatever the outcome.”
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) commenting on Mich’s win
 

February 01. 2009 at 19:20Sam's reaction

“Every time I have been asked who my sailing hero is, I answered Mich (as everybody calls him) Desjoyeaux. I now think that many more people will understand why. He was always my favourite to win the race so I felt sad for him three months ago when straight away after the start he had to turn back for repairs. But I always knew that it wouldn’t be enough to stop ‘Mich the machine’! Roxy and I have a special connection with him because my old lady is no other than the boat he won the race in for the first time eight years ago. Mich and I have been communicating by email through the race and it has been very important for me. In hard times, a little message from his Foncia would come to Roxy and encourage me and give me motivation. He has inspired me and I always try my best in his wake. Mich has just showed again what the sailing world already knew, he is one of the world’s best sailors of all time.”
Sam Davies (Roxy) commenting on Michel Desjoyeaux’s win
 

February 01. 2009 at 15:52ETA 15h15 GMT

Michel Desjoyeaux is due to finish at 15h15 GMT, after just over 84 days and three hours of racing

February 01. 2009 at 15:15Foncia 75 minutes away

At 14h15 GMT, Foncia was sailing at just over ten knots, 8 miles from the Barges Lighthouse, which means Michel Desjoyeaux is likely to cross the finishing line in around an hour and a quarter.

February 01. 2009 at 14:31Foncia off the island of Yeu

At 13h30 GMT, Michel Desjoyeaux was spotted south of the island of Yeu: the skipper of Foncia is therefore still due to reach Les Sables d’Olonne between 16h30-17h00. Sailing upwind on the port tack under staysail with one reef in the mainsail, he is averaging around ten knots in a 25-knot wind.

February 01. 2009 at 14:03The crowds await

The harbour walls around the entrance to the port of Les Sables d’Olonne as well as the quayside in la Chaume are beginning to fill up this afternoon. Several thousand people are waiting, in spite of the bitter cold easterly wind in Vendée. Just off the shore outside of the harbour entrance, several boats are making their way out to greet Michel Desjoyeaux.