Vendée Globe

February 09. 2009 at 23:17Aviva into light winds

“Last night was a busy night with reefs going in and out and headsails being changed as the wind was very unstable. It was very difficult to find a suitable sail plan for the wind and sea state. Daylight this morning revealed further damage to the mainsail with the fibres breaking and streaming out the back of the sail like extremely long tell tales. It was a reminder that I still have many miles to go and this main sail has to get me to the finish line. Today was light winds with blue skies and white clouds. Very pleasant except for the huge north westerly swell that stopped me in my tracks as soon as Aviva fell off the top of a wave. It was jarring progress but it was a northerly route I had to take to get round the high pressure that was passing eastwards to the north of me. I see that Pindar has been negotiating the same high pressure but a little closer to the centre. We should both pick up a new wind flow tonight that will see us in heavy reaching conditions for a couple of days before we need to tackle our last obstacle, another high pressure protecting the Bay of Biscay.”
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message
 

February 09. 2009 at 15:12Latest ETAs

Here are the latest ETAs from Richard Silvani of Météo France based on the weather charts from 00h00 on Monday 9th February. These times indicated in GMT may change as the high pressure area heads up over the Bay of Biscay.

- Safran: dependent on the speed she can sail at
- Roxy: between 12h00 on Thursday and 18h00 on Friday 13th February
- Pindar, Aviva: between 12h00 on Monday 16th and 12h00 on Wednesday 18th.
- Akena: between 00h00 on Thursday 19th and 00h00 on Saturday 21st.
 

February 09. 2009 at 12:37Cautious progress for Safran

Marc Guillemot’s Safran was not identified in the 10h00 rankings, but we do know he is heading towards the finish at 7-8 knots. He is currently 680 miles west of Cape Finisterre. He should reappear in the rankings at 15h00 this afternoon.

February 09. 2009 at 12:05Unfavourable conditions for Rich

“Working very hard to get upwind and to where we would have a favorable wind angle. It is still far off, but we did get a good lift yesterday evening up to steering N for a while. Another low out of Rio will squeeze the isobars in an unfavorable direction though, so we will get headed as we head up and therefore into the coast. Will push it as long as possible, maybe we can get a break. A tack offshore may be necessary, but it seems a very bad angle now for sure. Staysail and 2 reefs in the main, down from solent and 1 reef, and the boat does the same speed and angle with only a change of a few knots of windspeed.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

February 09. 2009 at 11:22Paprec-Virbac 2 on her way to Le Havre

Paprec-Virbac 2, Jean-Pierre Dick’s boat has been loaded aboard a cargo vessel in Malaysia and is now heading for Le Havre.

The skipper from Nice retired from the race on 31st December after his port rudder was ripped off when he collided with a UFO, shortly after passing New Zealand. This weekend, Jean-Pierre was present in les Sables d'Olonne to welcome Armel Le Cléac'h.
 

February 09. 2009 at 08:05Four seasons in one day

“Today I have had four seasons in one day or it certainly feels like it. At dawn we were slow, trying to make the best of the breeze and it wasn't quite as the grib files suggested so I had to be patient. Then during the afternoon the sun was glorious and I sat outside and enjoyed it as we went along downwind. I knew the wind was to come forward on us and in anticipation I changed my headsail. Then whilst down below the wind did a quick 180 degrees and rather than being at 20 knots rose to 35 knots with a sea state to match. Now I had a bit on and got thoroughly drowned in the process. So now I find myself sat in a northerly wind that has a rough sea state and a grey miserable sky to match. The wind strength is very up and down but I am now cautious as my main sail doesn't like these conditions very much and the fibres are getting close to giving out, so I have to think big picture of getting to the finish line.”
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message yesterday evening
 

February 09. 2009 at 07:15First sight of land for 3 months

“Today has been a full-on and fun day on the water! The wind gradually built all day, in the afternoon we had 35 knots of wind. The waves have become very difficult as Roxy and I have been passing over various banks and shelves around the Azores islands. By the end of the afternoon, we were being attacked by giant breaking waves coming from different directions, coupled with a wind reaching 40 knots. The result was a few "wipeouts" caused by the breakers, plus several "fill-ups" of the cockpit, the waves also managed to open a spinlock clutch (!), and very nearly tore away my lifebuoy! Now, the front is passing over us, with frequent 45-knot squalls, for a while we sailed under a 3-reefed main alone! I have gybed and Roxy is sneaking past just a few miles to the South of Terceira. I can see the lights of the towns on the island, and I can smell the land! It is the first time I have seen civilization since leaving Les Sables d'Olonne three months ago! I have to keep going back on deck to have another look, but then I see the huge scary waves in the moonlight and decide I'm better off inside! Hopefully the sea state and wind will calm down soon so that I can put a bit more sail up and speed up a bit, but for now it is "sail safe" mode on board Roxy!”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

February 08. 2009 at 17:06Intimidating thunderheads

“26/38S 37/03 W, 8.5 knots, staysail, one reef, 20 knots of wind NNW, came through trough last night. If you haven't seen a South American thunderhead, you haven't seen a thunderhead. Who knew the sky was that tall?! Totally intimidating in the moonlight, but we lucked out and didn't get a lot of incremental wind to force sail changes. This morning spoke to the M/V Protector, Captain Raz (India) in command, bound for Santos, Brazil, to Durban, South Africa for bunkering (take on fuel), then to Singapore to deliver its 40,000 tons of sugar. Had a nice chat on VHF with the good captain.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

February 08. 2009 at 07:17A day of sail changes for Sam

“Finally, the Pink Rocket is hooning along downwind again! Yesterday was a very busy day at the office. I used every sail except the storm jib! We started off drifting along in a little zephyr under Code 0. As the wind strengthened, I put up Sophie the spinnaker, which was a great moment!! Soon, the staysail was working too, inside the spi... Late afternoon, and a BIG black squall cloud started chasing us. By precaution, I decided to drop the spinnaker as there were already 24 knots of wind, a good decision as the squall brought 30 knots! Afterwards, it was time for Genevive the gennaker to stretch her cloth! But by the evening, the wind was again starting to reach 30 knots, but this time a steady wind, no squalls, so I rolled away Genevive and had the usual tussle with her to get her through the forehatch and curled up in her bag! So, now Roxy is under Solent + ORC, to complete the full sail wardrobe of the day! The wind is fairly unstable and we are doing speeds between 11 and 20 knots. It is so nice to be going fast again, and not heeled over at 30 degrees! Next obstacle is the Azores, tomorrow evening, with a cold front passing over us at the same time to add to the difficulty factor! I have been invited to tea by a school in the Azores, but unfortunately I have to decline the kind invitation this time!”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

February 07. 2009 at 19:25Some familiar faces

As for Foncia, many skippers turned up today to pay homage to Armel Le Cléac’h. Michel Desjoyeaux was present, as was Jean Pierre Dick, whom Armel congratulated on a great start. Then, there were those who did not wish to miss Brit Air finishing: Vincent Riou, who had accompanied Armel for a large part of the voyage in the Atlantic and Pacific, and Jean Le Cam, for whom Armel was diverted after his boat capsized.
On the pontoons, there were some other familiar faces from the Figaro circuit, Gildas Morvan and Nicolas Troussel, a long time friend of Armel, with whom he won the Transat AG2R.