Vendée Globe

February 10. 2009 at 12:21Latest ETAs

It is increasingly difficult today to forecast the next ETAs because of a high-pressure area taking over in the Bay of Biscay. The competitors are going to have to sail a long way north to try to get around this zone. Samantha Davies (Roxy) is now not expected to finish before Saturday and thinks it may well be Sunday before she crosses the finishing line. For Marc Guillemot (Safran), finishing on Monday is a possibility, if he does not slow down too much in the high. As for Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) and Dee Caffari (Aviva), we should probably count on them arriving within 48 hours of Monday lunchtime.

February 10. 2009 at 10:1563 knots of wind for Brit Air

Just off the coast of Vendée, gusts of up to 76 knots were recorded on Yeu Island and 72 knots at Château d’Olonne a few miles inland, in the middle of the night. In Port Olona, the wind gauge on Brit Air, moored at the pontoon since last Saturday, indicated 63 knots at the height of the storm.

February 10. 2009 at 09:42Radio session as usual

Because of damage in the Vendée Globe Village caused by the storm, there will be no audience for the radio session today.  The tent, where equipment is stored was damaged and is closed to the public until further notice.  However, the journalists will be in place and you can listen to the radio session on the website as usual.

February 10. 2009 at 07:16Light winds ahead for Sam

“Less than 900 miles to go, the finish seems to be getting close! Although, from now on, Roxy is going to start to slow down as we get overtaken by the high pressure that is rushing up behind us. Yet again I am going to have a frustrating few days of light winds - the Atlantic is really testing my light airs sailing! And my wish to be home by Valentine's day is looking difficult to achieve! So instead of trying to dodge the high, which seems almost impossible I am trying to put Roxy in the best place to catch the wind on the other side! This is easier said than done, as the forecasts are pretty vague! I am, however incredibly glad of the forecast for Marco's sake, as the light winds will hopefully enable Safran to get to the finish safely. After all Marco has done, he deserves to get there and I am keeping everything crossed for a safe passage for him and Safran. Yesterday was wet and bumpy, but fast, and fun! As the winds were dropping I had plenty of exercise to do to shake out reefs and change up headsails.... now we are sailing under full sail. Roxy is nice and clean, as the tons and tons of water have nicely rinsed the deck and cockpit! Now the calmer weather should leave the decks dry until the finish I must make sure not to spill my tea or my dinner on the deck as there will probably not be any more "washing machine" conditions!”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

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