Vendée Globe

February 11. 2009 at 10:25Energy saving measures

“For the moment to save fuel, everything is turned off except the autopilot. I turn on the computer three times a day to see the rankings without looking at the night rankings, as the wind turbine is working, but not producing enough electricity. It is not as much of a problem as on the way down, as I don’t need to keep an eye on others. I think I will have enough fuel to finish, but I’d like to have some left for the Bay of Biscay so I can use my ballast tanks. At night, I leave my navigation lights on and the AIS tracker doesn’t use much. Yesterday, a cargo ship about 9 miles away, spotted me on the AIS. So I’ve stopped watching films and now I just use the iPod when the sun is out. I’m making savings too by not fetching all the weather charts. That doesn’t really matter now, as there’s not much of a race here and all I can do is try to head north. It’s a bit frustrating to have all this equipment on board and not be able to use it.”

Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas) in his daily message.

February 11. 2009 at 09:18BT back in the water in April

"For the moment, I need to wait for BT to come back home, so I am working on my fitness and use the available time to make sure everything will be perfect for the rest of the season. I'll do some winter racing in Brittany where the scene is thriving, and take out my windsurf gear in the winter gales - that should keep me busy and reasonably in shape!" said Sebasten Josse (BT). Meanwhile some members of his shore team have been busy in Auckland preparing to work on BT. The whole team will be involved in the repairs so the boat can be made ready for the 2009 season. Work on the composites is already underway and once the repairs are completed, BT will be transported by cargo vessel to Europe. She will then be based in Port La Foret for the 2009 season. Sébastien and BT are set to start training again in Brittany in late April.

February 11. 2009 at 08:05The hardest miles

"Aviva and I have enjoyed some great sailing this afternoon. We are sailing around the edge of the high pressure. It has been blue skies and sunshine for the downwind sailing that has now allowed us to surf the waves rather than crash into them. Tonight I shall be sailing between the islands of the Azores and will see the stable winds increase. I have another twenty four hours of breeze before we begin to negotiate lighter conditions once more. Why do the final miles always seem the hardest to complete?"
Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message
 

February 11. 2009 at 07:52Shimmering rainbows

“A long day of trying to point high on starboard tack up the coast to clear some shoals, and to get upwind to where the wind was supposed to shift to lift us. Seems as though it took forever, several days in fact, but finally did get across the last bank, and then got a lift so that for now at least we're heading in the right direction. Should, according to weather files, have two days of workable weather, then not so sure. Anyway, the boat sailed well today, although at the moment the wind is lightening, not what we wanted for the night. Had two pilot alarms today, always makes your heart skip five beats. Don't know what caused them, but pilot seems OK right now. Saw several fishing boats on the banks that we crossed. Also, a big ship coming up the coast this morning set off the radar detector which is good. Yet I'm surprised at how few ships we've seen, just the sugar carrier and this big ship in the dawn. We must be a bit too far offshore. Makes the sailing a bit simpler, but it's nice to see ships at sea. Very hot in the sun today, as we're near where the sun is directly overhead. Blue skies and white fluffy clouds all day. In the morning, a cloud went by with a bit of rain in it that mostly missed us. As I watched it go downwind to leeward, I could see the raindrops falling into the water about 100-200 meters to leeward, and the water would then bounce up about eight inches, making a thick layer of water droplets. This was across an expanse of a few hundred meters. What was so remarkable was that I could see many, many horizontal, shimmering rainbows in the layer of droplets that were amazing and beautiful. A few flying fish today, but none have come aboard.”

Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message

February 11. 2009 at 07:16Sophie the spinnaker

“I am writing this in the moonlight which is streaming into the cabin as Roxy trundles along under big (Sophie) spinnaker. Now the moonlight is shining behind the spinnaker and the girl that is painted on my spi is silhouetted out - just beautiful! Two sail changes today - first Genevive (who was very happy to unroll her cloth as she had been very tightly rolled in 30knots if wind the previous day!) then Sophie the spinnaker. Each time it is hard, hard work to heave the sail (that weighs about the same as me) to the top of the mast. I am left zapped of energy for a few minutes afterwards! My hands are suffering too, I think it will take more than a manicure to turn them back into girl's hands! Now, it is the time I prefer - as we are powering along with big sails in the dark of night. It is a bit of a buzz to let Roxy sail herself with so much power, and takes practise to be able to sleep! Luckily, I have had plenty! I have had a little snooze already but I was rudely awoken when my bed (normally horizontal) became very steeply angled and I found myself in a heap where my feet normally were.... a little "wipeout" caused by a very impolite 22-knot gust! I was on deck in a matter of seconds to ease the sheets and Roxy was soon back upright and pointing in the right direction! I have just over 600 miles to go - a mere "Fastnet Race" - and my latest eta is for early Saturday morning! Although this still could change, as the winds look pretty light and tricky for my last 200 miles.”
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message
 

February 10. 2009 at 15:30Messages for the skippers

Visitors to this website, who have signed up for the special service in « The Locker » have been able to send messages to the skippers. Tens of thousands of messages have been received from around the world. In terms of popularity the rankings are rather different from the race rankings. At the top of the list, we find Sam Davies, who has now received around a hundred messages more than Michel Desjoyeaux. Those sending messages have clearly not forgotten the competitors forced to abandon the race, as after the winner of the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe, we find Loïck Peyron, Roland Jourdain and Yann Eliès, who all continue to receive messages of support from well-wishers.

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