Amazing, amazing, Sam is permanently lit up now in the cockpit of the double Vendee Globe winning boat, a little touch of Hollywood at sea at 0118hrs local time, the security boats trying to keep some kind of order, but all going well except for a few rogue washes!
A la uneNewswire
Closing on the line
2009.02.14Alongside sam
2009.02.14Pretty crazy out here with spectator boats, Sam has just called the committee boat and she says she thinks she will be at the line in 15 minutes, four miles left of her Vendee Globe, she could scarcely contain herself when she spoke to them. Stil making 12 knots, well heeled in the puffs, with the mulitcoloured Roxy sails lit up by the lights, and every so often she picks out people she knows.
Alongside sam
2009.02.14There are probably 20 spectator and media boats out here, each sweeping in to take their turn at filming Roxy as she creams along. Davies looks relaxed and content, waving like a lunatic evry time she is lit up by a spotlight. Two very large spectator boats take their turn as well, getting in close within 20 metres of Sam as she surfs the last few miles of her Vendee Globe.
Alongside sam
2009.02.14We are alongside Sam now in about 12 knots of wind, Rosy is under stsysail and one reef , and the flashguns are popping like Oscar night, Sam is waving and loving every second, making over 12 knots to the line.
7 miles to go
2009.02.14Still 7 miles to sail for Sam about another hour at her current speed. Skies have cleared and there is a ceiling of stars now and a bright half moon. There are already a few boats out at Roxy. Quite choppy.
And we can see Roxy now already surrounded by boats. Flash guns already popping like Oscar night.
Sam's ETA
2009.02.14At 23H UTC Sam Davies has 18.5 miles to sail and is making 12.5 kts. She should cross the Vendee Globe Finish line at 00h30 UTC.
It's a very dark night and spectators boat have just left the harbour. Wind is about 12kts from north east. Slight swell but choppy.