Vendée Globe

February 15. 2009 at 19:41More problems for Norbert

Norbert Sedlacek has more problems with his mast track. The screws on the mast are worn and breaking away one by one. The Austrian has taken his mainsail down to try to get the cars back in the track. He will then strap the track to the mast. This time the damage has occurred at second reef and he will therefore need to go back up the mast as soon as possible.

February 15. 2009 at 10:00Latest ETAs

Based on the latest weather information and this morning’s rankings, the latest ETAs (in GMT) established by Météo France are:
Safran: between 21h30 on Sunday evening and 06h00 on Monday morning
Pindar: between 01h00 on Sunday night and 12h00 on Monday
Aviva: between 08h00 and 20h00 on Monday
 

February 15. 2009 at 07:25Sheltering from the heat

“Heading just outside Fernando Island, then change course to north true, with maybe a bit of west, toward where I think the doldrums/ITCZ will be narrow. Yesterday, not fetching the coast up toward Recife, we tacked offshore, target 25 miles, tacked back when we reached that, and to deep discouragement, were still not fetching the corner of Brazil. Eventually, we got lifted a degree at a time until we were fetching (heading straight for) Recife. Then we put a few degrees in the bank as surplus, and then a few more. This morning, the southeast trades finally arrived, and we could head further to the northeast to get outside Fernando. Made good time finally cracked off and sheets started. I, in all good conscience and memory, cannot remember when we last had reaching conditions cracked off and sheets started. It is hot, hot, hot. Cannot sit below, sauna like. Cannot sit under the cuddy because of the sun coming in under the overhang. Found myself sitting on the cockpit floor, trying to get out of the sun this afternoon.”
Rich Wilson (Great American III) in his daily message
 

February 14. 2009 at 20:39Tacking to the finish

"Well now I am closing the continental shelf and the traffic has increased. There are ships and fishing vessels so the time has come to be extra vigilant during these final few miles.  The weather has been overcast all day but a flat sea has meant we have kept a fast pace. The only downside is that the wind is blowing directly from where we want to go, so it is a case of tacking all the way to the end. As always with light airs and a high pressure the weather files are not too good at getting it right so I have had to sail what I see today and tack on any shifts to ensure I am always on the making tack. It makes life quite tricky as you always assume life would be better on the other tack but you cannot keep tacking as each time you slow the boat down so it is a case of giving each tack time to see how good or how bad it gets. I guess that I will be working hard to the finish as I am determined to keep chasing Pindar down as I shall not let Brian finish without some pressure."

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message

February 14. 2009 at 19:15Latest ETAs

Marc Guillemot on Safran is expected between 20h00 on Sunday and 10h00 on Monday.
Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar is expected on Monday between 00h00 and 12h00.
Dee Caffari on Aviva is expected on Monday between 08h00 and 20h00.

(All times are indicated in GMT)

February 14. 2009 at 12:18Yann Eliès on the pontoons

Present to welcome Samantha Davies, who was diverted to go to his assistance, Yann Eliès did not go unnoticed on the pontoons in Port Olona. He began a long period of physiotherapy over a month ago to recover the use of his leg, but the progress is already visible, as he is now only using one crutch. He even went aboard a RIB to accompany Sam Davies through the harbour channel. «I’m pleased to be here and to have experienced Sam’s arrival. It was a magical night. It was important for me to come to Les Sables d’Olonne, even if I would have preferred to sail in myself via the harbour channel. It’s a breath of fresh air to leave behind my hospital bed and to get out on the water in my oilskins. That does a lot of good to a sailor. Sam sailed the race she expected and wanted to sail. But what surprises us is that pleasure she felt every day at sea… That’s the secret behind her success in this Vendée Globe.»

February 14. 2009 at 10:10Sam's first words on the podium

“It was nice to have a few hours moored up. I’m pleased to have brought Roxy to Les Sables d'Olonne. I’ve just realised I’m back on dry land for the first time in three months. I’m happy and it was like that almost all the time. I use positive energy to feel good. It’s such a big thing doing the Vendée Globe. There were two or three moments that were difficult to be positive about, with Yann and his leg or Jean capsizing. Those were very stressful moments. Then, there was the time off Brazil, when I was stuck without any wind for several days. Even now when I think of everything I did in the south, I don’t know how I did it and I don’t know why I wasn’t afraid! My first time in the south for the Jules Verne Trophy was eleven years ago. I was a young girl without much experience and so I couldn’t enjoy it as much as this time.
It didn’t feel too long. I even wondered during the night if I shouldn’t set off again, but a lot of people would have been disappointed. I hadn’t realised how popular I was. I was in my little pink bubble on Roxy, but when I looked at my website, that cheered me up, and I was surprised by all the messages from everywhere in the world.
What I’m going to miss is being alone on my boat. It was enjoyable and I was lucky to be able to do that ... The other night, I told myself that this was my final evening and the phone kept ringing. So I put on my i-Pod and turned the music up. There I was at the helm under spinnaker in the sunset. It’s what I love most.
But I won’t miss my two buckets. I really want to have a nice shower with a lot of products and creams! Now my goal is to do better in 2012, and I’m going to be doing my utmost to be back here in four years."

February 14. 2009 at 09:40Alongside

And Sam douses the media with champagne after docking, stopping for ten minutes to answer questions from the radio and TV and journalists before heading to the podium. On the water in RIB were both Yann Elies and Roland Jourdain out to greet Sam, Mike Golding is also here. Best moment for Sam was Cape Horn, worst moments were when she was worrying about Yann Elies when he was injured on board Generali.

February 14. 2009 at 09:14Entering the marina

And Sam is fully kitted out for the weather, it is still very cold this morning and she will dock in a few minutes before stepping back on to dry land for the first time in more than 96 days. There are also big crowds in the Arrival Village, and at 0700hrs this morning there was already a big queue at the gates, people waiting in the freezing cold, desperate to get the best spot in front of the big screen and hoping to catch a few words with Sam maybe.

Roxy will dock behind Brit Air which arrived here exactly a week ago ithis morning n second place.

February 14. 2009 at 09:09Slowing down

The official number of people out to greet Sam is '......a lot' ...they are four or five deep along the whole channel and the narrow waterway is chock a block with boats, and every so often Roxy comes to a halt just due to the volume of traffic. It is like the Pied Piper with a long train of boats of all shapes and sizes following the polka dot Open 60 down the canal.