RACING NEWS
Words by Mark Orr
Will Sodeb’O
and Thomas
Coville do it?
As we write Thomas Coville might just break Francis Joyon’s single-
handed non-stop circumnavigation of the world. It is close and it will
be pretty nailbiting. He has had a tough crossing of the Southern
Ocean. Not only has he had very strong winds that have forced him
to sail further North (and on a longer route)than he would have liked
but every time he dived south he was forced back north by patches
of ice and icebergs picked up by satellite. These have forced the
Vendee Globe skippers north too. So he had to sail further and in
stronger winds that Francis Joyon.
Since rounding Cape Horn Thomas Coville has routed up the coast
of Argentina, Uruguay and now Brazil. He has been able to make a
lot of mileage and time up on Francis Joyon and IDEC, whose solo
round the world record he seeks to break.
When rounding Cape Horn, Sodeb' O was almost five days behind
Francis Joyon. His routers took the risk of a passage through the
Strait of La Maire “what enabled us to consider a shorter road in
the West. We could thus profit from two weather systems which
almost took us along on only one tack and very quickly to the doors
of Rio” said Richard Silvani of Météo France. “It is now necessary
to be readjusted simply in the East to go to seek the famous trade
wind.”

He should cross the equator on Wednesday January 7. As for the
doldrums, located by 6 or 7 degrees North, it does not seem very
active today. But that can change! It should be noted that there are
always differences between the American and European weather
models on the position of the Azores High the last weather system
to be faced on this round the world express train.

To beat the record established by Francis Joyon last year, Sodeb' O
must cross the line in Brest before January 15, 3 h27 morning (UK
time).
I have got We know that the members of Club Nautico Espanol de Vela
America’s Cup
passionate (CNEV), the challenger of record for what may or may not be the
about the next America's Cup, can't do that. The four members of CNEV
America’s can't sit at the bar and bond over a few beers because there is
Cup, I have been frustrated for it, I have been awed by it and I no bar, nor is there a clubhouse in which to piece together the
have started to loathe it. I have met people who have challenged campaign. There have no boats in which to train, which is just as
for it, sailors who have sacrificed so much to compete in it. I have well, because there are no pontoons to tie to them to. There are
been close to one challenge only legal papers and a telephone number….
and loved it. I have helped
challenging teams raise funds, A Spanish journalist who tried to find out how people could join
sent out press releases, manage CNEV learned that the only members are four officials from Spain's
sponsor etc. We have all be national sailing federation. The Spanish Club is a sham to keep the
drawn to the challenging club, event in Valencia and to ensure Alinghi keep rigid control over the
embraced their vision, and the challenger selection trials and then the finals. It is their show, by
campaign has been shaped their rules to give then the greatest possible chance of ensuring they
and evolved by a committee retain the Cup.
Unknown photographers
picture of the Cup in Valnecia
with talent, drive, passion and
enthusiasm. In the next few weeks the New York State Supreme Court is
38  MULTIHULL REVIEW : JANUARY 2009
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