Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2009
Yacht Racing News
Update Vendee Globe & Carnage in the South Pacific
As of 1 January the Standings were: and how tired the skipper is. much caution and you lose confidence.” last race at this point.
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) 8333.4 miles As the day passes the first big winds, 35- It was announced that PAKEA
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) Day 24, 3 December 40 knots, of the Southern Ocean arrive. With BIZKAIA officially abandons the race. The
at + 64.6 miles The racers are preparing for the first just miles separating the leaders they press starboard rudder box is damaged. The car-
3. Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at + 345.3 major blow from the Southern Ocean, which on as hard as they dare. After 25 days of bon pieces that join the rudder box to the
miles is made up of winds 35 to 45 knots with gusts racing, Seb Josse and Yann Eliès remain in transom are broken. To repair the damage he
4. Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) + 705 miles up to 60 knots. One must be careful not to get sight of each other. Also at stake is the would need to haul the boat. Due to the
5. Vincent Riou (PRB) + 739.miles caught with too much sail up as the wind design of BT is from the Farr office, which has damage Unai Basurko said that he does not
rapidly builds. Golding admitted he was yet to conquer this race. The design of want to go further south because of the
Selected International caught and was forced to sail off in the wrong GENERALI is from Finot Conq, who designs danger to the boat and him. He is now sailing
6. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 1935.8 miles direction and Riou said he had broached. the regular winner of this race. for Ecuador. To date six skippers have retired
9. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Seb Josse (BT) is leading by a mere 11 Loïck Peyron, (GITANA EIGHTY) has from the race.
Pindar) at + 2484 miles miles over Yann Eliès (GENERALI) as he climbed back into third, just 28.5 miles behind Jean-Pierre Dick (PAPREC-VIRBAC 2)
10. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 2653.8 prepares to pass the first ice gate. However, BT. has regained the lead and then, after round-
miles GENERALI has more than halved the lead Eighth place Mike Golding, who holds ing the second ice gate, headed south. Seb
12. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at over the last 24 hours. the Cape to Cape speed records in the south, Josse (BT) is staying further north.
+ 3519.1 miles In third is Jean Pierre Dick (PAPREC- is pushing hard. He is the fastest of the top Canadian Derek Hatfield (ALGIMOUSS
13. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + VIRBAC 2), 3rd and fourth is Loick Peyron, ten and has gained 25 miles on leader BT in SPIRIT OF CANADA) has developed prob-
4298.2 miles (GITANA EIGHTY), who have stayed fur- the last 24 hours. lems with two of his three auto-pilots. He has
14. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at ther south waiting for the wind to veer, which Unai Basurko, (PAKEA BIZKAIA) has slowed in lighter winds and has dropped
+ 4401.2 miles will give them a much better angle. Peyron reported damage to the cassette stock for back to 22
nd
place.
15. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, also announced that he had dropped his one of his rudders. He has slowed and is
(Nauticsport.Kapsch) at + 5428.6 miles gennaker in the water and lost time as he making his way to quieter waters of the St. Day 28, 8 December
retrieved it from around his keel. He also said Helena high pressure area where he plans to Jean-Pierre Dick (PAPREC-VIRBAC 2)
that he will have to climb the mast to get the try and affect repairs. has extended his lead to 43.7 miles. His move
So far four masts have failed, Bestaven’s halyard. During the night GENERALI took the south has certainly paid off. Roland Jourdain
Aquarelle.com. Thiercelin’s DCNS, De Sam Davies, (ROXY) and Brian Thomp- lead from BT, but only by two miles. He is now (VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT) is now sec-
Pavant’s Groupe Bel and Peyron’s Gitana son, (BAHRAIN TEAM PINDAR) are trapped 22 miles north and slightly east of BT. ond and has proven just how hard a driver he
Eighty, as well as the spreader root damage in lighter winds as they are now on the GITANA EIGHTY was the quickest is. In third is Seb Josse (BT) is moving south,
which forced Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) to backside of a small front. Davies has lost 70 during the night, gaining 14.7 miles on the but is 130 miles back of the leader. He is still
retire in Brazil. Rudder damage so far ac- miles and Thompson 40. Also stuck in this leader and is 155 miles south of the leader. further north than others and he claims that
counted for the retirement of Unai Basurko, low is Dee Caffari, (AVIVA), who has lost 20 there is less risk in this move. During the last
ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) and has compromised miles, but does report that her knee is improv- Day 26, 5 December race he was in a collision with ice.
Stamm. Wavre moored Temenos II ing. During the night the distance between The leaders are in a westerly breeze and
The Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm, first and tenth has risen to 172 miles. Loïck are distancing themselves from the groups
(CHEMINÉES POUJOULAT) had to replace Peyron (GITANA EIGHTY) has regained the behind them. As they neared the high pres-
Day 22, 1 December his bowsprit after a collision with a ship on lead from Yann Eliès (GENERALI) by choos- sure ridge they were entering lighter winds.
The leading three boats, Seb Josse (BT), the first night of the race. He said that he now ing the northern course. With better wind This will allow the chasing pack a chance to
Loïck Peyron (GITANA EIGHTY) and Yann has made a holding repair to the bowsprit than those to the south he continued to add catch up after losing miles to the leader over
Elies (GENERALI), are nearing the Roaring thinking that the bobstay may have been miles to his lead. Second is Seb Josse (BT) the last two or three days.
Forties. The next four boats, Armel Le Cleac’h slack and caused compression damage. He and third is GENERALI. Armel Le Cléac’h As they day wore on Seb Josse (BT) had
(BRIT AIR), Vincent Riou (PRB). Bilou wanted to fix in the Doldrums, but the weather chose the northerly course also, and has regained the second spot and just 37.9 miles
(VEOLIA ENVIRONMENT) and Mike was heavy. He then hoped to make repairs off gone from ninth to fourth. back of the leader. However he was now well
Golding (ECOVER), are headed further south St. Helena, but again the weather did not Tomorrow the fleet will pass the longi- into the ice territory.
averaging about 15 knots. cooperate. He said that he made repairs to the tude of Cape Town and the entrance into the Arnaud Bossières (AKENAS VERAN-
Raphaël Dinelli (FONDATION OCÉAN carbon yesterday and that he hoped that it Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is known for DAS) reported that he had broached and lost
VITAL), who has a problem with his main would hold. its challenging weather, the Roaring Forties his wind-generator.
halyard, is heading for the Brazilian coast and As the day went on boat speeds dropped and the Screaming Fifties. During conversa-
looking for a suitable place to stop and make to about 14 knots as the skippers tried to get tions with some of the racers they told of Day 30, 9 December
repairs. some rest. surfing at 30 knots. About one third of the race has been
The Brit Dee Caffari, (AVIVA) has an As the day wore on Sébastien Josse completed and the entire fleet is only sepa-
inflamed knee and is taking antibiotics to Day 25, 4 December (BT) went back into the lead. He had been rated by 2,200 miles. The middle pack is
control the problem. She stated that she The top ten racers have passed the first averaging just less than 20 knots for the last enjoying better winds and is closing in on the
needed to get further south and into the ice gate with Seb Josse (BT) still holding on hour, which is more than his rivals with the leaders and are about 100 miles back. The
higher winds so as to stay with the rest of the to the lead, albeit a mere two miles. In second exception of Jourdain. leaders are taking this slow sailing period to
fleet. is Jean Pierre Dick (PAPREC-VIRBAC 2). GITANA EIGHTY, who held the lead recoup and plan strategy for the next weather
Jonny Malbon, (ARTEMIS II) struck a There are variable wind speeds causing earlier in the day, was driving south and had system. All competitors know that there are
whale and says that he has suffered serious skippers to make changes in order to optimize dropped back to third. His lead of 20 miles had about three more weeks of the Southern
damage to his starboard daggerboard. The the boat’s performance. evaporated and was now 47.8 miles behind Ocean and their next hurdle is how they will
collision was significant enough to stop the Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA), who is the leader. pass the Kerguelens.
boat dead in the water. After about a minute tenth, stated just how frustrating it was. He Those in the chasing pack were also Loïck Peyron’s (GITANA EIGHTY), at
the whale released itself from the daggerboard said, “Yesterday was a nice day with sun- making gains. the time in third and 15 miles from the leader,
and he was off again. He stated that the shine, calm seas, the waves from behind, but The next landmark is Australia, 4.500 was dismasted 180 miles south of Crozet
structure around the dagger board is intact not too much wind, 15-20 knots. The forecast miles away. Island and 650 miles from the Kerguelen
and he has not taking on water. said the wind would gradually strengthen, as Islands. At the time the winds were blowing
As the high moves through most of the the low moved in. So when the wind arrived, Day 27, 6 December 30 knots and he was under the Solent with a
fleet on its northeast course, most racers are we’d deal with it by lowering some sail. Seb Josse (BT) still holds the lead by 25 reef in the main. Peyron was down below
on an easterly course. The racers face a Yesterday evening under spinnaker, the wind miles over Yann Eliès (GENERALI), and was when he heard a big bang and was not
choice, head further south where there is strengthened to above 20 knots. I’m watch- the first to pass the Cape of Good Hope at injured. When he made his way up on deck
more breeze, but sail more miles; or sail east ing. Above 24 knots. I get ready to take down 07h40 GMT. Within six hours nine other he found the mast in three or four pieces. He
into the nor’westlies, which is a shorter some sail. A first gust at 27 knots. It’s already competitors had also passed the Cape of still had the boom and it took more than an
course, but less wind. dark. The boat is surfing at 23-24 knots. Good Hope. hour to clear away the rig and sails. He then
The fleet will also be made to pass north That’s done. With a third of the moon, we can Jean Pierre-Dick (PAPREC-VIRBAC) and set up a jury rig and once he found out how
of an ice gate, which is one of seven naviga- see what’s going on. Clouds scudding along. Mike Golding, (ECOVER 3) have dipped to 47 she sailed he would then determine the best
tional waypoints used to keep the racers Another gust at 29 knots. Get ready for a degrees south and is 40 miles away from the port to sail to. He said “There are three
above most icebergs. blow. Final manoeuvres. A 31-knot gust. ice. solutions. The first is the longest, is Austra-
Usually I take down the spinnaker to be on As the day went on the top five boats lia first, and the two others are maybe Cape
Day 23, 2 December the safe side at 25 knots at night. So it’s time were within 60 miles of each other after 7,000 Town or an island between Madagascar or
The top two boats, Seb Josse (BT) and to do something. I drop the spinnaker sock. miles of racing. The three boats which had maybe Reunion Island.
Loïck Peyron (GITANA EIGHTY) are in a Spinnaker down and stowed. Up with the dipped the furthest south after the first ice
very tight battle and only a hundred miles solent. Wind 30 knots. I tell myself I’ve done gate are now in second, third and fourth Day 31, 10 December
separates first from tenth. the right thing. I’m going back to bed. A bowl place. After passing the second gate some The winds during the night were strong
The racing is now downwind in winds of Chinese noodles. Wake up an hour or so are dipping south again looking for better and the seas confused as the leaders made
up to 25 knots. Those who will make gains are later. Look at the dials. Only 20 knots. We’re winds. their way to the Kerguelen Islands 430 miles
the ones which have the right angle to the pitifully slow. Up with the gennaker. More Golding was eighth when he head south away. Despite the news of Peyron’s
wind. Sailing directly downwind is slower quickly than I remember doing before. The after the first ice gate and is now fourth. This dismasting the leaders were not letting up
than sailing off, but one needs to take into sun comes up. In an hour it will be above is Golding’s third Vendee Globe and was and just 40 miles separated the top five
account the ability of the boat, the sea state thirty again. A damned awful night. Too more than 750 miles behind the leaders in the racers.
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