Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS February 2009
Yacht Racing News
Update Vendee Globe: More Carnage and FONCIA Wins
More carnage, more drop outs, Ameri- have problems with the mainsails. Steve White
can Rich Wilson rounds Cape Horn and (TOE IN THE WATER) has his autopilots
Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) finishes set- working again, but now needs to make repairs
ting a new record. However, what is more to his gooseneck.
impressive is the number of people up and Some tried to reason why Desjoyeaux
down the Maine coast that has been follow- has amassed such an impressive lead. There
ing the race. Race organizers have done an is no question that he has pushed his boat
excellent job creating an English website, relentlessly, but he thought that one factor
which allows one to follow the race in almost that has helped him has been a specially
real time with timely news and great videos. designed staysail for heavy weather.
Day 53, 1 January: Desjoyeaux is still Canadian Derek Hatfield (ALGIMOUSS
leading second place Roland Jourdain SPIRIT OF CANADA) has made it to
(VEOLIA ENVIRONNMENT) by just under Maatsuyker Island, off Tasmania and is head-
70 miles and has less than 1,400 miles to go to ing up to Hobart.
Cape Horn. What is impressive is the incred- Day 55, 3 January: The top boats are
ible pace, which has been set by the leaders, nearing Cape Horn and Jourdain has taken 20
which is just two days behind the 2004-5 race miles out of Desjoyeaux’s lead during the
times. Remember, this year’s event is about overnight. Vincent Riou (PRB) has been bat-
1,160 miles longer than the last race, which tling Armel Le Cléac’h (BRIT AIR) and was
theoretically means that the race should be able to get by him last evening. American Rich Wilson's GREAT AMERICAN III, which has rounded Cape Horn.
more than three days longer. As the racers Mainsail problems continue on
moved through the Southern Ocean they ARTEMIS and AVIVA. Both are suffering
have gained five days overall over the 2004- from the separation of the Kevlar, taffeta and
5 time since they passed St. Helena. One Mylar fibres from each other.
record that fell was between the Cape of Good American Rich Wilson (GREAT AMERI-
Hope and Cape Leeuwin, which Desjoyeaux CAN III) has moved into 12
th
position due to
broke by more than two days. the problems on ARTEMIS. He said, “We
After rounding the last ice gate, Armel Le gybed last night after another 44-knot squall
Cléac’h (BRIT AIR) and Vincent Riou (PRB) and then a hailstorm, just to get out of the
are now both heading down to Cape Horn. deeper south and head towards the New
Jean Le Cam (VM MATÉRIAUX) was Zealand ice gate. Just about two hours ago
the fastest of the top five racers, but the we sighted land, Adams, the first I’ve seen
fastest racer in the fleet was Marc Guillemot since the Canary Islands, so kind of a nice
(SAFRAN), who closed 74 miles on Sam moment. I’ve been trying to sail very low – I
Davies (ROXY). did not want to go north of these islands
54 Days, 2 January: It was hoped by the because if the front came through a little
five race leaders that they would benefit by sooner then we would have a lee shore.”
calm winds at Cape Horn, but this will not be As the day went on Desjoyeaux extended
the case. These racers are opting to sail a little his lead over Joudain as they neared Cape
more conservatively since they have pushed Horn, which they should pass within the day.
Rich Wilson at the helm of GREAT AMERICAN III.
these boats very hard through the Southern Jourdain has stayed more easterly and this
When the top boats entered the Pacific onto the Bounty Platform which is another
Ocean. has caused the loss of a few miles. He will
Ocean just 450 miles separated the top six shallow area, and can’t help but think it has
Both Jonny Malbon (ARTEMIS II) and need to gybe and then sail down the coast of
boats. As they near Cape Horn just three something to do with Captain Bligh’s
Dee Caffari (AVIVA) have reported that they Chile to round the Horn.
boats are within 450 miles. BOUNTY down here in the South Seas. So
Despite being back 2,000 miles, Great we’re looking for history wherever we can
NEW ENGLAND SUMMARY
Britain’s Sam Davies (ROXY) has been aver- find it. I’ve just got the iPod but I know that
aging 16 to 17 knots. She passed her psycho- Loick Peyron was reading plenty of books,
Massachusetts also contributed most to
logical obstacle where she was dismasted in which is pretty impressive. It would be inter-
Continued from Page 11.
employees in this industry: 65% of the over
the Trophee Jules Verne record attempt on esting to find out what his schedule on the
Massachusetts, however, declined 37%, 4,000 employees region-wide.
board ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE in 1998. boat is to know how he does that.
from $8.7 million in 1998 to $5.5 million in 2005. Employer establishments engaged in
Day 56, 4 January: Not long after giving “I had a rudder kick up this morning. It
Employer firms engaged in seafood the seafood wholesale industry declined
up 12
th
position to GREAT AMERICAN III, was actually the windward rudder which is
retail increased in all states between 1998 and 31% overall, from 560 establishments in 1998
ARTEMIS officially abandoned the race. He unusual, but I don’t think we hit anything. I
2005, ranging from over 70% increases in to 387 in 2005. All states in New England
is the 16
th
boat out of the 30 boats starting the think it just got hit by a wave. It showed that
Maine and New Hampshire, to an 8% reported declines in establishments
race to retire. He is now heading to New the new fuse system that we have would work
increase in Massachusetts. Across the engaged in seafood wholesale, ranging from
Zealand. and the fuse would actually break. It also
region, annual payroll increase 151% 16% in Maine to 41% in New Hampshire and
The fastest boat on the course was gave us the chance to inspect the pad-eye
between 1998 ($12.7 million) and 2005 ($31.9 Massachusetts. Annual payroll and
Desjoyeaux’ FONCIA, but Jourdain’s that is back there for the fairlead that holds the
million). Annual payroll increased in all employee numbers were available for Maine,
VEOLIA ENVIRONMENT is also moving well. rudder down because most of the time it’s
states except for New Hampshire (data was Massachusetts, and Rhode Island only. All
In third is Jean Le Cam on VM submerged. I could see a rust spot which
unavailable for this state): Massachusetts three of these states showed 10-19%
MATERIAUX, who will have better weather gave me some concern that we might have
(154%), Connecticut (124%), Maine (121%), declines in annual payroll, and 24-49%
than the leaders. had a bad piece of metal back there, but it
and Rhode Island (75%). Massachusetts declines in employee numbers.
Day 57, 5 January: As Desjoyeaux looks kind of sturdy.”
employed the greatest number of employees Transport, Support, and Marine
neared the Horn on FONCIA he slowed to At 0310 FONCIA rounded the Horn and
in this industry: 53% of employees in 2005. Operations
less than eight knots. This has allowed Jourdain was just 80 miles back. Desjoyeaux
In 2005, there were 97 non-employer With the exception of the marina
Jourdain to close the gap between him and made the Horn in 56 days, 15 hours and 8
firms engaged in seafood processing industry, data was largely unavailable for
the leader to 76 miles, a gain of almost 50 miles. minutes. This is over two hours faster than
activities. Over half of these firms were found this sector. The number of marina operations
The boat that traveled the most miles this the 2004-5 race, even though about 1,200
in Maine, which also had the highest annual remained flat across the region but annual
day is BRIT AIR and PRB at 374.9 miles. miles has been added to the race. He reported
receipts: $5.1 million in 2005 or 47% of payroll increased 51% between 1998 ($83
ROXY has slowed in light air, but has a that the winds were gusting up to 45 knots,
receipts in the region. Massachusetts ($2.3 million) and 2005 ($125 million). Annual
260 mile lead on Marc Guillemot (SAFRAN). with flatter seas.
million or 21% of annual receipts) and Rhode payroll inn all five states in this region
These two boats were also informed of their Then came the news that Jean Le Cam’s
Island ($2.0 million or 19% of annual receipts) increased, ranging from 72% increases in
redress for taking part in the rescue of Yann VM MATERIAUX had capsized 200 miles
followed. Massachusetts to a modest 8% increase in
Elies. SAFRAN will receive 82 hours and west of the Cape Horn. He thought that he
Employer establishments engaged in Maine. Massachusetts and Connecticut
ROXY 32. SAFRAN is still having problems had hit a container. Vincent Riou (PRB) ar-
seafood product processing remained flat had the highest number of establishments
with his mainsail track and may have to stop rived to find Le Cam’s pink boat upside down
across New England. Double digit increases and contributed the most to annual payroll in
to make repairs. with its bulb missing and stern submerged.
in establishments in New Hampshire (25%) this industry. Of the 444 establishments
One of the important points to pass in Riou noted a flag protruding from a thru-hull
and Massachusetts (22%) were offset by engaged in marina operations in 2005, 31%
this race is the International Dateline, which fitting and yelled to Le Cam who responded.
double digits declines in Connecticut (25% were in Massachusetts (139 establishments)
was crossed by American Rich Wilson. He BRIT AIR also came to the aid of Le Cam as
drop), Maine (23% drop), and Rhode Island and 26% were in Connecticut (117
said, ““We’ve had a good day today, pretty did the oil tanker SONANGOL KASSANJE.
(13% drop). In 2005, annual payroll in this establishments). Annual payroll in these
good speeds and the seas are calming down. The tanker was the first on the scene, but they
industry was $154 million across the region, states was roughly equal: both
I don’t quite know what to do with smooth could not launch a boat due to the 12 to 15 foot
with Massachusetts contributing 75% ($115 Massachusetts and Connecticut
seas, it’s been so long since we’ve had them seas. The Chilean Navy also dispatched a tug
million). Annual payroll increased in contributed $43 million each to the region in
it’s kind of a novelty. We’ve been across the with an inflatable and divers to assist in the
Massachusetts from $73 million in 1998 to 2005.
Campbell Plateau, which is a shallow area,
Continued on Page 24.
$116 million in 2005, a 59% increase.
and then into a deeper area. Now we’re up
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