Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2009
Yacht Racing News
Update Vendee Globe: Eight Finished, Three To Go.
Final Rankings on Day 110 further.
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) finished after Sam Davies (ROXY) will cross the equa-
84 days 3 hours, 9 mn 8 sec tor tomorrow. She has been working hard to
2. Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) finished after 89 transit the Doldrums and keep her lead on
days 9 hours 39 mn 35 sec Guillemot (SAFRAN), which is a mere 35.3
3. Marc Guillemot (Safran) at 95 days 3 hours miles.
19 mn. 36 sec. BAHRAIN TEAM PINDAR, Brian Th-
Redress Given: Vincent Riou (PRB). 3rd equal ompson has opened up a 194 lead on British
4. Sam Davies (Roxy) finished after 95 days 04 racer Dee Caffari (AVIVA). Thompson is sail-
hours 39 minutes 1sec ing in the trade winds and making 14 knots.
5. Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) 98 Caffari still is suffering from mainsail prob-
days 20 hours 29 mn. 55 sec. lems, which will need additional repairs. Over
6. Dee Caffari (Aviva) at 99 days 1 hours 10 the last ten days Thompson has also made up
mn. 57 sec. 600 miles on Davies and Guillemot.
7. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) at As the day wore on FONCIA had in-
105 days 2 hours 33 mn. 50 sec. creased the lead to 791 miles over VEOLIA
8. Steve White (Toe in the Water) at 109 days ENVIRONNEMENT. Desjoyeaux is now get-
Rich Wilson's GREAT AMERICAN III is nearing the finish line.
0 hours 36 mn. 55 sec ting into stronger conditions and is easing off
over Marc Guillemot’s SAFRAN and is poised that Jourdain (VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT)
Still racing: a bit. He is expected to see winds about 50
in a good position to extend this lead. has officially withdrawn from the race. After
9. Rich Wilson (Great American III) at 1757 knots as the morning wears on.
Rich Wilson is doing his best to stay an inspection all that was left of the keel was
miles to finish Day 81, 29 January: Jourdain announced
west of a low pressure system, which devel- a short twisted stump. Jourdain thought that
10. Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital) at to his shore team at 0400 that he had damage
oped off the coast of South America. the keel fracture in two stages.
2322 miles to finish to his keel and was heading to Sao Miguel in
Day 83, 31 January: Les Sables d’Olonne BRIT AIR, Le Cléac’h, is 1,200 miles from
11. Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport - Kapsch) the Azores Islands where he can make a better
is ready to congratulate the winner of the the finish and in second place. He has just
at 3090 miles to finish inspection. He had heard something and
Vendee Globe, Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA). passed east of the Azores and is averaging
stopped the boat and inspected as much as
He was being slowed by a high pressure 15.3 knots.
Of the thirty competitors that started the he could. He did not see anything, but when
system and is only making 8.3 knots. He is Sam Davies (ROXY) is now in third place
2008-09 Vendee Globe single handed race he sheeted in the mainsail VEOLIA
now less than 100 miles from the finish and as and was surprised to find Guillemot
round the world, eight have finished and ENVIRONNEMENT heeled and he then knew
the day went on his speed began to increase. (SAFRAN) not following her east. Staying
three are still making their way up the Atlantic that he had a problem with his keel, likely the
Brian Thompson, (BAHRAIN TEAM east may mean sailing in light air, but a shorter
to Les Sables d’Olonne. It has been an excit- bulb was gone.
PINDAR) has crossed the Equator early in course if the high shifts to the centre of the
ing and grueling race for the racers, and has In the meantime, Desjoyeaux was mak-
the morning. He is the sixth boat over and had Atlantic.
captured the fascination of thousands of ing 16 knots and was less than 900 miles from
the second fastest time from Cape Horn. Dee Rich Wilson is sailing in better winds off
spectators. Some of the background stories the finish at Les Sables d’Olonne. During the
Caffari (AVIVA), who is 168 back of Thomp- Uruguay, but they are on the nose.
about those who competed tell how deter- night he was subjected to numerous squalls,
son, will cross tomorrow. As the day went on Raphaël Dinelli (FONDATION OCÉAN
mined these racers are to compete in the most some packing winds up to 53 knots. He main-
she lost almost another 100 miles on Thomp- VITAL) has rounded the Horn and is now
demanding single handed race. For those tained his speed throughout the day in 25
son. heading up the Southern Atlantic.
interested in seeing more information, photo- knot southwesterly winds and was now at
Jourdain is battling head winds and is Norbert Sedlacek (NAUTICSPORT-
graphs and the videos go to: 700 miles from the finish.
having a difficult time trying to reach the KAPSCH) is the only racer left in the Pacific
www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ Fourth place Sam Davies (ROXY)
Azores. He still has just under a 400 mile lead and has 300 miles to go to reach Cape Horn.
crossed the equator and still had a lead of 90
over BRIT AIR, Le Cléac’h, who is sailing Fifth place Thompson (BAHRAIN
miles over SAFRAN, Marc Guillemot. He is
almost twice as fast as the second place boat. TEAM PINDAR) has developed a problem
Day 79, 27 January: Race leader Michael hoping his position to the west will be propel
Day 84, 1 February: The Vendee Globe with his canting keel. Due to the loss of
Desjoyeaux has been sailing FONCIA by him by Davies. Davies is now in the Northern
record was shattered when Desjoyeaux hydraulic fluid he can only half cant the keel.
hand in a moderate breeze and sunshine as he Trade winds and as the day went on she had
crossed the finish line for his second Vendee Day 86, 3 February: Le Cléac’h (BRIT
nears the Bay of Biscay and just days away increased her lead.
Globe victory at 15:11:08 GMT. He sailed the AIR) will face a major low pressure system
from the finish. Thompson was still suffering trouble
race in 84 days, 3 hours and 9 minutes. with big seas and gusts up to 60 knots. He is
Second place racer, Roland Jourdain with his BAHRAIN TEAM PINDAR. After
Desjoyeaux’s times were: Les Sables- making 14 knots and has less than 840 miles
(VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT) is dealing with making repairs to the alternator, he had to fix
Equator : 13d15h 41’ (behind leader Loïck to go. However it was a rough night as the low
the Azores high pressure system and is now the watermaker, Fleet 77 and Sat C systems
Peyron by 1day 06h 43’); Les Sables-Cape of pressure system hit.
more than 600 miles behind the leader. Third and now one of the starboard rams to the
Good Hope : 27d 00h 34’ (behind leader Davies (ROXY) continues to make gains
place skipper, Armel Le Cleac’h (BRIT AIR) canting keel. As the day went on his lead over
Sébastien Josse : 4h 56’); Les Sables-Cape on Guillemot (SAFRAN). Davies is 178 ahead
has gained 100 miles on Jourdain. He still has Caffari (AVIVA) had shrunk by 61 miles as the
Leeuwin : 37d 07h 23’ (ahead of Roland and 340 miles further east. However she will
a day and a half of trade winds and than he two sail through the Doldrums.
Jourdain : 50’); Les Sables-Dateline/ deal with some light air and this will make it
may slow. American Rich Wilson (GREAT AMERI-
Antimeridian : 43d23h 33’ (ahead of Roland difficult adding to her lead.
Sam Davies (ROXY) is in a real tight CAN III) was being subjected to heavy winds
Jourdain : 2h 55’); Les Sables-Cape Horn : 56d Wilson’s GREAT AMERICAN III had
battle with Marc Guillemot (SAFRAN) and is with gusts up to 60 knots from two different
15j 08’ (ahead of Roland Jourdain : 8h 50’); Les an autopilot linkage fail during the night.
just 50 miles ahead of him and is sailing three low pressure systems. He had three reefs in
Sables-Equator : 71d17h 12’ (ahead of Roland While sailing in 35 to 45 knots of wind and
knots faster as they both head for the equa- his main and storm jib. He added, “violent
Jourdain : 3days 05h 52’); Finish: Les Sables- heavy seas the bolt in the main self steering
tor. Unfortunately, SAFRAN suffered a dam- outside, violent inside.”
Les Sables: 84d 03h 09’08” (ahead of 2nd linkage let go. Wilson was forced to heave to
aged running backstay, which has forced him One competitor, Armel Le Cléac’h (BRIT
Roland Joudain : 1345 miles, 3rd Armel Le and then climbed into a small compartment to
to sail with reduced mainsail. AIR), realized there might be a food shortage
Cléac’h : 1632 miles). His average speed was make the repair. He will be facing another low
American Rich Wilson (GREAT AMERI- on board his boat if he did not finish by 6
12.3 knots for the actual race course. shortly, but in a couple of days he will be in
CAN III) said after rounding the Horn, “GA3 February. He was making about 10 knots and
His times compared to the 2004 race: Les the lighter trade winds.
turned NE past Staten Island earlier today, was 400 miles behind Jourdain.
Sables-Equator 2004 : 10d 12h 13’ (Michel Day 87, 4 February: Norbert Sedlacek
thus respecting Antarctica by leaving it to Day 82, 30 January: Jourdain (VEOLIA
Desjoyeaux : 3d 03h 28’ behind); Les Sables- (NAUTICSPORT-KAPSCH) became the first
starboard. No specific time for this respecting ENVIRONNEMENT) has 440 miles to get to
Cape of Good Hope 2004 : 24d 02h 18’ (Michel Austrian singlehanded skipper to pass Cape
of the mark, just the last couple of months...” the Azores and is seriously concerned about
Desjoyeaux : 2d 22h 16’ behind); Les Sables- Horn when he rounded at 1407 GMT.
He southeast of the Falkland Islands and his racer making it. He is fully ballasted, but
Cape Leeuwin 2004 : 36d 11h 48’ (Michel Le Cléach (BRIT AIR) said that he had
is making about 10 knots. the limits of the boat in this state is unknown.
Desjoyeaux : 19h 35’behind ); Les Sables- just been through the worst night of the race.
Day 80, 28 January: FONCIA, Michel It was thought that the loss of the keel was the
Cape Horn 2004 : 56d17h 13’ (Michel He reported gusts up to 60 knots with heavy
Desjoyeaux, has increased his lead over result of hitting a marine mammal on 8 Janu-
Desjoyeaux : 2h 05’ ahead); Les Sables-Equa- cross seas. His speed has dropped to about
Roland Jourdain (VEOLIA ary. He was sailing at 25 knots and by the end
tor 2004 : 72d 13h 58’ (Michel Desjoyeaux : 20h six knots with less than 600 miles to go.
ENVIRONNEMENT), who is still suffering in of the day had just 300 miles to go to reach Sao
46’ ahead); and Les Sables-Les Sables 2004 : During the morning he was back in favourable
the Azores high pressure. FONCIA needs to Miguel in the Azores.
87d 10h 47’ (Michel Desjoyeaux breaks record conditions as he passed Cape Finisterre
sail hard if he wants to dodge the contrary Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) has been sailing
by : 3d 07h 39’). The battle between ROXY and SAFRAN
breezes forecasted for the Bay of Biscay. He in favourable conditions, 25 knots out of the
Jourdain was having additional trouble is getting more heated. SAFRAN had better
also may be able to set some new records if he sou’west, but is expected to be hit by a low
today battling seas up to 24 feet in 40 knots speed, but is more than 200 miles behind the
maintains the current pace. Vincent Riou holds pressure system with up to 50 knot gusts. This
of wind. He is now less than 70 miles from Sao third place racer. As the day wore on Guillemot
the Vendee Globe record of 87 days, 10 hours will be followed by a high pressure ridge,
Miguel, which he should reach this day. speed lessened. Davies added that she won-
and 47 minutes set in the 2004-5 race. He may which will slow him. He now has 332 miles to
Jourdain’s second place is also in danger as ders if her choice to go east was the right one.
best this record by four or more days. go to reach the finish and was sailing at about
Le Cléac’h is now just over 200 miles back. Raphael Dinelli (FONDATION OCÉAN
Jourdain has lost further miles to third 17 knots.
Sam Davies (ROXY) is still in a very tight VITAL) has made a stop in the Falkland
place Le Cléac’h (BRIT AIR) and now is just The high pressure area around the
battle with Marc Guillemot (SAFRAN), who Islands. He headed into the bay north of Port
313 miles back. Jourdain also has to worry Azores is slowing down third place Armel Le
is just under 100 miles back. Guillemot is Stanley and tried to anchor. Unfortunately
that another high is predicted to form in two Cléach (BRIT AIR) with a speed of 2.6 knots.
further to the west and is making 15.4 knots.
Continued on Page 24.
days right in his path, which will slow him Sam Davies’ ROXY has a 100 mile lead
Day 85, 2 February: It was announced
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40