Page 26. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2009
Yacht Racing News
Update Vendee Globe: Eight Finished, Three To Go.
and technical problems. She was also consid- ing her 93rd birthday in abut two weeks and Steve White is facing a very complex
Continued from Page 25.
ered the most powerful with the tallest rig. I was hoping if I was fast I might be able to get weather system, which is a high pressure
little harder by removing some ballast, but Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team back for that. And that is not going to happen. system blocking his way to the finish. He has
had a problem when he was hit with a 10 knot Pindar): Race Times: Crossing the Equator: Sometimes you begin to doubt your deci- taken 100 miles out of Boissières lead over
wind gust. 22/11/08 10:25hrs GMT passage 12 d 22 23 m; sions about being in an event like this when him and has 838 miles to go. It is expected that
Thompson and Caffari are still battling Passing the Cape of Good Hope: 07/12/ you are going to be that far away from family he is hit with strong headwinds tomorrow.
with just 110 miles between them. Thompson 11:35hrs GMT passage 27d 23h 33m; Passing for so long. My mother really is my inspiration Wilson was trying to reduce his speed
leads the pair, but said that he will be the first Cape Leeuwin: 20/12/08 04:05hrs GMT 40d and I am an awfully long way away from her.” so he could get some much needed rest. He
to feel the effects of a high, but still should 16h 03 m; Crossing the International Date Day 101, 18 February: Arnaud had reefed his main and put up a small storm
maintain his lead to the finish. Thompson Line: 29/12/08 11:30hrs GMT 50d 09h 28m; Boissières (AKENAS VÉRANDAS) has sailed jib. Last night he got into his bunk for the first
also is just over 100 miles behind Guillemot. Rounding Cape Horn: 15/01/09 03:15hrs GMT up to the latitude of Les Sables d’Olonne and time in several weeks. He also has to drive the
Norbert Sedlacek (NAUTICSPORT- 66d 15h 13h; Crossing the Equator: 31/01/09 now has to beat to the finish 620 miles away. boat away from the finish as he skirts a high
KAPSCH) has been subjected to very heavy 01:20hrs 82d 12h 18m; and Crossing the finish Steve White (TOE IN THE WATER) pressure system.
conditions, the worst of the race with winds line: 17/02 98 days 20 hours 29 min 55 sec. now has better speed and a better course. Day 104, 21 February: There was 70
up to 90 knots and very large waves. Due to Day 99, 16 February: When Dee Caffari When he called in he was making up to 15 miles to go for Arnaud Boissières (AKÉNA
these conditions he opted to hand steer his (AVIVA) crossed the finish line at 1312.57 knots and had about 130 miles to the Azores. VÉRANDAS).
racer. GMT, she also became the first woman to sail Rich Wilson was also in a much better Back more than 600 miles was Steve
Day 96, 13 February: ROXY is nearing around the world in both directions. She had mood as he neared the trade winds. These White (TOE IN THE WATER), who was
the finish at 10 knots and still has about 190 prepared two years for this race and com- winds will lift him in a more easterly direction. sailing inshore on a long slow beat.
miles on the fourth place boat of Guillemot. peted in a new monohull designed by Owen He still is lacking sleep, but has been able to Rich Wilson has to make a decision on
During the night she was hardly moving, but Clarke. It was not easy, especially regarding relax listening to a recording of chanting getting by a high pressure system to the east.
she was now in better winds. Once finish she the delamination of her mainsail. She refused monks. This is offset by a little Bruce He may opt for the lighter winds so he can get
will have to wait and see if she finished far to fold under the pressure and sailed 27,907 Springsteen. His biggest concern is finishing some much needed rest and then make a final
enough ahead of Guillemot’s redress of 50 miles at an average speed of 11.74 knots. in time to attend his mother’s 93 rd birthday push for the finish.
hours. Then at 0041.01 hours GMT she Dee Caffari’s times: Crossing the Equa- next week. Raphael Dinelli’s (FONDATION OCÉAN
crossed the line, the third place finisher. She tor: 13d 21h 53’; Crossing the longitude of the Wilson added, “We got some weather VITAL) is leaving the Doldrums as he sees
sat out off the canal leading into Les Sables Cape of Good Hope: 28d 19h 43’; Crossing the files in this morning for a couple of days and more northeasterly winds.
d’Olonne, crowds gathered to welcome the longitude of Cape Leeuwin : 42d 07h 28’; that is good. Frankly to have slightly less Day 105, 22 February: Arnaud
most popular competitor of the race. Crossing the International Date Line: 50d 14h wind at times would not be too bad, given the Boissières (AKÉNA VÉRANDAS) finished
Guillemot was a little happier today as he 58’; Rounding Cape Horn: 67d 22h 13’; Cross- pounding the boat takes going up here in the at 1435.50 GMT taking seventh place.
regained about 80 miles on ROXY and this ing the Eqautor: 83d 23h 08’; and Finish in Les tradewinds. We have been making NNW Arnaud’s times: Crossed the Equator: 13
gives him hope for capturing third place. He Sables d’Olonne: 99d 1h10min57sec. now, we have been up to close to north, we days 22h38 (17th place); Passed the Cape of
must finished at 0241.01 hours GMT on Day 100, 17 February: There are still five were pretty far over to the north west when we Good Hope: 28 days 21h25 (17th place); Passed
Monday to wrest third place from Davies. He skippers out on the race course. Steve White were still in the influence of the low pressure Cape Leeuwin : 42 days 13h08 (13th place);
now had 248 miles to go. (TOE IN THE WATER) said that he was not system which formed off the north coast of Rounded Cape Horn: 67 days 11h28 (8th
Thompson has continued to close on having a great day. Brasil, and we have got the satellite pictures place); Crossed the Equator: 86 days 6h41
Guillemot and is now just 40 miles behind. His Norbert Sedlacek, (NAUTICSPORT- of the cloud cover down here. We are just (7th place); and Finish in Les Sables : 105 days
battle with Caffari has her back just 65 miles KAPSCH) also had problems with no hal- trying to get north as fast as we can, and we 2h 33 (7th place).
as the pair makes their way through the Bay yards for his headsails. When conditions are making about 10 knots, with the staysail Day 106, 23 February: Steve White is
of Biscay. Caffari hopes that her more north- warrant he will need to climb the mast and and three reefs in the main. I still have the battling an upwind battle as he heads for Les
erly course will benefit her and at present she replace the halyards for the headsails. He also issue with the staysail being a little bit too big, Sables d’Olonne and an eighth place finish.
is the quickest of the three. needs to make repairs to his mainsail track, we get overpowered a little bit too easily. He has more than 425 miles to go in some
Rich Wilson is still caught in light air, but since this has forced him to sail with two-reefs Through the night we had to let the mainsail heavy seas and oscillating breezes.
that should change as he heads offshore. in the mainsail. out a long way just to keep the boat on its Norbert Sedlacek, (NAUTICSPORT-
However he will be in the Doldrums in a Rich Wilson was also having his prob- feet.” KAPSCH) spent four hours up the mast try-
couple of days. lems, as he fought fatigue and a lack of “I tried to go into the bunk but it did not ing to repair the mast track and replace two
Day 97, 14 February: There was a big motivation. He has suffered battling up the work. I have a fairly comfortable spot here at headsail halyards. Unfortunate while he was
party on-going for Sam Davies (ROXY) and coast of South America. As he crossed the the chart table, I am not sure how much actual making these repairs he noted two small cracks
it was now time to wait and see if Guillemot Doldrums he was caught in a small low that sleep I get, I certainly was asleep for some in his mast at the spreaders.
would beat her time. At about 0900 she made gave him northerly winds. His autopilot are parts of it, so I feel better today, that is for Day 107, 24 February: During the night
her way up the canal with assistance of fam- also a problem and this has forced him to steer sure, and I think when we get settled in to the Steve White nearly had a collision with a
ily, friends and the ROXY boys to a large much of the way. Fortunately ahead of him is trades then I can get a sail combination and freighter off Cape Finisterre. It was too close
cheering crowd. the trade winds that will being him some relief setting where I don’t need to do too much, for comfort and is now making a good speed
Marc Guillemot (SAFRAN) had just 132 from the pounding he is presently experienc- then I can kind of get some time and try to rest up the Bay of Biscay. He should remain on
miles to go and was making 5.7 knots, which ing. and stretch out.” this tack until he reaches Lorient and at that
if it could be sustained would be enough. As Wilson said, “We are getting pounded “I have an iPod on board and a couple of point should get a more favourable angle to
the day went on the wind died and he slowed. here again, our own little private low pressure tiny speakers at the chart table. A friend of the finish. He still has about 330 miles to go.
Caffari (AVIVA) was back just 24 miles system, formed off the Northern Coast of mine recommended I listen to the monks Day 108, 25 February: Steve White has
from Thompson (BAHRAIN TEAM PINDAR) Brasil and so it feels like nothing ever changes. chanting. I have 18 different chants. I listen to only been sailing for a mere 12 years and will
and Thompson was closing on Guillemot. All We could certainly use a break. We are cer- the whole thing four times. I have got enough celebrate with Theakston’s Old Peculier, a
three were still making their way to windward tainly headed off to the NW and not really chanting going on here to calm me down that traditional English ale recipe from Masham,
and could finish all in the same day. much able to sail much north at all. It is pretty is for sure. It certainly helps to have stuff like North Yorkshire since 1890. He has also said
GREAT AMERICAN III, Rich Wilson, is frustrating and pretty discouraging. But it is that The rest of the time you are just listening that he will be back for the 2012 Vendée Globe.
now going just over 10 knots and has 183 always good to get across the Equator, that to the boat crashing, crashing into these When White arrived Les Sables d’Olonne
miles to go to reach the equator. is for sure. We may be under three thousand troughs, and your mind plays trick, and when before the race he had no sponsor and the
Day 98, 15 February: Early in the day miles to the finish, but it is really much more the boat crashes down you can hear the keel threat of losing his boat and home. Then came
Guillemot had just 70 miles to the finish and like 4000 miles or 4500 miles, particularly since going back and forth a little bit. And so it is a call from a private individual that he would
with his current pace should best Sam Davies’ we are pretty much heading for Mexico at the good to have a little bit a of a distraction from support White in the name of Toe in the
time. Later that night Guillemot crossed the moment. We are not exactly heading for all that your mind is hearing. Your sense of Water injured service personnel’s charity.
line at 0121.36 hours GMT, with a time of 95 France. Getting up the South American Coast hearing gets incredibly acute out here, and He then did three months pre-preparations in
days, 3hours, 19 minutes and 36 seconds. He has been very difficult, headwinds ever since whenever there is anything different, any- just two weeks.
also took the third position by beating ROXY Cape Horn, and then when you know that we thing new at all comes into the sound array, At 1238.55 GMT he crossed the finish
by a mere 1 hour, 19 minutes and 25 seconds get into the NE trades we are not in NE’lies but you are in high alert, and you got to go find line at Les Sables d’Olonne sailing 28.197
after his redress of 82 hours was applied. Over northerlies, and being sucked into this low out what that is.” miles in 109 days, 0 hours, 36 minutes and 55
the course of the race he has had the most pressure system. And going upwind in this “If you are going to go up and make a sail seconds at an average speed of 9.49 knots.
excitement and tribulations. boat, the boat takes a terrible, terrible pound- change or the boat is going fast and you want Seven British racers started this race
Right behind him is Thompson followed ing. In the last 48 hours here. The pounding to be jazzed up a little bit, you put on some- with 23 other competitors and three were
by Caffari, who bath are expected to finish was so bad it knocked its wind mounting off thing different, some Bruce Springsteen or forced to retire. The other four would all finish
this morning. Both are pushing hard and have its mount and it is just hanging by its wires. something like that, Thunder Road, that will in the top eight positions.
been all the way up the Atlantic. We have 30-33 knots across the deck, three get you going, but in general you can fix the Day 110, 27 February: American Rich
Thompson crossed the line at 0831.55 reefs in the mainsail and making nine knots, music to what you need at the moment.” Wilson was sailing closer to Boston than the
GMT with a time of 98 days, 20 hours, 29 so we are making some progress. But it would Day 103, 20 February: Arnaud finish at Les Sables d’Olonne as he looked for
minutes and 55 seconds and captures fifth be nice to have a nice reaching situation Boissières (AKÉNA VÉRANDAS) will be the better wind. He had changed his angle to a
place. Thompson’s racer BAHRAIN TEAM between now and France. I think I am feeling next racer to finish with just 226 miles to go. more easterly course as he tried to avoid the
PINDAR, designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian the days out here now, this is Day 100, and He is sailing in light to moderate winds and strong headwinds of a low pressure system.
was not tested before the start of the race and over the weekend I called my mother and she calm seas. During the night his rudder struck As of the morning he had less than 2,000 miles
he suffered through a number of mechanical is having here 93rd Birthday and she is hav- a plank in the water, which caused it to kick up. to go.
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