La italiana Daniela Klein con problemas en su mástil
Fuente info Transat650.org
September 17. 2009
TOMORROW MORNING AT FUNCHAL FOR THE FIRSTS!
Days after days... are not alike. The wind continues to come from behind, but failing at the approach of the target. North wind is blowing strongly, in the north - the Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal - runs north and north-west and falls next to the archipelago of Madeira, at the end of the first stage The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50. So, it is important not to slow down, or to... rest. The pressure remains behind at the moment and the fleet slides back to the front, where the leaders are sailing into a less powerful airstream. The wind blows from 25 knots north to 15 knots south... It is at a frantic speed that the fleer will have to remain in the wake of the best sailors that are the unavoidable Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN) in series and HP Schipman (Maisons de l’avenir-Urbatys). And if the Portuguese can "rest" thanks to a comfortable advance of more than 60 miles on the second Charlie Dalin (Cherche sponsor-charliedalin.com) and 90 miles on the Italian Ricardo Apolloni (Ma vie pour Mapei), this is not the same atmosphere for HP which sees on his side Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre durablement)) 12 miles behind and Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) 26 miles.
273.1 miles in 24 hours for Bertrand Delesne and 253.8 miles for Francisco Lobato!
These figures are clear! Bertrand on his proto Manuard and Francisco on his series Pogo 2 are about to settle the arguments with guns. With 273.1 miles travelled in 24 hours that day (average speed of 11.4 knots), Bertrand catches the best performance. The yesterday’s award was for Olivier Avram (Cap Monde 2) who had sailed yesterday 268.6 miles at 11.2 knots on average. Olivier is today in 30th position. On the Series side, Charlie Dalin sailed 234.4. Today, this is... no surprise... Francisco Lobato who’s victorious with 253.8 miles at 10.6 knots on average achieved between yesterday and this morning. Hats off...
An island with unpredictable weather
And if the weather was classic from the start, we can say that it is now that he can become rock and roll. Indeed, the approach of Madeira and Funchal - located on the south side of the island - may surprise several of them.
Coastal effects, wind that falls during the night, the high island of Madeira can redistribute the cards. Nothing is impossible at the approach of this volcanic rock positioned in the Atlantic! A coastal effect and you're laid stopped leeward in the island. Needless to say that the guy behind will bypass then zone properly and you will be overtaken in front of the line... A regrettably common situation that everyone has to see coming. And if a race is never over until the line is not crossed.
Many scratches
The news coming from the escort boats confirm: the fleet has suffered numerous small problems. Pilot, bowsprit, spis, rudders have been at the forefront of break classification… A too long list. Helm’s problem for Arnaud Vasseur (Association Capucine), GPS antenna problem for Antoine Rioux (Nouvelle-Calédonie), energy problem for Pierre Rolland (D2 Marée haute) and Andreas Lindlahr (Umpalumpa); mainsail’s problems for Brice Aqué (CNTL - Scrube Sails), problem at masthead for Daniela Klein (538 Tacchificio Monti) and Jesse Rowse (www.solochallenges.com) who were forced to get high, total fatigue for Remy Cardona (Solidarité Mutualiste)... As we observe, the fleet has suffered but it is not surprising when one knows the harshness of Cape Finisterre and the difficulty of managing jibes in 30 knots average of wind...
Positions at 3 pm:
Prototypes: 1. HP Schipman (Maisons de l’avenir – Urbatys) 181,11 miles; 2. Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre durablement) 12,6 miles from the leader; 3. Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) 26,05 miles from the leader…
Series: 1. Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN) 191,62 miles form Funchal; 2. Charlie dalin (Cherche sponsor-charliedalin.com) 62,98 miles from the leader; 3. Ricardo Appoloni (Ma Vie pour Mapei) 88,2 miles from the leader…
