SEBASTIEN JOSSE / BT / VENDEE GLOBE
JEAN-PIERRE DICK / PAPREC-VIRBAC 2 / VENDEE GLOBE
Las manos de Jean Pierre Dick luego de reparar el daño de uno de sus timones
Fuente info VG
PRESS RELEASE Sunday 21st December.
Day 42
Biding their time
1500 HRS GMT. Rankings, (FRA, unless stated)
1- Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at 11851.1 miles to the finish
2- Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) at + 56.9 miles to leader
3- Seb Josse (BT) at + 156.4 miles
4- Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at +182.3 miles
5- Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) at + 465.1 miles
Selected International
2- Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environment) at + 56.9 miles to leader
3- Seb Josse (BT) at + 156.4 miles
4- Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at +182.3 miles
5- Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) at + 465.1 miles
Selected International
8- Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 1385.1 miles
10- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 1595.3 miles
11- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1868.8 miles
13- Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2489.2 miles
14 - Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 2819.1 miles
15- Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) at + 2933.8 miles
16- Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 3150.2 miles
18- Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 3936.7 miles
IN SHORT WORDS
10- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 1595.3 miles
11- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1868.8 miles
13- Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2489.2 miles
14 - Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 2819.1 miles
15- Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) at + 2933.8 miles
16- Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 3150.2 miles
18- Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 3936.7 miles
IN SHORT WORDS
- Route clear ahead for leading four, with mixed fortunes for those behind
- Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) still ahead, but can’t shake Jourdain, Josse and Le Cam
- Severe weather forecast for rear of the fleet, with 50-knots plus predicted
- New Zealand ice gate moved north
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) found the Indian Ocean amenable, will the Vendée Globe leading skipper find the Pacific Ocean an easy promenade, or will his adversaries manage to close the gap again? As he lead across into the ocean which he remarked recently that he has always found more conducive to higher speeds, he has nearly doubled his lead since yesterday afternoon and now has just over 80 miles ahead of Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), while Seb Josse (BT) in third has lost a little against the pace of Mich’ Desj’ but has stayed very even with Jourdain.
The Southern Oceans have another mixed hand to deal the 18 skippers racing in the Vendée Globe.
For the leaders things are relatively straightforward — hold onto Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) no matter what. Their blistering pace is evident — fifth and sixth-placed Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) and Vincent Riou (PRB) have each lost around 90 miles on Foncia in the past 24 hours, with the front four all picking up boatspeeds of over 16 knots in this afternoon’s update. Biding their time to make a move, they can expect good conditions to carry them towards the New Zealand gate. Jean Le Cam today said that he expected better conditions for attacking after the next gate, a view shared by Seb Josse (BT).
Behind them, however, the picture is more mixed. A low pressure zone currently tracking south from Australia is expected to catch up with Paprec-Virbac 2, PRB and Brit Air tomorrow afternoon. A more severe low is also currently moving over the second half of the fleet, bringing 40-45 knot winds for Derek Hatfield (Spirit of Canada, CAN, 17th) today and expected to move north-east towards Steve White (Toe in the Water, GBR) in 13th place.
Between the two groups there is a transitional area, with Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) reporting light breezes today. Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar (GBR) has also been taking advantage of the calmer conditions to continue with his repairs to the ballast tank structures — Brian today talked with boat designer, Tom Faire, in New Zealand, about additional ways to reinforce the structure, including the possibility of using the floorboards to bandage it in place.
However, Meteo France have warned that the worst conditions will catch the two tail-enders, Raphael Dinelli (FRA) and Norbert Sedlacek (AUT). Both are on the edge of two low pressure systems that look set to bring storm force winds of over 50 knots, gusting 60-70 - or even more.
Vendée Globe Race Directors have also moved the New Zealand ice gate north, due to a high density of ice visible on the radar below the West Pacific and East Pacific gates – both of which are also expected to be raised north shortly.
-9th Sam Davies, Roxy (GBR):
It’s hard to believe I’m in the Southern Ocean. The only frustrating part of that is that we’re not going very fast and having been addicted to speed recently I’m finding it quite slow!
I wouldn’t say Marc Guillemot is a rival, because he was miles in front me — I’ve been flat out for 48 hours while he has been stopped, and I still haven’t managed to catch him up. That shows how far in front of me he was, so it’s not really a race. But it’s just nice to have someone near by and see what decisions he makes and compare them to mine.
It’s hard to believe I’m in the Southern Ocean. The only frustrating part of that is that we’re not going very fast and having been addicted to speed recently I’m finding it quite slow!
I wouldn’t say Marc Guillemot is a rival, because he was miles in front me — I’ve been flat out for 48 hours while he has been stopped, and I still haven’t managed to catch him up. That shows how far in front of me he was, so it’s not really a race. But it’s just nice to have someone near by and see what decisions he makes and compare them to mine.
-15th Rich Wilson, Great American III (USA):
We’ve got a lot of wind here with another low coming along for the second half of the fleet – we’ve got 40-42 knots of wind and big, big seas. The boat has got surfing down the waves and we’ve got up to 23 knots, which is fast for us, and down to just three reefs on the mainsail with no jib at the moment.
It’s pretty hair-raising — every once in a while the boat gets sideways. With gusts up to 45-47, so it’s not quite what we had in those other two storms when we had gusts up to the 60s, but it’s still pretty strong winds. I’m just trying to get a little northing in because there’s another one coming behind and it might be a prudent idea to be a little further north to try to get away from the centre of these things
Certainly the accident that Yann had — boy, oh boy does that make you think. Every handhold, every step you take, whether on deck or even down below. I’m sure everybody in the fleet is being extra vigilant.
We’ve got a lot of wind here with another low coming along for the second half of the fleet – we’ve got 40-42 knots of wind and big, big seas. The boat has got surfing down the waves and we’ve got up to 23 knots, which is fast for us, and down to just three reefs on the mainsail with no jib at the moment.
It’s pretty hair-raising — every once in a while the boat gets sideways. With gusts up to 45-47, so it’s not quite what we had in those other two storms when we had gusts up to the 60s, but it’s still pretty strong winds. I’m just trying to get a little northing in because there’s another one coming behind and it might be a prudent idea to be a little further north to try to get away from the centre of these things
Certainly the accident that Yann had — boy, oh boy does that make you think. Every handhold, every step you take, whether on deck or even down below. I’m sure everybody in the fleet is being extra vigilant.
-16th Derek Hatfield, Algimouss Spirit of Canada (CAN):
I’m riding a low pressure system along nicely and I’ve got some good speeds towards the next gate. It’s pretty straightforward, so I should be at the next gate, which is about 900 miles away, in three days – so I’ll spend Christmas there. I’m kind of putting it out of my mind - I have little children at home and speak to them regularly, so it’ll be a tough time. It’s just another normal day here on the boat, but I know the family will be enjoying the holiday back there.
The cold is a little bit debilitating, but somebody put a hot water bottle on board, which was great — stick it in my sleeping bag and it’s a really nice feeling so that’s the best thing somebody’s done for me!
I’m riding a low pressure system along nicely and I’ve got some good speeds towards the next gate. It’s pretty straightforward, so I should be at the next gate, which is about 900 miles away, in three days – so I’ll spend Christmas there. I’m kind of putting it out of my mind - I have little children at home and speak to them regularly, so it’ll be a tough time. It’s just another normal day here on the boat, but I know the family will be enjoying the holiday back there.
The cold is a little bit debilitating, but somebody put a hot water bottle on board, which was great — stick it in my sleeping bag and it’s a really nice feeling so that’s the best thing somebody’s done for me!
-18th Norberth Sedlacek, Nauticsport Kapsch (AUT):
At the moment everything onboard is working well — apart from one mistake with the genoa, which I have repaired — so I’m looking forward to seeing Santa Claus on Wednesday!
At the moment it’s quite a smooth sail — yesterday the France Meteo informed us that there will be heavy weather circling where Raphael and I are, but for now it’s okay.
At the moment everything onboard is working well — apart from one mistake with the genoa, which I have repaired — so I’m looking forward to seeing Santa Claus on Wednesday!
At the moment it’s quite a smooth sail — yesterday the France Meteo informed us that there will be heavy weather circling where Raphael and I are, but for now it’s okay.
