Mercredi 8 novembre 2006
TEMENOS goes up a place
Accelerating away in the trade winds |
Since yesterday the leaders have been making headway in a steady N’ly air flow, which has been continuing to build. The brand new Owen Clarke Design is positively lapping up the trade winds, snatching back 16 miles from Sill-Véolia in the last 24 hours, 14 from VM-Matériaux and 59 from Virbac-Paprec. TEMENOS is making a spectacular recovery now up in 3rd position.
Contacted mid afternoon, its skipper went over the conditions he has been encountering: "I have been hoisting canvas and I now have everything aloft. The boat is incredible. There is 20 knots of wind and I’m making an average of 16 to 17 knots with surfs of 22 to 23 knots. I’m helming for about quarter of the time as the boat is behaving really well under pilot."
The pilot worries encountered over the past couple of days seem to have been contained for the moment, even though the skipper is continuing to notice certain malfunctions. Whilst awaiting a complete revision of the system on the monohull’s arrival in Pointe à Pitre, the skipper will have to be extremely vigilant in order to prevent the boat yawing violently. "The pilot alarm sounded for no particular reason this morning!
Fortunately the pilot didn’t switch off immediately so I had time to rush on deck without any serious consequences for the boat."
After several days under the influence of a complex weather situation, Dominique has been able to get some rest for the first time. "I’ve had between 2 and 3 hours", which isn’t much for a ‘landlubber’ but would seem to be more than enough for the relaxed sounding skipper.
As the fleet close in on Guadeloupe, the options are narrowing and the competitors will be encountering fairly similar wind conditions.
"The trade winds should gradually drop off as we close on Guadeloupe. The seas have calmed down a bit and I’ve managed to make the most of the conditions to hoist a little more canvas. The seas are less messy than they were yesterday. We’re expecting a rotation in the wind this afternoon and gybing at the right time is always important if you don’t want to lose miles."
For the leading group, the final sprint is on. With a lead of over 110 miles on its closest pursuer VM-Matériaux, Sill-Véolia stands a very real chance of taking victory and may well cross the finish line from Friday evening onwards. "We’re beginning the final battle. I’m going to do everything I can to hold onto this 3rd place but whilst we’re not all on the same tack, it’s pretty difficult to establish a hierarchy. Sill-Véolia is a long way ahead and VM-Matèriaux looks difficult to catch between here and the finish."
Conditions onboard are smelling sweet under the tropics… "The sky is clear apart from a few fair weather cumulus clouds. There aren’t any squalls; it’s really very pleasant."
Pleasant, but also very hot: "When I turn the engine over to charge the batteries, it’s like an oven! Actually, it’s at that point I opt to go and helm!" joked the skipper. "On deck you’re bound to feel cooler. Even though it’s not very wet on deck, you’re forced to wear foulies, because after an hour of helming you end up soaked when the boat surfs along at over 20 knots."
At the 1600 ranking, TEMENOS was in 3rd position, 175 miles behind the leader.
Dominique may well cross the finish line on the morning of Saturday 11th November.
