For the Vendée Globe leaders, this eighth edition of the solo
round the world race is increasingly feeling like a game of two very
distinct, contrasting halves. From the start on Sunday 6th
November in Les Sables d’Olonne the pace was fast and furious, smashing
records at each key point to Cape Leeuwin and into the Pacific Ocean. Even when Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire VIII) rounded Cape Horn on
23rd December, the French skipper had an advance of five
days, five hours and 38 minutes on the existing record to the legendary
cape, set on January 1st 2009 by François Gabart.
But a
complicated and slow climb up the South Atlantic for the leading duo, Le
Cléac’h and British skipper Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) – who this
afternoon is 246 miles behind his French rival – has seen their margin
against the record melt away like snow in the sun. By comparison, in
January 2013 Le Cléac’h and leader Gabart had a relatively
straightforward ascent of the Atlantic, pushing each other hard to the
line.
As it stands this Wednesday afternoon
the leaders are now only about 1150 miles or about three ‘normal’ days
ahead of the existing record. And, ahead of them, though the next two
and a half to three days to the Equator should see a small acceleration
in ‘foiling’ conditions – 15-17kts E’ly then SE’ly tradewinds, the
Doldrums look wide and active and the passage to the Canaries – at this
time – is predicted to be atypical. Once out of the Doldrums the NE’ly
trades do not look to be too reliable at the moment. And so any
Christmas time great expectations that Gabart’s record would be blown
apart by days now seem a little more fanciful.
Over the last two days, pre-race favourites, Jérémie Beyou and Yann Eliès, have sounded increasingly content with their position in the race. Both are ultra competitive, three times winners of La Solitaire du Figaro and for sure harboured aspirations of winning. But as they, too, sail northwards up the Atlantic, Beyou in third and Eliès in fifth, it is immediately apparent that they are now much more comfortable in their own minds with their positions in the fleet. In third, Beyou has been fortunate to slash more than 400 miles from his deficit to Alex Thomson and yesterday sounded almost light hearted, a notable evolution for a skipper who has had some dark days, struggling with technical problems.
Today it was Eliès’s turn to relish his northwards passage and his emerging intact from the Big South and in fighting form. For all that he might have hoped to beat veteran Jean Le Cam, 57, who is 13 miles behind him in sixth and who he has raced closely with since they entered the Pacific and to have outwitted Jean-Pierre Dick who is 59 miles ahead. Eliès is now 75 per cent of the way through his second attempt at the Vendée Globe.
Over the last two days, pre-race favourites, Jérémie Beyou and Yann Eliès, have sounded increasingly content with their position in the race. Both are ultra competitive, three times winners of La Solitaire du Figaro and for sure harboured aspirations of winning. But as they, too, sail northwards up the Atlantic, Beyou in third and Eliès in fifth, it is immediately apparent that they are now much more comfortable in their own minds with their positions in the fleet. In third, Beyou has been fortunate to slash more than 400 miles from his deficit to Alex Thomson and yesterday sounded almost light hearted, a notable evolution for a skipper who has had some dark days, struggling with technical problems.
Today it was Eliès’s turn to relish his northwards passage and his emerging intact from the Big South and in fighting form. For all that he might have hoped to beat veteran Jean Le Cam, 57, who is 13 miles behind him in sixth and who he has raced closely with since they entered the Pacific and to have outwitted Jean-Pierre Dick who is 59 miles ahead. Eliès is now 75 per cent of the way through his second attempt at the Vendée Globe.
Eliès’s first shower in one month, in South Atlantic
water of 12-13 deg Celsius, not only was about getting clean, but was as
much about resetting his mind, purging expectations and re-focusing on
the business of beating his two nearest rivals who between them have six
Vendée Globe finishes to their credit. “I am in good company. They are
stars of the Vendée Globe. I don’t think I’ll be able to catch
Jean-Pierre (Dick). It’s nice to be having this close contest. The other
two are exceptional sailors. I’d like to be in front of them, but it’s
not that easy as they are sailing so well,” said Eliès today, saying
that he has read many books so far on his two Kindles, his way of
switching off from the stress and noise.
Conrad Colman has tacked back towards
the east late afternoon Wednesday and so is believed to have completed
enough of his repairs to gradually power up his Foresight Natural Energy
after struggling for more than 48 hours since losing the pin which
secures his primary forestay, in a major storm during January 1st and 2nd.
The Kiwi skipper had less than ten knots when he set his course back
towards Cape Horn which is 1300 miles away for him, and he looks set to
have light conditions for some hours to come.
Quotes:
Yann Eliès, Quéguiner- Leucémie Espoir:
“It’s a bit like a battlefield out here with boat-breaking conditions
in thirty knots of wind. There should be 4 or 5 more hours like this
before it eases off. We’re beginning to feel stressed about the gear.
There are huge strains on everything. If I was all alone, I would take
it a bit easier. Those with me seem to be pushing even harder. It’s like
summer here after being down at 58°S five days ago. I managed to take a
shower even if it was saltwater and cold. It’s something I haven’t been
able to do since the Cape of Good Hope. We’re now on a long stretch on
the port tack. You have to be patient in these conditions. It’s time to
start thinking about the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne even if it’s a
long way away."
Eric Bellion, CommeUnSeulHomme:
“I spent two days reaching in the low getting shaken around. I’m soaked
but I’m happy as I’m making headway. We’re trying to keep up with the
front. The past two days were the ones where the boat got the worst
battering. I think the others suffered more than me, as they were
further south. I’m not the same person as when we set sail. There has
been a change. I think the deep low was the turning point. I’m more
relaxed and am sailing. It doesn’t mean I have fewer problems, but it is
more fun. I know my boat much better. We talk things over the two of
us. It’s really a pleasure to be out here. Even I feel at home here, I
still want to get back to land. I have an extraordinary boat and she is
in good condition. And I’m in good health.”
Jean le Cam, Finistère Mer Vent:
"We’re still slamming in this low, but it should ease off this evening.
There will be an area of light winds to deal with and then we’ll be on
the starboard tack to the Doldrums. I have been with Yann (Eliès) for
quite some time. When you have a ridge of high pressure like that it’s
hard to know what is happening, as the forecasts aren’t very accurate.
It’s in light winds that there is the greatest uncertainty. From the
Cape of Good Hope to where I am now, I have regained 700 miles from the
leaders. I’m an expert at repairing things. I gybed. I heard clac clac
and the damage was done. I went to bed as it was dark. I spent the night
with the mainsail damaged. I woke up and set about sorting that out. I
started at 9 and finished at 6 in the evening. In the end I didn’t lose
that much, but it was a tiring day. I had the mainsail down on the deck.
I thought I had sailed about a hundred miles, but it was only 35.”
Rich Wilson (USA) Great American IV:
“We took a little bit of a beating the other night in the front when a
couple of tack-gybes did not go so well. There was lots of wind and
15-18 foot seas and the wind changed direction. The boat got beat up, I
got beat up. It was pretty scary. It was very tiring. It took about a
day to recover. We have come north to position ourselves for the next
depression which is bigger but I think we are better positioned.”
(www.vendeeglobe.org)
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