2004
Global Challenge - Change In The weather Heralds
Difficult Times Ahead: Yachts Approach High Pressure
Zone
This
afternoon’s poll shows that Samsung has
continued to consolidate their westerly position,
creeping up another few nautical miles so that
they are just 17nm behind current leaders BP Explorer
and just 6 behind Spirit of Sark.
The
fleet is shown to be in two distinct groups the
eastern group containing most of the yachts, and
the smaller, western group consists of Team SAIC
La Jolla, Samsung and Imagine It. Done.
For
the preceding 24 hours, the speed across the fleet
has been very consistent, between 9.0 and 9.9
knots. However, the yachts report incredible instantaneous
speeds of up to 24.2 knots, an adrenalin fuelled
scream past the coast of Spain and down towards
African waters.
However,
the merest glance at the 24 hour weather chart
shows ominous holes in the wind arrows, indicating
that the yachts are heading for an unpredictable
zone of frustrating windless hours. South of the
‘Roaring Forties’ the Doldrums beckons.
For
the past few days the yachts have had not only
to be fighting the weather, but navigationally
preparing themselves for the weather ahead. Donning
shots and T-shirts and drying out your wet clothing
might seem appealing at first, but the warmer
weather heralds the dangers ahead.
After
the almost incessant rollercoaster ride and high
emotions of the past few days, at first, the crew
volunteers will welcome the change in the weather,
but come the windless days they will be longing
back to this first week. Keeping up the motivation
for speed and trimming will be a hard task for
the skippers when the crews come down from their
current high and into a much more monotonous type
of sailing.
When
the roar of the ocean becomes the slap slap of
a very gentle swell and the straining of the sails
becomes an idle flap against the stays, this will
be a test of a different kind. Keeping boredom
away and morale high will become as much of a
part of the day as the battering has been for
the last week.
The
mettle of the crews has been tested through some
severe Atlantic weather… now they meet the
other major test that Leg 1 will bring, they have
to get through this zone before the reach the
safety of the tradewinds.
9 Oct 2004 16:17 GMT
Kerry Dye
