Vendee Globe - Two Weeks Down The Line

The group at the front is at a more favourable angle, while those coming up behind are still advancing with the wind on the beam The straightforward racing is coming to an end In the next 24 h we shall see the return of tactical and strategic options Vincent Riou has no hang-ups

They’re sliding along again For the frontrunners, the trade wind has gradually backed from the south-east towards the east and now the north-east, which offers a more favourable sailing wind angle and allows the skippers to achieve some fine averages requiring a lot of work out on deck. Since crossing the Equator, they have not had much physical work to do, but now the solo yachtsmen are back out on the foredeck preparing the sail changes, from the gennaker to the spinnaker and back again. It’s hard to know exactly how long the six leaders will be able to keep up this rhythm. 12 hours? 24 hours? The mysteries of the St. Helena high are difficult for the sailors to unravel, in spite of the long hours spent bending over the charts in front of all the different weather models. Last night, the leader, Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle), had his first brush for a few hours with the instability they are about to face. The next few days look very interesting from a tactical point of view.

A question of luck
The skippers all agree. The game will once again be wide open, as they deal with crossing the St. Helena high, which some of them are quite pleased about. Their courses won’t be changing by 90° however, but the positions as they start to enter a zone of light winds, may well shake up the rankings a little. It is the uncertainty and lack of agreement about the forthcoming weather that is worrying the yachtsmen a little more. In other words, there is the fear of getting stuck in a calm zone with no wind, while the others zoom off to the south. This question of luck and not being able to predict anything is weighing heavily on all their minds.

Vincent Riou has no hang-ups
The race could hardly have begun in better style for the Breton yachtsman, who was in the lead for almost a week, and is now firmly hanging on to second place. After two weeks of racing, Vincent Riou (PRB) has calmly taken a look at what has happened so far, before they reach the Deep South. «In a week, we’ll be down in the forties. Since the start, we’ve been very fast. If we’ve been at 8-9 knots, it’s only been for 4 or 5 hours at the most. In the end, there hasn’t been much difference with the newer boats. If Jean is in the lead, it’s because he has been sailing well, and not because his boat is capable of faster speeds. That’s rather encouraging for me. I think there’s more to gain by getting the most out of your boat or by choosing the right course, rather than relying on the potential of the monohulls. I’m fairly clear in my own mind about how I shall manage in the Deep South. I’m going to have to be reasonable, not attack too much, and try to keep out of the worst weather. It’s starting to get exciting and I can’t wait to be there. The race is going to change once we are in the South. Down there, the role of the sailor is even more important»

Quotes:

Vincent Riou (PRB): «It’s a pleasant Sunday. We’re sailing downwind and it’s not as warm now. We’re sliding along nicely and can stay outside without getting soaked. PRB loves being at this angle to the wind. The first two weeks were just fantastic. I never came to a halt. When you think that in just a week’s time, we’ll be in the forties. It’s very exciting. The race is developing wonderfully well, as everyone is still in with a chance. You just have to be that little bit clever. I’ve had my mind on the South ever since the start. I’ve been through all the different possibilities of sailing in my head. Since setting out from Les Sables, I’ve had a few ideas. I know too that I have to be reasonable, and make some wise choices. I can’t wait to discover the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. I’m not at all upset about being in second place. I think it’s great that four lads from Port la Forêt, who all know each other and have trained together, should be in the first four positions in the Vendée Globe. »

Sébastien Josse (VMI): «I’ve just done a complete check-up on the boat. I’m starting to tidy things up inside. I’m taking a look at the sails bearing in mind what we shall soon be facing. We’ll be in a very different scenario. It’s over for the long, straight stretches. We’re going to have to deal with light airs, study the charts, and take a good look at the sky and the clouds... »
Raphaël Dinelli (Akena Vérandas): «I just crossed the Equator at 11.30 GMT. Time for some champagne. Time to relax and enjoy myself. It’s a little magic, like going through the Cape Verde Islands. The start of the race was in many ways a continuation of my last few weeks in Les Sables: everything was a bit of a rush. After the start, I was rather exhausted. There was still a lot of work to finish off. But in the last few days, it’s improved, and I’m finally getting into the race. The desalinisation unit is now working and I’ve sealed the leak at the base of the daggerboard. I’ll put some strips on later. The boat is performing well in the trades. She is quite heavy and the widest in the fleet. She enjoys fast points of sailing. On the other hand, she does less well in light airs. »

Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss): «The sailing conditions are excellent. We’re moving along nicely and it’s a bit cooler. It’s better for working in the boat. I’ve spent a lot of time doing odd jobs. I managed to get my connection running to get hold of the weather data. At a good angle to the wind, we can go along quite quickly. I’d like to stay up here with the frontrunners. We edge each other on, and that’s a good thing for the race itself. I’ve had a nice rest, and had a good meal. I’m ready for the South, as it really fascinates me. The boat is also ready. We got her set up for racing in the southern latitudes. I do understand though that we have to know when and where to go on the attack. »

Source : Vendee Globe 2004