Vendee Globe - 2 Days From The Cape Of Good Hope...

After over three weeks of racing the spirits are in good shape throughout the fleet and all twenty boats from the original line-up are racing. As has been the trend since the start of the race, the rich are going to get richer and the poor poorer. The top 6 boats are aboard the express train into the southern ocean, though it is clear that Vincent Riou (PRB) and Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) are in the first class seats a minimum of 369.1 nautical miles forward of the Jourdain, Josse, Golding and Thomson, the latter 845.6 miles from the front carriage. This group are below 36 S and crossing into the ‘Roaring Forties’ with a west south-westerly wind corridor to the north of their first low pressure system. A second group, all with over a 1000 mile deficit on the lead carriage, are currently being lead through the early 30 latitudes by Jean Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec. Their pace is set to drop off temporarily as a front passes between the two systems tomorrow though the follow-up is likely to prove particularly feisty as they are battered by a forecast 55 knots winds. This air stems from a low pressure system centred unusually high in latitude and given that this large group cannot “push the tip of South Africa north to get round it” (Hervé Laurent), the skippers are currently making easting so as to hover above 35 S and profit from a more favourable following breeze. The crunch will come in knowing when to jump off this particular train and get in some southerly to make the waypoint off the Cape of Good Hope, a decision that will be all the more difficult as the leaders hotfoot it onto new horizons once again, as they stretch out a further 300 nautical miles in the next 48 hours...

Though the first class carriage undoubtedly looks like rather a fine option in the minds of the chasing pack, the reality is slightly less rosy with Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam unable to accelerate as fast as they’d like as a result of cross seas. They are still making good progress though with leader Riou 700 nautical miles from the Cape of Good Hope having covered 340 nautical miles in the past 24 hours at an average of 14.2 knots, in 25 knots of wind under one-reefed main and solent. “I was told that the seas would be chaotic and in disarray and that’s what it’s like. For two or three days I’ve been sailing under-canvassed as it is no use going quicker and taking needless risks. I’m not really looking much at what Jean is doing. I prefer to concentrate on the most intelligent solution to pick my way through this sea. I’m making a lot of manoeuvres to find the right sail configurations in relation to the sailing conditions. You end up surfing on the long waves but if you go too quickly the boat stalls and water washes back over the deck as far as the foot of the mast. You can’t go too slowly either that’s the snag, particularly in the 40 knot winds forecast for tonight.”

Behind Riou, Jean Le Cam has lost out some ground since the last ranking but Roland Jourdain is really on the attack, covering a whopping 17.4 knots in the past 4 hours. Behind him Josse is sailing in a “cave world” enclosed in his cockpit out of harm’s way. Meantime Mike Golding has gone inside the chasing pack, eager for easting, 1300 miles from the famous Cape while compatriot Alex Thomson is set to pass upwind of the island of Tristan Da Cunha, on a direct easterly course, 100 nautical miles west of the rock. For now the “terrier” is making the top speed over 4 hours – a staggering 19 knots!

Jean Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec), 7th, currently leading the group chasing the next train, has over a 1000 mile deficit. The skipper was in good spirits today expecting easterly winds. “The furthest west you are, the more upwind it will be.” After suffering problems with a lashing fixing the gennaker to his bowsprit some days ago Jean Pierre was happy to have “made 2 gennaker changes overnight. I put the kite up and was happy with all my manoeuvres. It’s important to be particularly important to be reactive in the coming days. I really feel like I’m in the race now after taking a long time to acclimatise; I’m happy with my position and feel that it is good in relation to the coming wind. It’s been a dream for a long time to go into the southern ocean and I already feel like I’m there. I’ve got 25 knots of wind right now which will decrease and then kick back in tomorrow. I’m focused on looking after my boat, and choosing a direction that enables me to do that. Vigilance is the key word for this group at this new stage.”

To the rear of this same fleet, Hervé Laurent (UUDS) has currently got 27/28 knots of west north-westerly but is all too aware that his deficit on the leaders is set to increase. « We’re in another race but that doesn’t affect my mentality or the way I sail. In 48 hours we’re going to hit big winds which are going to a set us back considerably. The seas will messy as the depression is moving very little, so the conditions are going to be very difficult. There is the possibility of some upwind in the near future. But for now life is sweet…» A phrase which symbolizes the mood amongst those chasing glory in this Vendée Globe...

Quotes from the Boats:

Bruce Schwab (Ocean Planet): “We’ve been having a good time! I sailed south of the high pressure looping to the west then the south-west side of it, being careful not to turn too much too early and thus lose the wind. It’s quite windy right now and it’s like a big drag race as everyone’s got the same conditions in my little group. In the near future I’m hoping to stay north of the coming depression so as to avoid being caught on the south side of depression in upwind conditions. To be careful, I’m consolidating on the rest of the group by going slightly further north. I discovered a problem with the rudder seal/boot, but have solved that I think 19 knots... nice... beautiful high speed sailing right now...It’s sunny so I can charge up my batteries for 3 day stretches at the moment, a fact made all the nicer by the bright blue seas with beautiful surfing conditions.”

Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto): “I’ve got 21 knots of wind but would like a bit more. It’s looking windy. I’ve got a north-westerly flow that went a little lighter this morning. Ahead there will be a new front with 35/40 knots of wind. Obviously I’ve been feeling a bit negative seeing the leaders escape but it’s a very long race and anything could happen. The surrounding wildlife has cheered me up – I’ve seen a few petrels and there’s a flock of birds behind me now. I’ve got sun, there’s blue skies, it’s very warm and I’m in shorts and T-shirt.”

Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss): "The perverse thing about all the problems I keep having is that they're actually a good way of forcing myself to keep me, and the boat in check. I just love the rush from the speed my boat is so clearly capable of. I just need to keep reminding myself that this is the first of many days to come!"

Nick Moloney (Skandia): "I couldn´t believe it, I was in shock, it happened so quickly...I saw what I thought was a breaking wave, but it was a whale! She went by right close to the boat...would have been a major collision! F******!"

Karen Leibovici (Benefic): “Things are going well. I’ve got 12 knots, reaching on flat seas under a warm sun. I couldn’t go any quicker if I wanted. What I want to achieve and what I actually achieve are very different at the moment! I’m battling along gently free of technical worries and with no diesel leakage for the past 2 days. It’s clear I’m not going to get into the next weather system but I hope to get back with the others a bit...”

Source : Vendée Globe 2004