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3rd Nov 2009
Blog La Solidaire du Chocolat - November 2nd - 8thTim and Nicko have now gone for more than 2 weeks!
At 2233 GMT on Saturday night, the Anglo-Australian duo of Sail4Cancer in 5th place crossed the mandatory race gate off St. Barts. Wright and Brennan were holding a lead of around 66 miles over their British rivals on 40 Degrees when they rounded the southern tip of the Caribbean Island. Lining up to cross the gate shortly, Desafio Cabo de Hornos moved up to 6th place in the final approach to St. Barts at 0400 GMT this morning, building a lead of 8 miles over 40 Degrees. According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II remains in 5th position at 1,450 miles with a speed of 6.4 knots.
The leading 3 Class40s in La Solidaire du Chocolat are now through the mandatory gate off St. Barts. On Friday morning at 0923 GMT, Initiatives-Novedia crossed the gate in first place, followed by Telecom Italia at 2226 GMT with Cheminées Poujoulat in 3rd just one hour and-a-half behind the Italian duo at 2349 GMT. Having kept everyone guessing as to whether a pit stop was scheduled, Telecom Italia and Cheminées Poujoulat have continued racing in pursuit of Initiatives-Novedia. At 0800 GMT this morning, Initiative Novedia are maintaining a 110 mile lead over the chasing duo and are enjoying the challenge of Caribbean sailing. Meanwhile, in the second wave of 3 boats, Sail4Cancer, 40 Degrees and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are separated by just under 100 miles with Sail4Cancer in 5th holding 73 mile lead over 40 Degrees on 6th place. Slightly south of the latitude of Desafio Cabo de Hornos, in 11th place, ORBIS continue to try every trick to increase their speed. With the boats still in the North Atlantic spread over 870 miles between Sail4Cancer nearing St. Barts and Vale Inco Nouvelle Calédonie in 15th, Card cannot see any margin for significant gains and losses. “The fleet seems pretty well spread out and it's hard to see any significant changing of places happening between here and the gate at St. Barts,” he predicts. “But we'll do our best.” Trailing ORBIS by 36 miles in 12th place, Adriatech have taken the most southerly route in the fleet. For the team, the past week has been highly eventful. According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II remains in 5th position at 1,592 miles with a speed of 6.7 knots.
At 0800 GMT, the race leaders Initiatives-Novedia were under 20 miles from the mandatory race gate off St. Barts. In their approach under darkness, they will have to avoid the natural hazards around the gate: Les Baleines de Grand Fond, the rocks called Fornus just east of the main island and the small island of Loco, directly south of St. Barts. Currently leading the fleet by 103 miles on port gybe, the French duo may have to gybe onto starboard to clip the southern corner of the gate before entering the Caribbean and starting the final 1,500 mile leg to Progreso and the finish line. 2nd place Telecom Italia and 3rd place Cheminées Poujoulat are separated by just under 15 miles with both boats gybing simultaneously onto starboard in the last few hours, hitching north before the final gybe down to the race gate. While they are both averaging matching speeds at a little over 9 knots, Cargill-MTTM, in 4th place and trailing Cheminees Poujoulat by 28 miles this morning, are fractionally slower at 8.8 knots. Yesterday, the fleet was stunned by the retirement of Tieto who were holding 7th place in the second wave of Class40s. With profound problems to the keel mounting, the Finnish duo quickly decided to drop all sail and motor to St. Barts, but a mid-ocean rendezvous for extra fuel was vital. Throughout the night, the group of three boats in the second wave produced some of the highest speeds in the fleet with 40 Degrees making 9.48 knots and Desafio Cabo de Hornos polling 10 knots. “A glorious clear, warm night,” reports Miranda Merron from 40 Degrees in 6th place this morning. “I haven't forgotten how tough the first couple of weeks were, but surfing down waves in the moonlight is one of the reasons we do this kind of racing,” she explains. “We were delighted on Wednesday night to have overtaken the Finns,” he says, “but our joy was short-lived when we found out they had had to pull out of the race with serious keel issues. This means that 40 percent of the fleet won't make the finish line which illustrates the toughness of the early stages in the race.” As Merron predicted, the breeze has dropped and speeds have reduced to sub-nine knots for the trio of boats. “We're around 48 hours from the gate at St. Barts,” Cubillos estimates. “I really hope that the race organisation can re-supply us with chocolate as we pass through. On the boat we are surrounded by La Solidaire du Chocolat flags, banners, flyers and chocolate-related paraphernalia, so I think it would show their true commitment to chocolate if they bombarded us with the stuff as we sailed through the gate.” The third wave of boats is led by Groupe Picoty in 8th place, holding a 118 mile lead over PLAN in 9th. In 10th place, Axa Atout Coeur Pour Aides are just 15 miles behind and have fully acclimatised to the Trade Winds. According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II remains in 5th position at 1,764 miles with a stable speed of 9.6 knots.
Dawn on the 19th day at sea for La Solidaire du Chocolat fleet has brought the sad news that the Finnish duo on Tieto have made the hard but vital decision to withdraw from the race having pushed hard and maintained a position in the top third of the fleet throughout the race. Last night, Romppanen reported cracks around the keel fitting and although no water was seeping into the boat, the Finns have wisely opted to drop the sails reducing any additional load on the keel and have decided to motor the remaining 650 miles to St. Barts. Meanwhile, at the front of the fleet, Initiatives-Novedia are approximately 210 miles from the gate at St. Barts and although there is little the chasing yachts can do to reduce the current distance deficit, Telecom Italia in 2nd have closed down slightly on the leaders in the past 24 hours and this morning, the Italian team trail Initiatives-Novedia by 109 miles. As the leading pack approaches the gate, the yachts are beginning to group together as individual tracks converge and Cheminées Poujoulat in 3rd remain just seven miles behind the Italians while Cargill-MTTM have fallen back since dawn yesterday and currently trail Cheminees Poujoulat by 21 miles. Leading the second wave of boats, the Anglo-Australian duo of Sail4Cancer in 5th have been fighting light airs. “It's been an extremely frustrating night on board,” reported Wright late yesterday. “Loads of squalls and lightning followed by three hours of no wind and hence no progress.” However, Wright and Brennan have increased their lead over 40 Degrees in 6th by 23 miles in 24 hours. Currently trailing Sail4Cancer by 58 miles, Merron describes the conditions. “Yesterday was a proper sunny Trade Wind day, although rather light,” she reports this morning. “For once, we were left in peace by the squall monsters, which of course meant that the night would probably be less peaceful. The entire horizon can be clear of clouds, except just to windward, where there is one cumulobeastie with your name on it.” With the Finnish duo forced to retire from racing and motor westwards, Desafio Cabo de Hornos have moved up to 7th and are making the best speed in the second wave at 8.2 knots. “With respect to the leader board, we continue making our maximum effort,” confirmed Bravo Silva this morning. “We are handsteering day and night and making countless sail changes, but the truth is that the work is not easy because the playing field is now even for most of the boats in the fleet. Therefore, it is difficult to gain any tactical advantage.” Currently trailing the British duo on 40 Degrees by 48 miles, the Chilean duo are doing their best to maximise every advantage. “Our immediate objective is the two boats off our bow and slowly we are taking some miles from them,” he continues. “Felipe has made some repairs to our one surviving masthead wand and it can now run the autopilot from the wind,” reports Bravo Silva. “Frankly, this makes life bearable by allowing us short breaks from steering.” Further east, the southern group of yachts continue to harass the back markers of the northern fleet with Axa Atout Coeur Pour Aides in 11th just 38 miles behind PLAN in 10th. Trailing Axa Atout Coeur by 200 miles, Keysource in 15th continue to battle technology and the elements. According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II remains in 5th position at 1,976 miles with a speed of 9.7 knots.
A day and a half to go before sighting land for the first time since leaving Saint Nazaire. Initiatives-Novedia are comfortably in the lead of the Solidaire du Chocolat and should be a clear half-day ahead of the three immediate followers as they pass by Saint Bart's. But the trade winds are starting to fall... Anything can happen at sea... In view of the conditions off the Caribbean islands at the moment (15 knot easterly wind), it is difficult to imagine any major change in the fleet as Initiatives-Novedia maintains its lead over Telecom Italia, Cheminées Poujoulat and Cargill-MTTM. Another 210 miles clocked up in 24 hours for the leaders among the fastest in the fleet thereby further increasing their lead by about 10 miles compared to yesterday. 1,000 miles downfield, Crédit Maritime seem to have got things right since their Portuguese pitstop. The northern course has enabled them to distance Vale Inco-Nouvelle Calédonie who headed off further south, and have sneaked in a 20 mile gain every day. At this rate, they may well end up closing in on British boat Keysource by Thursday evening. A nice bit of strategy. Precisely what they need to negotiate the end of this Atlantic stretch as the trade winds are showing signs of lightening up with a few rain-bearing cumulonimbus even appearing, with alternating gusts and calms. This is fine for charging the body's batteries and being able to eat normally. But there are still 2,000 miles to go for the first boats and more than 3,000 for the tail enders. In any event, the fight for second place is on. The Italians and Cheminees Poujoulat are sailing in sight of one another, with Cargill-MTTM not far behind. The two British boats Palanad 2 and 40 Degrees are a little further south of the Finnish team on Tieto Passion who appear to have better wind. Bit of a battle going on also in the north between Plan, les enfants changeront le monde and Orbis against the southerners Axa Atout Cœur pour Aides and Adriatech, now on the same heading. The Caribbean landfall is not going to be that easy. According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II is in 5th position at 2,170 miles with a speed of 8.1 knots.
While the race leaders on Initiatives-Novedia continue to hold a 110 mile lead and guide the fleet to the mandatory race gate off St. Barts, approximately 600 miles south-west, the front runners are not immune from the effects of the storms in the first two weeks at sea. Cheminées Poujoulat have reported major mainsail damage and have been without weather information for two days whereas Telecom Italia has suffered forestay failure. Both boats indicated that a pit stop in St. Barts to make repairs is a necessity. Meanwhile, Cargill-MTTM look set to move up the leader board and are currently trailing Cheminees Poujoulat by just four miles. Conversely, in 5th place, Sail4Cancer are having a fast ride, currently averaging 10 knots. “Fractional kite up for 24 hours and good progress down the line, even a brief requirement to apply sun cream!” reports Tim this morning. “Full-on helming early on due mainly to the sea state when pushing up to faster angles while avoiding round ups.” Tim's two year-old Akilaria is performing superbly. “Some great surfs and the boat is really in her element - and very wet - in these conditions in stark contrast to the slamming she has had to endure going upwind,” confirms the British skipper. “More settled by evening and overnight with lighter winds giving a little space to recharge,” he continues, while his Australian co-skipper has been busy with minor repairs. “Nicko made another trip out to end of pole to do further work on the tack lashing,” says Wright. “I'm still trying to figure whether this was essential, or an attempt to get away from the smell of wet kit scattered about the place.” Trailing Wright and Brennan in 6th place and holding a 40 mile lead over Tieto in 7th, 40 Degrees have been making good speed despite a brief period of drama. “It is rare to get through a 24 hour period on a race without something minor going wrong,” explained Miranda Merron earlier. (...) The British duo is averaging 11 knots in the most recent poll but averaged the fleet's highest speed earlier today at 12.8 knots as the trade wind sailing ups the pace. The arrival of the trade winds and fast downwind sailing has come at a price. Yesterday, Keysource reported a high-speed broach resulting in a wrapped spinnaker and ORBIS in 12th place have also paid the price of trade wind exuberance and confused sea. While the British duo make spinnaker repairs, the Chilean team in 8th place on Desafio Cabo de Hornos are delivering the highest speed average in the fleet at 11.3 knots despite a total lack of wind instruments. Cubillos explains the technique. “We've attached some cotton thread to the shrouds and with the help of a protractor from a school geometry set, we find the wind angle,” says the Chilean skipper. “Through experience we guess the wind strength and then we have all the data we need.” So, are they going to call in St Bart's or not? A three hour stop in Gustavia (compulsory minimum stopover under the Solidaire du Chocolat rules) for the current leaders would mean losing just 30 miles or so. Being able to repair, tweak gear here and there, take on fresh supplies, also being able to rest a while and hone the boat a little before continuing on the 1500 miles to Progreso might be advantageous in more ways than one. What a fine gesture of fair-play it would be as the three immediate rivals have planned to make a pitstop, or would stop if this symbolic gesture were to be made by the leaders. To be followed... According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II is in 5th position at 2,329 miles with a speed of 8.8 knots.
Two weeks into the race and men and machines are showing signs of fatigue. Almost all of the Class 40s have had technical problems of one sort or another. Right now, the crews have to try and think three days ahead to work out how best to approach the passage of Saint Bart's and even decide whether making a pitstop is necessary. Race rules force a minimum three hour stop if a boat decides to put in to port for technical reasons. The Solidaire du Chocolat rule is not really a penalty if the reason for the pitstop requires major attention. It leaves the time for a brief rest, time to take on fuel and fresh food, and perhaps even time to have a quick drink under the sun. As for the weather, that will depend very much on the eastern wave which is ahead of the fleet and kicking up a great cloudy mass. Grey skies, and nothing dry on board. The crews have been stewing in humid conditions for a fortnight. Three days to wait before sighting land, for the race leaders that is, four more for the tail enders. The leaders are the ones to have the fewest technical problems. Initiatives-Novedia are less than 900 miles of Saint Bart's and have an 80 miles lead over their closest rivals, Telecom Italia who have other problems this afternoon than their broken forestay. The Italians were to be overtaken by Cheminées Poujoulat as they were six knots slower and had called to a halt for several hours head to wind to carry out repairs. Both crews are now contemplating putting into the Caribbean. And they might not be alone... Cargill-MTTM no longer have an alternator so they have to keep electricity consumption down to a minimum. Third place may well be up for grabs as last weekend they reset their track onto the same as that of the leader which may end up paying off in the shifting trades. Keysource have problems too. They've rolled their foresail round the stay and don't know how to remove it. Across the fleet, there are torn spinnakers for Axa Atout Cœur pour Aides, Vale Inco-Nouvelle Calédonie.
The only good note ringing out in this cacophony of fatigue and problems is the Chileans on Desafio Cabo de Hornos who are in great shape, among the fastest of the fleet along with the Finnish on Tieto Passion who are battling it out for 7th. The Atlantic is not the same for everyone, all of whom are none the less in high pressure systems and under the tropics. Little separates the boats in terms of heading – straight towards the Caribbean. The lateral differences will be reduced in the next couple of days and the hierarchy will be established before reaching Saint Bart's. According to the position poll issued at 2000 GMT local time, Palanad II is in 5th position at 2,554 miles with a speed of 12.3 knots. Story by Sandrine Wallace For further information: |
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