Into the 'trades'

Favourable conditions now for Figaro singlehanded transat boats in Trophee BPE

Positions at 0900GMT

Pos	Boat	DTF	DTL	VMG	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs	Spd	Dist
							Instant		4hr aver		24 hr run
1	CERCLE VERT	3697.8	0.0	8.6	45 03.48' N	15 13.08' W	8.1	227	8.4	231.0	7.7	185.0
2	BOSTIK	3701.6	3.8	8.6	45 24.84' N	14 59.28' W	8.6	240	8.5	242.0	7.8	187.6
3	CREDIT MARITIME-ZEROTWO	3702.6	4.8	9.6	45 18.84' N	15 14.04' W	9.9	238	9.0	238.0	7.8	186.6
4	BANQUE POPULAIRE	3704.0	6.2	7.7	45 00.54' N	15 02.22' W	8.3	231	7.9	221.0	7.5	179.3
5	AQUARELLE.COM	3713.9	16.1	8.9	45 07.74' N	14 51.00' W	9.4	242	9.4	238.0	7.8	188.4
6	TOTAL	3721.0	23.3	8.4	45 16.62' N	14 38.40' W	8.5	240	8.9	230.0	7.6	181.4
7	SKANDIA	3727.3	29.6	10.1	44 51.48' N	14 23.04' W	10.7	229	9.1	231.0	7.3	174.6
8	COUTOT ROEHRIG	3729.0	31.2	8.4	45 01.26' N	14 25.14' W	8.0	242	8.2	243.0	7.1	171.3
9	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	3731.7	33.9	8.2	45 33.00' N	14 37.32' W	8.4	250	8.3	244.0	7.4	178.3
10	GEDIMAT	3738.6	40.9	10.2	45 34.32' N	14 27.42' W	11.0	228	9.7	231.0	7.8	188.1
11	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	3740.4	42.6	7.9	45 08.76' N	14 11.64' W	8.6	222	9.0	221.0	7.2	173.0
12	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	3743.0	45.2	7.3	45 13.02' N	14 09.90' W	7.9	226	8.4	225.0	7.4	177.8

After a slow start to the Trophe BPE, the competitors in this the Figaro class' first ever singlehanded transatlantic race are enjoying fast reaching conditions thanks to the Azores high being some 900 miles off station to the north. Normally the prospect of a transatlantic race with a waypoint in the Azores, might seem like it was organised by people with no knowledge of Atlantic weather as if the high was in its 'normal' position competitors would have to sail into it and then out of its with possibly day spent idling in light winds in between.

Fortunately this is not the case and the boats are able to make good speed. Over the last 24 hours Jeanne Gregoire on Banque Populaire, Tuesday's leader had lost a little ground on race leader Gildas Morvan on Cercle Verte, but six miles in four days of racing is little to worry about, particularly with 3,700 or miles to go.

At present as Sam Davies describes below the skippers are lining up on the race track to get the best possible rounding of the waypoint at Flores (the westernmost Azores island) and that second placed Bostik sailed by last year's Solitaire du Figaro winner Charles Chadrelier and Credit Maritime of Eric Drouglazet have chosen the right side of the course, while Morvan and Gregoire are in the middle being chased by Yannick Bestaven on Aquarelle.com with Davies and Skandia now the furthest out on the left side of the course.

The forecast is looking good for the boats with the wind expected to veer from northeast to due east in 36 hours time and southeast i 48 hours time as the boats pass south of the high pressure system making for a lively port tack beam reach as the boats through the Azores sometime on Sunday.

From on board Skandia Sam Davies writes...

I am FREEZING! I can't feel my toes!

Luckily, after our experience in the Transat Jaques Vabre (can't sleep unless hands are warm) I remembered to bring some 'sleeping gloves'! This year's model of sleeping glove is very high-tech - the Musto Windstopper fingerless convertible mittens! They are forbidden from going outside, because for really good sleep performance they must be dry (then you have really nice dreams|!) However, the fingerless option is excellent, as the sleeping gloves double as 'chart table gloves'!!! I am typing this with the sleeping gloves on, mitten bit flipped up!! (Being careful that I don't fall asleep as I write!)

Yesterday was good - all day tight reaching with asymmetric spinnaker. There is a decision as to how far south to go as we pass the Azores - the first real tactical decision of the race, and even though the Azores are a way away, I need to start to plan the approach now, so I have been working a lot looking at the weather forecasts and routing models....

I was pleased with myself last night because I managed to get Skandia set up nicely balanced to sail the tight spinnaker reach in 20 knots of wind under pilot, so I could manage some 20min sleeps. The wind was pretty gusty and shifty, so 20 minutes was the maximum if I was lucky before I needed to trim or ease the sails. I also had to put the pilot on a fairly high power consuming setting, so I must be careful to not use that too often, or I will run out of diesel...

Hopefully there will be some more sunshine soon, as sunrise approaches, because I really need to thaw out my feet! Perhaps next time I will have to bring slippers as well as sleeping gloves!!!

Sam xx