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Little wind to play with a Trophee BPE leaders negotiate passage between Cuba and Haiti

Positions at 0900GMT

Pos	Boat	DTF	DTL	VMG	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs	Spd	Dist
							Instant		4hr aver		24hr run
1	CREDIT MARITIME-ZEROTWO	437.1	0.0	0.6	20 09.54' N	73 45.00' W	0.8	219	1.9	237.0	3.8	92.1
2	BOSTIK	451.8	14.8	1.3	20 16.50' N	73 30.72' W	0.9	229	1.7	243.0	3.7	87.9
3	CERCLE VERT	475.7	38.6	4.7	20 23.70' N	73 06.48' W	4.2	263	4.0	259.0	4.0	95.4
4	SKANDIA	484.9	47.8	4.1	20 30.05' N	72 56.09' W	4.1	246	3.5	250.0	4.1	99.6
5	BANQUE POPULAIRE	514.7	77.7	6.0	20 33.66' N	72 26.16' W	6.3	265	4.2	260.0	3.7	89.5
6	AQUARELLE.COM	515.9	78.8	5.3	20 42.48' N	72 28.02' W	5.8	266	4.7	258.0	4.0	96.4
7	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	515.9	78.9	6.4	20 40.20' N	72 27.06' W	6.6	248	5.6	247.0	4.1	99.1
8	GEDIMAT	516.5	79.4	6.0	20 40.14' N	72 26.40' W	6.2	257	5.2	258.0	4.0	95.2
9	COUTOT ROEHRIG	519.7	82.7	5.7	20 34.20' N	72 20.76' W	6.0	247	4.9	253.0	4.0	94.9
10	TOTAL	539.8	102.7	5.4	20 45.00' N	72 01.86' W	5.6	247	5.6	245.0	4.3	103.1
11	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	625.7	188.6	1.6	21 15.72' N	70 35.88' W	1.3	264	2.4	254.0	3.4	81.2
12	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	719.7	282.6	3.4	22 36.12' N	69 34.38' W	4.5	254	3.9	261.0	3.4	82.7

One look at the 24 hours runs and the instant speed of the lead two boats is enough to show that progress has slowed to snail's pace particularly for the leaders in the Figaro's Trophee BPE singlehanded race to Cienfuegos, Cuba.

As the leaders negotiate the passage between the eastern end of Cuba and Haiti, the wind radar image of the area (below) shows either very light northerlies or zero wind and another equally light patch further down the course between Cuba and Jamaica. From Cabo Cruz (the western point of Cuba shown on the wind chart below) there is still 228 miles to run along the south side of Cuba to get to the finish line.

This morning's positions confirm unfortunately that Gildas Morvan on Cercle Vert has indeed overhauled Skandia's Sam Davies to take third place, but in the light winds, as the front duo are experiencing, we are likely to see some concertinaing of the fleet as they arrive at the Strait only to be becalmed. Whether there is a way around the light patch remains to be seen...

"The sea is calm, it is pleasant, I had a little wind over the night, but is building gently. I slept on deck," said Morvan this morning. Other skippers Charles Caudrelier on Bostik and race leader Eric Drouglazet were recounting how the wind has been turning full circle requiring them to stay on deck constantly.



Sam Davies writes from on board Skandia...

Hello!

Yes, this racing across the Atlamtic is fun, but it is certainly not easy! After a realtively smooth night [Sam is talking about the previous night] with spinnaker, then genoa reaching, the wind gradually dropped until there was nothing. It was a beautiful sunrise behind a big squall cloud, but it was difficult to appreciate it because of the stress of no wind.

We drifted and "flapped" all morning, until a fickle breeze (1-3kts (!) filled in. On the nose! So we tacked our way slowly along. Gildas gained a bit because this new breeze filled in from the North (where he was) but I could still see him all day, which was a good gauge.

Now, we are very tight spinnaker reaching, slightly low of course, but fast with the spinnaker, in a realtive gale - 6-8kts! I am not expecting this breeze to last the night, however, so I imagine more "flap flapping" later on. Need to sleep now whilst the going is good!

I am going to need some good r&r at the end of this race. It is strange how your body keeps going with (little) complaint / need for rest for such a long duration, thanks to the adrenalin of the race. The reason why I thought about this was that I had been looking at my hands, which are a bit worse for wear, but I am sure that there is more than just my hands that need attention! For sure, I will need some good manicures to turn my hands back into girls hands!

I think that also, I will sleep 13 hours / night for at least 2 weeks!

Right, I had better go and do some whistling for some wind......

Oh, and one last thing before I go - spare a thought for the poor little flying fish that crashed into me at top speed. The impact was so great that his eyes popped out - literally! I found him lying on the deck this morning - eyeless - and one of his eyes was just next to him. Don't know where the other one went. Hope I didn't sit on it. ( I took photo evidence, but won't send it in case anyone is squeamish....) Speak to you later

Sam
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