Breeze up

Trophee BPE Figaro solo sailors tackle final headland

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	181.2	0.0	8.5	20 00.96' N	78 12.12' W	8.3	296	9.1	293.0	6.3	150.1
2	CERCLE VERT	209.0	27.8	8.0	19 49.14' N	77 45.36' W	7.9	280	8.1	288.0	5.8	138.8
3	BOSTIK	209.6	28.4	8.0	19 48.54' N	77 44.70' W	7.9	282	8.0	288.0	5.8	138.7
4	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	214.5	33.3	8.3	19 46.08' N	77 35.40' W	8.0	279	8.1	278.0	5.7	137.9
5	SKANDIA	216.7	35.5	7.5	19 45.67' N	77 37.74' W	7.5	291	6.1	274.0	5.7	136.0
6	TOTAL	220.3	39.2	8.2	19 48.06' N	77 28.98' W	7.7	264	7.8	280.0	5.9	140.5
7	AQUARELLE.COM	221.6	40.4	7.8	19 47.28' N	77 27.90' W	7.7	266	7.5	276.0	5.8	138.6
8	GEDIMAT	222.1	40.9	8.1	19 48.24' N	77 27.30' W	8.1	262	7.7	281.0	5.9	140.5
9	BANQUE POPULAIRE	224.3	43.1	7.4	19 45.60' N	77 25.44' W	7.3	285	7.3	282.0	5.7	136.4
10	COUTOT ROEHRIG	224.8	43.6	7.3	19 44.52' N	77 25.14' W	7.5	270	6.8	283.0	5.7	135.9
11	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	266.5	85.3	3.4	19 41.46' N	76 44.76' W	3.2	261	4.0	268.0	5.3	128.0
12	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	379.4	198.2	4.3	19 36.42' N	74 44.82' W	4.7	253	5.0	253.0	6.8	162.8

Finally the boats in the Figaro's singlehanded Trophee BPE have found some breeze. The last 24 hours has seen them pass the US base at Guantanamo Bay and they are now making some progress towards the finish line at Cienfuegos on the south side of Cuba where the dancing girls are getting bored and the ice has long since melted in the Mojitos.

The forecast and wind radar data on this occasion tally, showing the boats to be enjoying around 15 knots from the southeast ie dead downwind.

As the above chart shows the boats on day 24 of this race are all bunched up as they were one day. While Eric Drouglazet on race leader Credit Maritime-ZeroTwo has made a break, just 17 miles separates second from tenth place, with the boats at present attempting to round Cabo Cruz.

While the positions plotted on the chart above show Sam Davies and Skandia in fourth place, in fact the position of Dominique Vittet's ATAO is from 30 minutes earlier and Sam has just reported gybing astern of him.

Sadly the present wind is not going to hold and a big hole is set to develop between Cabo Cruz and the finish over the next 24 hours. This could reshuffle the pack once again...

Sam Davies reports from on board Skandia

Hello

Well, I have just gybed. It is a typical decision that was difficult to make. I think I am the most offshore boat, which I wanted to be because the wind is stronger and more stable, especially if I manage to get in the corridor of wind coming between Haiti and Jamaica...... anyway, I just looked at the angles and the routing software (not very accurate here in the Caribbean) and decided to wait a little longer to gybe - just to the last minute. The others gybed a little while ago.

But I wasn't sure, and it is really difficult to do something alone (the others are more inshore). And it is even harder to be strong with decisions if you are tired. So, then I thought, perhaps if I am tired I am making stupid decisions. So, in the end, I allowed myself half an hour sleep, to get my head right, and also to check my decision.

After the half hour, the wind has shifted that I am now on the layline, so it is last minute, and with a clearer head (after 20 min VERY deep sleep) I gybed!!!!

And I am happy with where I am - I think!!!!

It is hard doing these gybes, where, now everyone has caught up, every mile counts. Normally I imagined that this last run in to Cienfuegos would be a bit of a procession... Not sure which I prefer - I love this close tactical racing, but at the same time, after 4,000 miles I could also do with a stress-free last two days and my comfortable 3rd place from before.... dream on!!

Today it was really really hot again. I managed to find one spot of shade on the foredeck this morning, so I took my book, my water, the pilot remote control, the spinnaker sheet and a fleece (to sit on - the non-skid is pretty sore on bare flesh!) I tried to read a bit to relax, but the light (STILL) wind required a lot of spinnaker trimming.

Now there is a little more wind, so conditions are a bit easier to manage to get some sleep again.

This morning, the handle fell off my toolbox and I was, at the same time, a bit stressed and very keen to get to the end of the race, so I made my self an "eject" button for above my chart table, in case things get really dire... If it carries on like this it could be needed!

Sam x