Local knowledge pays

Ecover slink round Portland Bill and set up small lead in CRB

After an intense first night battling westwards along the English coast amidst a flurry of tack changes and manoeuvres in 30 knots of wind and powerful currents, the original 7-strong IMOCA fleet have been reduced to 6, Emma Richards crew on Pindar Alphagraphics, as reported earlier, have been forced to retire with headsail issues. 

Positions at 13.54

Rank	Boat	Latitude	Longitude	VMG	Speed	Cap	Date - Time	Dist. left	DTL
1	Ecover	49 55.88' N	3 17.40' W	11.9	12	278	23/05/2005 13h54	1612.9	0
2	Cheminées Poujoulat	50 02.32' N	2 55.72' W	11.7	11.7	274	23/05/2005 13h54	1626.9	14
3	Bonduelle	49 39.64' N	2 52.36' W	12	12.2	274	23/05/2005 13h54	1630.9	18
4	Virbac-Paprec	49 40.80' N	2 47.44' W	12.4	12.4	279	23/05/2005 13h54	1633.8	20.9
5	Caen La Mer	50 02.20' N	2 11.96' W	5.8	9.3	216	23/05/2005 13h54	1655	42.1
	Sill & Veolia	No Fix
	Pindar Alphagraphics	RTD

Currently South of Start Point and the beautiful rolling hills of Devon, fellow British skipper Mike Golding has been dealt a different set of cards; the crew using their vast knowledge of the local tides and currents to their advantage to take pole position.   In a Northerly position in the Channel Bernard Stamm, like Golding, has been smoking along on the rather dated Cheminees Poujoulat to take a surprise podium position.  Sill et Veolia are also up with the leaders though they are unable to be precisely located after having their satellite antenna ripped off by a trapped mainsail sheet as they tried to put in a reef overnight. 

The crews are having a difficult time escaping the Channel, upwind in 20 knots of WSW'ly.  Fortunately the skies are blue and the visibility good and in the early hours of Tuesday the boats will be able to ease their sails with a more favourable wind slightly before the passage of Bishop Rock lighthouse off the Scilly Isles.  On the menu tonight the crews face broad-reaching in a south to south westerly wind of up to 40 knots in squalls with a big sea.

Very sorry about his compatriots misfortune, Mike Golding ( Ecover) continues to head the six remaining crews.  Vincent Riou, winner of both the recent Vendee Globe and the first edition of the Calais Round Britain Race echoed the thoughts of many sailors.   “I am not surprised that Mike Golding has taken the lead ( Sill et Veolia was not ranked at midday). Ecover is the best armed for the start of the race and the best machine for beating in the breeze.”

A confident Golding was extremely happy with the performance of both the boat and the crew.  “Things are very good.  Last night we made the most of a reverse eddy very close to the coast to the East of Portland Bill and we were able to round the headland with a favourable current.  We've got clear conditions right now and we're making good progress.”

The good news for the fleet is that the wind is gradually backing round into the South. After some difficult hours of beating in the heavy weather up to the Scillies, the crews will be able to ease the sheets and sail onto a rapid broad reach towards Ireland and the famous Fastnet. The winds and the sea will remain strong before the situation eases at the start of Tuesday night. 

However, a new depression over the West of Ireland is forecast on Wednesday with a building southerly wind and the possibility of gales. According to patron of this Race, Vincent Riou, things are going to become even more spicy in the coming days: “In single-handed sailing you can go very quickly in the conditions the crews are currently facing, so in crewed racing they're going to explode the speedos!”

Emma Richards commented on her withdrawl from the race: “We destroyed our upwind sail last night – a small solent.  From there we went up to our large solent and then we broke the pad eye on the deck that holds all the foresails.  The only upwind sails we have left are the genoa and the staysail and with the whole course likely to be upwind it would just be crazy to continue racing.  We discussed the option to retire and it was a mutual decision to make that call.  We were always in this to win and heading back into the race 24 hours behind the rest of the fleet just wouldn't be worthwhile just racing round in last place.  It wasn't a repair we could have made offshore.  Of course everyone is disappointed.  Until the damage it was a beautiful night's sailing with a full moon and about 15/18 knots.  We were very happy with our position with Ecover, Sill et Veolia and Bonduelle just in front.  We've just got back to Gosport near Portsmouth where we will repair the damage in preparation for the Round Island Race (around the Isle of Wight).  We hope to be with you in Calais for the prize-giving though – we heard it's a good party!”

Mike Golding comments on last nights move to the English coast: “Things are very good.  Last night we made the most of a reverse eddy we knew of very near to the coast to the East of Portland Bill and we were able to round the headland with a favourable current.  We've got clear conditions right now and we're making good progress.  The objective was to exit the strong current though it's difficult to know if it's worked.  This option seems OK.  Our first night at sea was a little wet and wild.  We went down to a staysail and two reefs and spent the night getting used to the conditions and making manoeuvres.  It was busy.  We didn't have the intention to split from the rest of the fleet but it was such a good option that it seemed too good to miss.  Right now we've got brilliant sunshine and good visibility.  We had a good breakfast this morning and the off watch are now sleeping.  In the next few hours I'm expected the wind to clock round to the left so then we can lay the Lizard directly.  After that the wind is likely to clock round to the right and it'll be breezy around the Scillies.  In short, we're in for a rough night and then the Irish Sea looks fairly fast.  Sill et Veolia is the unknown quantity (not positioned due to a broken GPS, Iridium and Satellite).  It'd be nice to know where she is...”