Ellen's plans

Weather window has run out for solo west to east transatlantic record attempt

After seven weeks on standby in New York for an attempt on the solo west to east transatlantic record, the window of opportunity has now come to an end. In order to break this record Ellen needed a perfect weather system, a strong depression, which she could hook into and ride all the way to the mouth of the English Channel. Unfortunately this just hasn’t developed and Ellen will have to wait for another opportunity in the future.

Ellen and her trimaran B&Q Castorama have been on standby during a particularly active hurricane season, which has played havoc with the North Atlantic weather. The destabilising effects of the hurricanes and tropical storms have prevented the normal pattern forming. It has never been an easy record to break - Laurent Bourgnon’s seven-day record stood for over ten years before Francis Joyon destroyed it in June. The incredible pace set by Joyon means that an attempt in anything other than perfect conditions would have been futile.

“We are all very disappointed to not have the opportunity to attempt this record. We needed a perfect weather system to stand a chance of breaking this record, unfortunately on this occasion, this system just didn’t appear,” commented Ellen. “Joyon really raised the bar and it is a challenge that I hope to have another go at in the future”.

The shore team in New York will now reinstall the engine (removed to save weight) and reload supplies to prepare the 75ft trimaran for the 2800 mile delivery trip back to the UK. At present B&Q Castorama should be ready to depart, weather depending at the beginning of next week.

Now that the standby period has ended Ellen will be focusing all of her attention to the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre, beginning in Le Havre on 5 November, finishing in Brazil approximately 16-18 days later. Ellen will be racing on board the French Open 60 monohull Sill et Veolia with Roland Jourdain. Ellen had already been utilising some of her standby time to train for the Transat Jacques Vabre and now she will be focusing all her attention on this project. “It’s two years since I last raced in a fleet, rather than just against the clock, so I’m really looking forward to the Transat Jacques Vabre. In particular to sail in the IMOCA Open 60 fleet again and with Bilou (aka Roland Jourdain) who has been both a friend and a rival since 1999.” Jourdain won the Open 60 monohull division in the 2001 Transat Jacques Vabre after finishing in 3rd place in the Vendée Globe 2000

Once Ellen returns from the Transat Jacques Vabre at the end of November, she will be in Europe on a quick turnaround before leaving for her next adventure. For a slightly different challenge this Christmas, Ellen will be based on the Antarctic island of South Georgia, roughly 850 miles to the south east of the Falkland Islands. Ellen will be participating in a research project on albatrosses, a species which are currently under threat due to modern fishing practices.

South Georgia was made famous by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic rescue of his stranded crew in 1914 and it is home to millions of penguins and seals as well as declining numbers of albatrosses. It is also the site of two British Antarctic Survey scientific stations, which conduct vital research into albatrosses and Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Ellen has always had a keen interest in albatrosses who are often a close companion to her throughout her voyages around the world. 19 of the 21 species of albatross are endangered, many critically. Ellen is lending valuable support to the Save the Albatross Campaign which has launched Operation Ocean Task Force.

Operation Ocean Task Force is a practical project that will place trained instructors on long-line fishing vessels to show crews simple techniques to prevent seabird deaths.

Ellen will be working closely with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and Sally Poncet, a biologist and researcher with 20 years experience studying sea birds in the Southern Ocean. Sally will be leading a group of scientists on board the yacht, Golden Fleece, while the scientists will be carrying out a petrel survey in which Ellen will assist.

Ellen’s visit has a real sense of purpose. The expedition will culminate in two weeks camping on Albatross Island with Sally Poncet conducting research into albatross numbers: “The albatross is one of the most amazing birds in existence; it is truly breathtaking. I have had many follow me at various points around the world and they certainly give me company on a very solitary trip last winter. I hope that we still have the opportunity now to save these magnificent creatures before it is too late”. Ellen is due to depart the UK in early December and the trip is scheduled to take approximately two months to complete with Ellen expected back in the UK mid-February 2006.

For more information and to support the campaign www.savethealbatross.net

Following the delivery of B&Q Castorama to the UK, it will be prepared for shipping to Asia and Ellen’s next very unique challenge. Sailing

will begin in March when Ellen and a crew will complete a record circuit between a number of major Asian cities. Running from Japan through South Korea, five ports in China and then Vietnam and Taiwan, the tour will conclude in Singapore in mid May.

Although this will be the first time that either Ellen or her B&Q Castorama trimaran will have visited Asia, the B&Q name already has a high profile in the region. B&Q Taiwan opened its first home-improvement store in 1996 it now operates 19 stores in the country. Following the success in Taiwan, B&Q China opened its first store in 1999 and now operates 43 stores in the country establishing themselves recently as a leading home improvement retailer in the area. The flagship store in Beijing is the largest B&Q store in the world.

“We are delighted that Ellen and the B&Q trimaran will be visiting our operations in Asia. Our partnership with Ellen has been a huge success in the UK and we’re pleased that we are able to introduce her to both employees and customers in China and Taiwan. I’m sure they will give Ellen and her team a very warm welcome.” David Roth, Marketing Director, B&Q.

With a population of over 1.3 billion people, China accounts for more than one fifth of the world’s population and is the third largest country in the world, yet sailing is a sport with little coverage or recognition despite a rich maritime history. Recent research even suggests the Chinese sailors of 600 years ago sailed to most continents of the world.

The Olympics in 2008 are sure to raise sailing’s profile in China; the project is already working with Chinese Authorities, including Qingdao Olympic Committee to increase people’s awareness of sailing in general with a stopover planned in the Olympic port.

The planned route will take Ellen and B&Q Castorama to the furthest northeast and southwest coastal cities (Dalian and Sanya respectively) establishing the maximum record route along the Chinese coast. This crew is yet to be announced but Ellen hopes to be joined by up and coming Chinese sailors for certain legs of the record tour.

”We have considered the idea of an Asian tour for a number of years and with the round the world record completed last season I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit new waters with such a rich maritime history with B&Q. 220,000 sea miles into my career the challenge of sailing somewhere new still fascinates me. With sailing still in it’s infancy in Asia, initial reccees suggest this record circuit has the capability of capturing the extensive Asian enthusiasm and imagination, I hope this is the case and look forward to communicating the sport to an entirely new audience.”

Over the coming months the team will be working with local Asian authorities on the logistical elements of the tour as well as finalizing plans for shipping and support craft. More information regarding the Asia tour in 2006 will be released in the New Year.