Neck and neck

Gildas Morvan moves into the lead of singlehanded Figaro transat

Positions at 0900GMT

Pos	Boat	DTF	DTL	VMG	Lat	Long	Spd	Crs	Spd	Crs	Spd	Dist
							Instant		4hr av		24 hr run
1	CERCLE VERT	3889.7	0.0	6.0	46 46.14' N	11 13.02' W	6.2	249	6.3	268.0	6.8	162.6
2	BANQUE POPULAIRE	3890.3	0.6	5.8	46 47.82' N	11 08.46' W	5.0	265	6.4	273.0	6.7	159.7
3	CREDIT MARITIME-ZEROTWO	3896.6	6.9	6.8	46 56.70' N	11 02.64' W	6.7	249	6.7	270.0	6.5	156.5
4	BOSTIK	3898.8	9.1	6.6	46 56.58' N	11 04.44' W	6.6	238	6.5	263.0	6.6	158.4
5	COUTOT ROEHRIG	3906.8	17.1	6.0	46 15.30' N	10 31.86' W	7.0	284	6.9	282.0	7.1	169.4
6	AQUARELLE.COM	3908.0	18.3	5.9	46 53.64' N	10 48.54' W	6.0	250	6.2	274.0	6.6	157.3
7	SKANDIA	3908.2	18.5	3.9	46 47.64' N	10 45.18' W	6.1	247	6.0	275.0	6.4	153.7
8	TOTAL	3909.1	19.3	6.6	47 08.70' N	10 49.74' W	6.9	236	6.3	286.0	6.5	155.0
9	LITTLE BLACK SHARK	3909.3	19.6	5.7	46 28.14' N	10 34.02' W	6.6	288	7.2	287.0	6.9	165.8
10	ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT	3914.1	24.3	5.3	46 55.56' N	10 40.32' W	5.3	264	6.8	294.0	6.6	157.7
11	ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM	3927.0	37.3	6.4	47 10.08' N	10 27.60' W	6.5	240	6.4	275.0	6.6	159.0
12	GEDIMAT	3934.3	44.6	5.3	47 33.96' N	10 29.34' W	6.7	242	5.1	279.0	6.2	148.9

Since the first position report this morning Gildas Morvan on Cercle Vert has taken over the lead from female skipper Jeanne Gregoire on Banque Populaire in the Figaro class' first ever singlehanded transatlantic race, the Trophee BPE from St Nazaire to Cienfuegos, Cuba.

With a depression still centred over northwest Scotland so overnight the fleet has been feeling the effects of an active cold front to their north (hence the rain in the UK at the moment). Fortunately they haven't experienced the full brunt of this (see below) but wind speeds will have got up to 30 or so knots and will have been stronger for the boats to the north. Fortunately the latest images show the worst of the weather to have passed and the forecast for the next 48 hours indicates the wind veering round to the northeast due to the effect of a high pressure system unusually located to the east of Newfoundland, allowing the boats an easier and more direct passage to the turning mark of Flores, the westernmost Azores island.

A move to the south has payed off handsomely for skipper David Raison on board Coutot Roehrig, who has moved up from 10th place yesterday to fifth this morning. However this has had the effect of moving Sam Davies on Skandia further down the position table from sixth to seventh.

This morning Sam writes...

For me it is not a good morning, because I missed the windshift with this cold front, and sailed two miles in the wrong direction!

Last night was fast upwind sailing in 20-25 knots. I had the solent and full main up and managed to get Skandia set up to a really nice balanced trim, so that the pilot was driving really well. It was SOOOOO FREEZING cold that I was happy to be able to shelter inside. However, it is still not really comfortable wedged in a little space as high up as possible to get your weight out in a pitching little boat. I got some 20 min sleeps in early in the night because I knew the cold front would be approaching towards the end of the night and it could be gusty and there was the vital shift to catch.....

Sleeping was tricky, even jammed in with my bean bag I couldn't get comfy. Also, I had to make a trip on deck every 20 min to check the trim, balance and check for ships. Normally, my 'see me' will sound an alarm if a ship is around, but last night I had a close call with a ship that obviously didn't have its radar on - it was wierd also, because it had nav lights on, but didn't seem to be moving... strange!

Anyway, in the end, the windshift caught me out and decided to come just when I had nodded off..... Typical! Luckily, the change of motion of the boat woke me up, but it was a very subtle change because I was steering in wind mode.... Still, by the time I had worked it out and tacked, I had sailed two miles in the wrong direction. THAT'S TERRIBLE!

I will have to work very hard to make up for that!
I won't do it again either!
Sam

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