The Azores conundrum
Overnight the Open 60s have had to make tactical calls on how to pass these mid-Atlantic islands in the Route du Rhum
Images courtesy of
Expedition Navigation Systems
and
ProGRIB
|
|
|
|
Positions at 0800GMT
|
|
|
|
Pos
|
Boat
|
Skipper
|
Lat
|
Long
|
Spd
|
Crs
|
Spd
|
Crs
|
Srs
|
Dist
|
DTF
|
DTL
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inst
|
4hr av
|
24 hr
|
|
|
|
60ft tris
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Gitana 11
|
Lionel Lemonchois
|
30 54.30' N
|
43 21.54' W
|
19
|
251
|
22.3
|
252
|
23.4
|
562.5
|
1360.2
|
0
|
2
|
Banque Populaire
|
Pascal Bidegorry
|
33 04.56' N
|
42 31.98' W
|
25.3
|
267
|
23.9
|
263
|
22.9
|
549.9
|
1470.6
|
110.4
|
3
|
Géant
|
Michel Desjoyeaux
|
31 41.60' N
|
41 00.16' W
|
19.4
|
269
|
21.1
|
257
|
21.7
|
520
|
1508.2
|
148
|
4
|
Brossard
|
Yvan Bourgnon
|
32 10.16' N
|
40 57.32' W
|
30
|
253
|
23.3
|
250
|
22.2
|
532.4
|
1526.4
|
166.2
|
5
|
Sodeb'O
|
Thomas Coville
|
35 39.16' N
|
43 00.00' W
|
21.3
|
265
|
19.3
|
268
|
19.5
|
467.6
|
1581.3
|
221.1
|
6
|
Groupama 2
|
Franck Cammas
|
34 26.24' N
|
40 09.56' W
|
23.4
|
253
|
22
|
249
|
21.1
|
505.3
|
1639.2
|
278.9
|
7
|
Foncia
|
Alain Gautier
|
33 19.48' N
|
37 30.56' W
|
24.2
|
240
|
22
|
245
|
18.7
|
449.1
|
1709.7
|
349.5
|
8
|
Region Guadeloupe-Terres de Passions
|
Claude Thelier
|
35 29.52' N
|
32 40.20' W
|
22.3
|
262
|
15.2
|
253
|
14.6
|
350.2
|
1982.1
|
621.9
|
9
|
Gitana 12
|
Thierry Duprey du Vorsent
|
35 35.60' N
|
32 43.52' W
|
15.3
|
255
|
14.4
|
264
|
14.6
|
351
|
1982.7
|
622.5
|
10
|
Sopra Group
|
Antoine Koch
|
36 20.80' N
|
33 13.44' W
|
11.2
|
266
|
12.5
|
269
|
14.2
|
341.5
|
1984.2
|
624
|
11
|
Orange Project
|
Steve Ravussin
|
38 50.92' N
|
28 57.88' W
|
11.4
|
113
|
8.8
|
119
|
-1.5
|
-37.1
|
2234.5
|
874.3
|
12
|
Madinina
|
Gilles Lamire
|
40 04.40' N
|
23 27.24' W
|
10.4
|
252
|
16.3
|
255
|
12.7
|
305.5
|
2495.6
|
1135.4
|
|
IMOCA 60s
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Virbac-Paprec
|
Jean-Pierre Dick
|
38 20.52' N
|
30 54.76' W
|
19.2
|
265
|
15
|
252
|
15.8
|
378.5
|
2139.8
|
0
|
2
|
VM Matériaux
|
Jean Le Cam
|
38 46.52' N
|
30 33.88' W
|
15.1
|
258
|
16
|
262
|
15.5
|
371.1
|
2167.1
|
27.3
|
3
|
Sill et Veolia
|
Roland Jourdain
|
36 58.12' N
|
29 10.00' W
|
14.2
|
268
|
13.9
|
260
|
13.6
|
325.8
|
2173.2
|
33.4
|
4
|
Temenos II
|
Dominique Wavre
|
38 44.22' N
|
28 54.54' W
|
16.3
|
257
|
15.6
|
257
|
15.9
|
380.8
|
2214
|
74.2
|
5
|
Artemis
|
Brian Thompson
|
39 00.21' N
|
29 29.86' W
|
12.3
|
257
|
15.7
|
259
|
15.4
|
369.3
|
2217.3
|
77.5
|
6
|
Brit Air
|
Armel Le Cléac'h
|
40 48.56' N
|
28 59.44' W
|
16.2
|
258
|
15.3
|
261
|
13.5
|
324.7
|
2292
|
152.2
|
7
|
Roxy
|
Anne Liardet
|
40 38.92' N
|
27 36.32' W
|
14
|
242
|
14.8
|
239
|
13.8
|
330.2
|
2341.6
|
201.8
|
8
|
Safran
|
Marc Guillemot
|
39 35.32' N
|
25 29.48' W
|
15.3
|
268
|
15
|
248
|
12.5
|
300.7
|
2398
|
258.2
|
9
|
Maisonneuve Basse Normandie
|
JB Dejeanty
|
37 39.56' N
|
22 51.48' W
|
16.2
|
236
|
13.3
|
235
|
10.4
|
248.8
|
2465.1
|
325.3
|
10
|
Adriana Karembeu Paris
|
Philippe Fiston
|
40 27.72' N
|
19 52.96' W
|
12.1
|
245
|
11.5
|
241
|
9.3
|
224.2
|
2655.2
|
515.4
|
ABD
|
Delta Dore
|
Jeremy Beyou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABD
|
PRB
|
Vincent Riou
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class 2 multis
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Crêpes Whaou !
|
Franck-Yves Escoffier
|
36 26.68' N
|
32 42.92' W
|
16.2
|
252
|
16.7
|
254
|
16.1
|
385.2
|
2008.4
|
0
|
2
|
Trilogic
|
Eric Bruneel
|
37 27.08' N
|
27 53.52' W
|
16
|
261
|
16
|
252
|
13.9
|
334.5
|
2240.8
|
232.5
|
3
|
Laiterie de Saint-Malo
|
Victorien Erussard
|
39 35.80' N
|
26 32.96' W
|
17
|
244
|
14.9
|
248
|
12.9
|
310.1
|
2354.7
|
346.3
|
4
|
Jean Stalaven
|
Pascal Quintin
|
41 56.16' N
|
26 53.40' W
|
13.1
|
234
|
12.7
|
236
|
12.5
|
299.7
|
2408
|
399.7
|
5
|
Le Bon Marche - Rive Gauche
|
Anne Caseneuve
|
41 12.28' N
|
23 44.20' W
|
20.4
|
256
|
15
|
253
|
12.8
|
307.9
|
2512.7
|
504.3
|
6
|
Gifi
|
Dominique Demachy
|
41 00.92' N
|
23 28.08' W
|
9.3
|
246
|
11.4
|
242
|
11.3
|
270.1
|
2518.7
|
510.4
|
7
|
Négocéane
|
Roger Langevin
|
41 51.52' N
|
22 50.55' W
|
12.8
|
250
|
12.5
|
249
|
9.7
|
233.8
|
2550.2
|
541.9
|
8
|
Deleage & DIAZO
|
Loic Escofier
|
43 07.12' N
|
19 59.28' W
|
14
|
262
|
12.7
|
269
|
10.9
|
261.4
|
2712.2
|
703.8
|
|
Class 3 multis
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Imagine-Institut des Maladies Génétiques
|
Pierre Antoine
|
41 19.52' N
|
22 47.12' W
|
10
|
240
|
12.2
|
251
|
11
|
264.3
|
2554.6
|
0
|
2
|
Ideal Stelrad
|
Ross Hobson
|
41 38.12' N
|
21 32.16' W
|
12.1
|
254
|
12.3
|
261
|
10
|
240.5
|
2613.4
|
58.8
|
ABD
|
Switch.fr
|
Charlie Capelle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class 1 monos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Jeunes Dirigeants
|
Pierre-Yves Guennec
|
41 46.64' N
|
19 06.12' W
|
9.6
|
201
|
9.8
|
201
|
8.1
|
193.4
|
2717.1
|
0
|
2
|
Antilles-Sails.com
|
Philippe Chevallier
|
43 12.76' N
|
17 45.48' W
|
13.4
|
258
|
9.1
|
270
|
8.4
|
200.6
|
2804.3
|
87.2
|
3
|
TAT Express
|
Arnaud Dhallenne
|
42 47.04' N
|
16 58.84' W
|
7
|
266
|
8.2
|
222
|
7.7
|
184
|
2816.1
|
99
|
4
|
Ville de Dinard
|
Bruno Reibel
|
43 20.92' N
|
17 31.36' W
|
12.3
|
257
|
8.9
|
258
|
8.5
|
204.1
|
2816.9
|
99.8
|
|
Class 2 monos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Artforms
|
Kip Stone
|
41 48.24' N
|
25 49.56' W
|
13.2
|
252
|
13.3
|
254
|
12.2
|
292.6
|
2429.7
|
0
|
2
|
Vedettes de Bréhat Cap Marine
|
Servane Escoffier
|
41 46.62' N
|
22 32.40' W
|
12.1
|
260
|
12.3
|
252
|
11.3
|
272.4
|
2561.6
|
132
|
3
|
Cap Guadeloupe 971
|
Luc Coquelin
|
41 11.60' N
|
21 32.04' W
|
13
|
255
|
12.9
|
250
|
10.9
|
260.9
|
2602.8
|
173.1
|
4
|
AOI Solidarité Dentaire Internationale
|
Denis Douillez
|
41 19.16' N
|
16 32.44' W
|
7
|
233
|
8.6
|
214
|
7.2
|
172.7
|
2815.4
|
385.7
|
|
Class 3 monos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Roaring Forty
|
Michel Kleinjans
|
42 33.20' N
|
22 18.60' W
|
12
|
250
|
9.4
|
260
|
9.5
|
227.8
|
2605.2
|
0
|
2
|
Charter Regis Guillemot Martinique
|
Regis Guillemot
|
43 28.44' N
|
18 18.68' W
|
4.5
|
139
|
2.6
|
166
|
3
|
71.9
|
2787.9
|
182.7
|
3
|
DangerousWhenWet
|
Aurélia Ditton
|
44 21.28' N
|
18 26.12' W
|
8.7
|
266
|
7.9
|
255
|
8.6
|
205.6
|
2803.6
|
198.4
|
4
|
Fantasy Forest
|
Alain Grinda
|
44 54.42' N
|
14 30.90' W
|
6.9
|
215
|
6.7
|
212
|
6.1
|
146.9
|
2961.5
|
356.3
|
ABD
|
A Fond Contre la Spondylarthrite
|
Didier Le Villain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABD
|
La Promesse
|
Jankees Lampe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class 40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Oyster Funds
|
Gildas Morvan
|
42 02.40' N
|
25 09.24' W
|
12.2
|
255
|
13.9
|
248
|
12.2
|
293.7
|
2478.8
|
0
|
2
|
Atao Audio System
|
Dominic Vittet
|
41 12.28' N
|
24 15.68' W
|
12.2
|
236
|
12.4
|
242
|
11.3
|
271.7
|
2491.4
|
12.7
|
3
|
philsharpracing.com
|
Phil Sharp
|
42 39.84' N
|
25 05.00' W
|
13.1
|
256
|
13.6
|
255
|
11.8
|
283.1
|
2499.3
|
20.6
|
4
|
TMI Technologies
|
Joe Seeten
|
40 33.44' N
|
22 18.64' W
|
11.4
|
240
|
11.9
|
239
|
10.8
|
259.1
|
2555.2
|
76.4
|
5
|
Appart'City
|
Yvan Noblet
|
41 01.96' N
|
22 06.24' W
|
12
|
240
|
12.3
|
234
|
11.3
|
272
|
2556.8
|
78.1
|
6
|
Chocolats Monbana
|
Damien Grimont
|
41 10.20' N
|
21 16.32' W
|
11.4
|
246
|
11
|
254
|
10.3
|
246.4
|
2593.3
|
114.5
|
7
|
Tchuda Popka 2
|
Gw Catherine
|
41 39.84' N
|
21 47.04' W
|
12.3
|
252
|
11.8
|
254
|
10.8
|
260.1
|
2603.9
|
125.2
|
8
|
IXSEA
|
Olivier Rabine
|
41 47.92' N
|
21 41.08' W
|
9.2
|
224
|
11.3
|
250
|
10.2
|
244.5
|
2611.3
|
132.6
|
9
|
Bolands Mill
|
Ian Munslow
|
42 09.88' N
|
21 30.96' W
|
14.2
|
242
|
10.9
|
252
|
9.6
|
230.1
|
2627.2
|
148.5
|
10
|
Le Comptoir Immobilier
|
Guillaume Voizard
|
42 47.00' N
|
21 44.32' W
|
10.2
|
280
|
9.6
|
259
|
9.8
|
235.5
|
2633.9
|
155.2
|
11
|
Lexibook
|
Hervé Papin
|
41 48.60' N
|
20 49.32' W
|
9.1
|
250
|
10.5
|
263
|
9.3
|
222.9
|
2646.9
|
168.1
|
12
|
Kenmore Homes
|
Nick Bubb
|
42 43.00' N
|
20 47.40' W
|
9
|
256
|
10.9
|
262
|
8.6
|
206.5
|
2653.9
|
175.1
|
13
|
Cotes d'Armor - Pierres et Mer
|
Philippe le Gros
|
41 16.04' N
|
20 20.24' W
|
14.3
|
251
|
11.5
|
256
|
9.5
|
229.1
|
2654.2
|
175.4
|
14
|
Guyader L'Esprit de la Mer
|
Gery Trentseaux
|
42 31.68' N
|
20 47.72' W
|
8.3
|
239
|
10.2
|
252
|
10
|
239.6
|
2665.3
|
186.6
|
15
|
Cinémas Cinéfil.com
|
JE Criquioche
|
41 40.04' N
|
20 11.72' W
|
11.3
|
234
|
9.5
|
247
|
9.4
|
225.4
|
2669.3
|
190.6
|
16
|
FNAIM Pays de Loire
|
Lionel Regnier
|
42 00.20' N
|
19 54.00' W
|
10
|
249
|
8.8
|
254
|
8.6
|
206.3
|
2689.3
|
210.5
|
17
|
Nous Entreprenons
|
Jacques Fournier
|
42 17.80' N
|
19 44.92' W
|
11.1
|
276
|
10.6
|
269
|
9.2
|
220.2
|
2702.3
|
223.6
|
18
|
Cap VAD
|
Thibaud Derville
|
42 21.76' N
|
19 16.80' W
|
7.4
|
248
|
9.4
|
242
|
8.4
|
201.4
|
2723
|
244.3
|
19
|
Destination Calais
|
Pierre-Yves Chatelain
|
43 03.90' N
|
19 10.62' W
|
9
|
206
|
10
|
204
|
8.5
|
203.8
|
2735.2
|
256.5
|
20
|
Jardin Bio Equitable
|
Benoit Parnaudeau
|
42 29.00' N
|
19 00.84' W
|
2
|
178
|
9.4
|
261
|
8.4
|
202.5
|
2736.7
|
257.9
|
21
|
KNAUF Industries
|
David Lefebvre
|
43 11.88' N
|
19 13.60' W
|
5.3
|
212
|
9.5
|
209
|
8.2
|
196.9
|
2744.6
|
265.9
|
22
|
Paca Entrprendre
|
Cecile Poujol
|
42 11.88' N
|
18 10.96' W
|
8.3
|
278
|
9.1
|
254
|
8
|
191.2
|
2764.5
|
285.8
|
23
|
Fermiers de Loué - Sarthe
|
Francois Angoulvant
|
43 26.80' N
|
18 45.12' W
|
8.4
|
256
|
6.8
|
254
|
6.7
|
161.9
|
2769.6
|
290.8
|
24
|
Nouvelle Caledonie
|
Yves Ecarlat
|
42 52.86' N
|
17 54.60' W
|
7.9
|
213
|
8.7
|
215
|
8.1
|
194.2
|
2783
|
304.3
|
25
|
Siegenia-Aubi
|
Marc Lepesqueux
|
46 12.48' N
|
14 01.48' W
|
7.1
|
234
|
6.1
|
271
|
8.1
|
194.8
|
3018
|
539.3
|
|
|
|
The lead ORMA 60 multihulls are continuing their record breaking pace towards Guadeloupe even if the wind a little too far astern for for ultimate 60ft trimaran speeds. Nonetheless race leader Lionel Lemonchois on
Gitana 11 has notched up a useful 562.5 miles in the last 24 hours, some 13 miles more than second placed Pascal Bidegorry on
Banque Populaire. It is perhaps worth bearing in mind that up until May this year when Yves Parlier set a new record of 585 miles - read about this
here - 562.5 would have been a new ORMA 60 singlehanded 24 hour world record...
At the moment it is very much a downhill drag race. Only Sodebo and Groupama II in a desperate bid to get back into the action has taken a more northerly track hoping to get the shift to the east early allowing them to gybe south. There doesn't seem to be any tactical advantage to doing this hence why Michel Desjoyeaux on
Geant and Yvan Bourgnon on
Brossard are effectively following in Lemonchois' wake.
Meanwhile Steve Ravussin on Orange Project continues to head for the Azores to repair Orange Proecjt after her collision with a container yesterday. At 7 this morning, his trimaran was located 58 miles from Horta, on Faial making 7-8 knots and should hook up with his support team led by Pierre-Yves Moreau early this afternoon. Since the collision yesterday morning with a container floating just under the surface, Stève Ravussin has been able to give the boat a thorough check-up.
As far as the good news is concerned, no ingress of water has been found, in spite of the violence of the collision. However, with her steering lost following the accident, the solent was torn. Disappointed and a little bit angry because of this unpredictable accident, Stève still wants to set off again as soon as possible to finish the Route du Rhum in the best time possible.
"No, I shan’t be getting any rest in Horta," claims Ravussin. The first phase will involve sending down a diver to examine the central hull. Stève has not found any sign of a crack in the daggerboard casing. He hopes that this terrible collision has not weakened the structure of the boat. Only an examination by a diver will reassure him about this. The second phase involves the daggerboard itself - it has lost at least a metre and will need to be sanded down to offer a minimum level of efficiency. The third phase will concern the rudder. It broke up under the shock. There is also some damage to the rudder stock casing. Stève and his team hope to replace the parts individually and the main appendage by a rudder lent by Sopra, Orange project’s sistership.
The rudder stock will have to be refitted perfectly for Stève to set sail again. The wrecked Solent will have to be replaced and the stay rechecked. In all, the Orange Sailing Team is expecting to spend 24 hours in the Azores, and plan to start again on Saturday.
As we reported last night an interesting tactical situation has been taking place overnight in the Open 60s as they have passed the Azores. Yesterday's leader Roland Jourdain on
Sill et Veolia, now the most southerly boat has sacrificed his lead by taking a passage between the island s of Sao Miguel and Terceira while his competitors have continued to the north of the islands. As a result Jean-Pierre Dick has reclaimed the lead followed by the wily Jean le Cam in second place and with Brian Thompson on
Artemis and Dominique Wavre on
Temenos (his position just below 'Orange Project' on the chart above). While the lead trimarans followed Jourdain's route through the islands when they passed through the wind was more easterly, now with the wind in the northeast it is possible Jourdain may find himself suffering slightly from the wind shadow of the islands. Otherwise for the Open 60s to the norh it is likely they will continue on their westerly track for at least another 24 ours until they see the next shift to the east allowing them to gybe south for Guadeloupe.
In the Class 40s battle still rages between the lead trio of Gildas Morvan on
Oyster Funds, Dominique Vittet on
ATAO Audio Systems and Britain's Phil Sharp. Over the last 24 hours Morvan and Vittet has crossed gybes, Vittet now to the south with Morvan and Sharp taking a more northerly track. Since yesterday Morvan has ekked out slightly more separation and is now 12.7 miles ahead of Vittet. Ian Munslow on
Bolands Mill has dropped to ninth place following a similar track to Vittet.
Gildas Morvan, who is being routed by Figaro dames Sam Davies and Jean Gregoire back in Port la Foret, reported this morning; "It is a superb morning. The weather is nice and the sea was calmed. I take my coffee in the 'terrace' [his doghouse] by listening to the last album of Miossec! Last night the conditions calmed. The boat is pleasant and goes well without having to force it. We've made beautiful averages for these last hours. I have always been between 12 and 17 knots overnight and this morning. I try to respect the fixed routing and to stick to the polars I created. I avoid looking at too much in the rear view mirror. I do not focus on Dominique Vittet. The girls had a go at me for not sleeping enough. They are thoroughly behind me, pushing me so that I always am at the maximum. They supervise me closely and it is pleasant to feel them so committed! ” Too right. |
|
|
Latest Comments
Add a comment - Members log in