Gybing singlehanded in 25 knots

Gitana pulls into the lead of the Route du Rhum as there is another dismasting

Tuesday October 31st 2006, Author: James Boyd, Location: Transoceanic
Images courtesy of Expedition Navigation Systems and ProGRIB
 
Positions at 1500GMT
 
Pos
Boat Skipper
Lat
Long
Crs
Spd
Crs
Spd
Sod
Dist
DTF/L
 
   
 
 
Inst
4hr av
24 hr
 
 
ORMA 60s  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Gitana 11 Lionel lemonchois
46 08.08' N
18 41.40' W
17
221
24
223
18.1
433.4
2838
2
Géant Michel Desjoyeaux
47 40.00' N
19 29.92' W
24.1
228
19.2
228
17
408.9
11.1
3
Banque Populaire Pascal Bidegorry
46 26.52' N
17 46.00' W
19.4
225
22.7
216
15.9
381.3
42.5
4
Brossard Yvan Bourgnon
47 16.12' N
18 14.64' W
18.2
229
20.6
211
16.4
392.8
45.9
5
Groupama 2 Franck Cammas
47 54.48' N
18 22.16' W
19.4
227
18.1
258
15
360.9
58.3
6
Sodeb'O Thomas Coville
47 29.80' N
17 50.64' W
21.1
214
17.9
264
15.8
379.7
66.5
7
Foncia Alain Gautier
47 31.32' N
17 01.80' W
19.1
214
16.6
240
14.8
356
97
8
Orange Project Steve Ravussin
47 53.68' N
17 08.00' W
22.1
191
18.8
264
15.6
373.9
102.7
9
Sopra Group Antoine Koch
47 59.24' N
16 50.64' W
16.4
198
16.1
256
13.3
320.3
115.5
10
Gitana 12 Thierry Duprey du Vorsent
47 27.28' N
15 14.56' W
13.1
268
16.4
257
12.5
300.3
161.6
11
Region Guadeloupe-Terres de Passions Claude Thelier
48 03.92' N
15 35.84' W
16.3
276
17.8
269
13.2
317.3
163
12
Madinina Gilles Lamire
47 22.84' N
10 09.92' W
11.3
238
14.2
238
9.4
226.4
353
 
Open 60s  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Virbac-Paprec Jean-Pierre Dick
48 10.44' N
13 17.56' W
16.3
245
13.9
244
11.5
275.1
3088.6
2
Sill et Veolia Roland Jourdain
48 30.20' N
13 19.56' W
11.3
218
13
238
11.6
277.3
6.1
3
VM Matériaux Jean Le Cam
48 44.36' N
12 53.16' W
10.3
243
13.3
239
10.7
257.8
27.6
NL
Artemis Brian Thompson
4
Temenos II Dominique Wavre
48 22.56' N
11 54.28' W
17.1
244
13.9
237
10.3
246.5
56.1
5
Brit Air Armel Le Cléac'h
48 47.80' N
11 43.28' W
16
224
13.7
234
9.7
232.4
71.8
6
Roxy Anne Liardet
48 35.84' N
10 18.04' W
14
245
12.7
239
8.4
202.7
120.6
7
Safran Marc Guillemot
48 27.92' N
9 36.88' W
12.4
261
14
248
8
190.8
136.5
8
Maisonneuve Basse Normandie JB Dejeanty
47 07.02' N
8 19.26' W
15.6
239
13.5
234
7.2
171.8
143.4
9
Adriana Karembeu Paris Philippe Fiston
47 39.60' N
8 10.68' W
14.5
245
13.8
238
6.5
156.1
184.1
ABD
Delta Dore Jeremy Beyou
ABD
PRB Vincent Riou
 
Multis Class 2  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Crêpes Whaou ! Franck-Yves Escoffier
48 26.48' N
14 11.52' W
19.3
240
15.5
237
12.3
295
3061.5
2
Trilogic Eric Bruneel
47 53.16' N
12 26.56' W
12
246
16.1
246
11.8
283.1
52.7
3
Jean Stalaven Pascal Quintin
47 50.48' N
10 52.80' W
14.4
250
14.9
246
10.1
242.1
110.9
4
Laiterie de Saint-Malo Victorien Erussard
48 38.88' N
11 09.96' W
8
216
13.5
231
9.3
222.7
116.4
5
Négocéane Roger Langevin
49 08.04' N
9 14.82' W
13.2
242
10.7
245
6.7
161
175
6
Gifi Dominique Demachy
47 15.88' N
8 16.20' W
11.4
243
15
238
7.4
178.1
201
7
Le Bon Marche - Rive Gauche Anne Caseneuve
47 56.44' N
7 29.00' W
14
247
11.9
241
5.7
137.1
242.9
8
Deleage & DIAZO Loic Escofier
48 16.76' N
4 35.32' W
0
0
5
130
-0.9
-21.3
360.2
 
Multis class 3  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Imagine-Institut des Maladies Génétiques Pierre Antoine
47 00.64' N
8 40.92' W
14
246
15.4
246
7.9
190.7
3242
2
Ideal Stelrad Ross Hobson
46 58.72' N
8 33.12' W
14.4
251
13
249
7.5
179.8
4.6
3
Switch.fr Charlie Capelle
47 16.72' N
8 15.44' W
11.3
234
13.8
237
7.1
171.3
21.2
 
Mono class 1  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Jeunes Dirigeants Pierre-Yves Guennec
47 50.76' N
7 42.12' W
10.4
236
10.1
235
5.6
135.3
3294.3
2
TAT Express Arnaud Dhallenne
48 02.64' N
7 11.32' W
9.1
242
8.3
240
5
121.2
23.1
3
Antilles-Sails.com Philippe Chevallier
48 55.48' N
7 08.52' W
9.1
212
8.6
228
4.4
106.4
39.8
4
Ville de Dinard Bruno Reibel
48 03.48' N
5 50.68' W
10
235
8.8
226
4.3
102.8
75.3
Mono class 2  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Artforms Kip Stone
48 16.12' N
9 27.56' W
12.3
257
13.4
238
8
192.4
3227.7
2
Vedettes de Bréhat Cap Marine Servane Escoffier
48 05.48' N
9 07.56' W
13.3
248
12.4
247
7.2
172.6
10.2
3
Cap Guadeloupe 971 Luc Coquelin
48 14.60' N
8 04.80' W
12
228
11
229
5.7
137.6
59
4
AOI Solidarité Dentaire Internationale Denis Douillez
48 20.72' N
6 13.08' W
11.2
243
8.8
242
3.9
93.4
127.5
 
Mono class 3  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Roaring Forty Michel Kleinjans
48 17.80' N
9 08.80' W
9
246
9.6
250
6.9
166.1
3247
2
Charter Regis Guillemot Martinique Regis Guillemot
48 09.64' N
8 35.36' W
10
250
9.5
247
6.4
154.6
13.8
3
DangerousWhenWet Aurélia Ditton
48 47.24' N
6 20.44' W
8.3
256
8.1
258
4.2
100
115.2
4
Fantasy Forest Alain Grinda
48 33.18' N
5 17.46' W
6.5
235
6.8
235
3.6
85.4
141
5
A Fond Contre la Spondylarthrite Didier Le Villain
48 17.88' N
4 55.20' W
7.2
92
5.4
159
2.8
66.8
162.1
ABD
La Promesse Jankees Lampe
 
Class 40  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Oyster Funds Gildas Morvan
47 40.24' N
9 07.20' W
13.3
228
13.2
228
7.3
174.7
3236.6
2
Atao Audio System Dominic Vittet
48 27.32' N
9 17.68' W
9
212
11.2
237
7.4
176.9
2.4
3
IXSEA Olivier Rabine
48 25.12' N
9 06.64' W
10.3
246
10.6
247
7.3
174.5
14
4
philsharpracing.com Phil Shark
48 04.32' N
8 43.60' W
12.3
245
11.1
240
6.9
166.1
22.3
5
Bolands Mill Ian Munslow
48 00.04' N
8 37.36' W
8.1
200
10.3
247
6.7
161.1
25
6
Kenmore Homes Nick Bubb
48 35.16' N
8 40.12' W
10
246
9.9
247
6.4
154.1
33.8
7
TMI Technologies Joe Seeten
47 31.32' N
7 52.56' W
12.2
241
11.7
245
6.4
153.8
39.6
8
Tchuda Popka 2 Gw Catherine
47 31.32' N
7 53.04' W
12.7
246
12.3
239
6.4
153.6
45.3
9
FNAIM Pays de Loire Lionel Regnier
48 13.84' N
8 11.64' W
9.3
241
9.9
241
6
143.6
45.5
10
Lexibook Hervé Papin
47 57.48' N
8 00.04' W
12.2
239
10.7
240
6.2
148
48.2
11
Chocolats Monbana Damien Grimont
47 48.08' N
7 40.80' W
13.2
253
10.8
242
6.1
146.1
52.2
12
Le Comptoir Immobilier Guillaume Voizard
48 00.32' N
7 45.00' W
13
244
10.8
235
5.8
139
53
13
Cotes d'Armor - Pierres et Mer Philippe le Gros
48 15.48' N
7 53.20' W
11.4
230
10.8
229
5.7
136.3
57.7
14
Cinémas Cinéfil.com JE Criquioche
47 46.24' N
7 38.84' W
10.3
234
10.3
232
6
144.3
58.6
15
Fermiers de Loué - Sarthe Francois Angoulvant
47 51.64' N
7 31.20' W
10
234
9.3
234
5.7
137.5
65.1
16
Paca Entrprendre Cecile Poujol
47 58.56' N
7 27.68' W
9.3
256
8.9
252
5.7
136.8
69.3
17
Siegenia-Aubi Marc Lepesqueux
47 43.68' N
7 20.64' W
5.3
32
5.6
232
5.3
128.2
69.7
18
Nous Entreprenons Jacques Fournier
48 29.72' N
7 39.48' W
11.3
240
10
238
5.2
125.9
70.6
19
Guyader L'Esprit de la Mer Gery Trentseaux
48 09.04' N
7 05.08' W
12.2
251
8.1
233
5.2
124.3
71.4
20
Destination Calais Pierre-Yves Chatelain
48 22.64' N
7 27.12' W
9.2
238
9.5
243
5.2
125.7
76.4
21
KNAUF Industries David Lefebvre
48 09.48' N
7 15.92' W
10.3
247
9.5
241
5.3
126.2
79.9
22
Cap VAD Thibaud Derville
48 09.48' N
7 14.00' W
10.1
226
9.2
242
5.3
127.9
81.1
23
Nouvelle Caledonie Yves Ecarlat
48 09.68' N
7 00.32' W
8.2
240
8.3
246
4.9
117.1
89.9
NL
Appart'City Yvan Noblet
NL
Jardin Bio Equitable Benoit Parnaudeau
 
Following the dismasting of PRB yesterday and the withdrawal of Delta Dore, so this morning it was reported that the Phil Morrison designed class 3 40ft monohull La Promesse of Dutch solo sailor Jankees Lampe dismasted off the English coast. She is making for Falmouth.

Meanwhile 25 year old Loïc Escoffier on the 50ft trimaran Deléage & Diazo (previous Franck-Yves Escoffier's Crepes Whaou) in the Multihull class two lost his engine power last night and thus the ability to charge and run his autopilots. Without pilots, he has been forced to steer constantly for the last 12 hours non-stop. He is now making for Camaret to get the engine fixed and should be underway after a pitstop of around two hours.

Another Class 3 monohull, Didier le Villiain's A Fond Contre la Spondylarthrite a German Frers IOR 40 footer also appears to be heading for Camaret for reasons unknown.



Back at the business end of the fleet, since this morning's position update Lionel Lemonchois seems to have got the bit really between his teeth on board Gitana 11 and is sailing like we only thought Swiss skippers were capable of. Taking a more southerly track, he has cantered into the lead having averaged 24 knots for the last four hours - not bad considering the boats are running downwind at the moment. Something may be wrong somewhere with the positions being output by the organisers, but by our calculations Lemonchois is more like 40 miles further down the track than Pascal Bidegorry on Banque Populaire while Michel Desjoyeaux and Franck Cammas on Geant and Groupama II respectively appear slower to the north.

Approaching the south side of the depression to their north and with the 20-25 knot wind veering from northeast to ENE, so at between 1200 and 1300 all the boats gybed - no mean feat singlehanded on a 60ft trimaran in this strength breeze - and are now back on to their way southwest on port gybe. Their present track takes them just north of the Azores and while this is close to the great circle it is a most unusual route across the Atlantic to the Caribbean (usually boats duck south after Ushant leaving the Azores well to the north) for this time of year.




Meanwhile the IMOCA Open 60s are still basking in the strong northeasterlies. The fleet is still being led by Jean-Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec, while the boats behind are spread across the race track with Roland Jourdain's second placed Sill et Veolia some 9 miles astern while Brian Thompson on Artemis the most southerly of the leaders was some 30 miles back up the race course from Dick in third place .Jean le Cam is following a similar track to Bilou to the north while Dominique Wavre's new Temenos is fifth, taking a similar route to Thompson.

As reported this morning Wavre experienced an issue with one of his Open 60's daggerboards and was forced to stop for three hours in order to fix it by disassembling the bearing assembly. "We haven’t got to sail closehauled for a fair while, so I want stay focused on getting the boat moving at the moment," said Wavre earlier. "I plan to rebuild the assembly as soon as the wind drops off a bit.”

"The conditions aren’t easy," the Swiss skipper continued. "It’s gusty and the NE’ly wind is very shifty. It oscillates between 10 and 20 knots and you have to trim constantly. I’ve helmed quite a lot as the pilot finds these conditions a bit of a struggle. I was even surprised by a broach... nothing broken though fortunately. It was the first but certainly won’t be the last!"

In the Class 40s some lively sailing is going on with boats constantly at around 12-13 knots. the latest polling has Gildas Morvan on his Pogo 40 Oyster Funds back in the lead in his southerly spot compared to Dominique Vittet's Lombard design ATAO Audio System to the north. Among the Brits there is a neck and neck battle raging between Ian Munslow on Bolands Mill and Phil Sharp's Pogo 40 for fourth place. At the latest position update Sharp was six miles northwest of Munslow.

Speaking from on board today Phil Sharp commented on how the race had gone so far: “I was disappointed with my start as I was left drifting for a long period time as we headed out 15 miles West to the first mark. Things have definitely picked up since and I feel like I’m back on track currently cruising at 12 knots.

“After looking at the forecast it was always my plan to head North and half the fleet took the same decision. It was obviously the right one as we’re all pulling away from the rest of the fleet now. The boat is handling well and it looks like I can make up a bit of ground on the leaders if I continue at this speed.”

Despite the good condition of the first night Phil still had a few scares. “I managed to plough into a couple of lobster pots on the first night, which was a bit scary. It was a very dark night and all of a sudden there was a clatter down the side of the boat which was a bit worrying. I managed to turn the boat quite quickly and luckily freed myself. I also had a visit from a whale which took me by surprise. It just swam alongside me for a few minutes spraying me with water before disappearing.”

Despite the paint still drying on his boat, Nick Bubb on Kenmore Homes is holding up well in seventh place on the same track as Vittet.

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