Dangerous tactics

Across the Equator, Gitana 13 is taking an easterly course to the Doldrums

Early this morning at 0146 GMT, Gitana 13, the maxi-catamaran sailing in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group, crossed the equator and back into the northern hemisphere and the North Atlantic. Lionel Lemonchois and his crew were last here on 23 January going in the opposite direction on the Route de l’Or from New York to San Francisco. After four weeks at sea on the Route du The from Hong Kong to London, the crew of Gitana 13 are no far from their goal - 3,200 miles at 1330 GMT - but the ten days or so that remain promise to be tricky.

First up will be the Doldrums. In certain years, a monsoon air flow, generating southwesterly winds along the African coast between the Gulf of Guinea and Senegal, upsets the typical southeasterly trades. You can observe this phenomenon when the African continent warms up sufficiently to create a thermal low that diverts the southern hemisphere tradewinds. Gitana 13 is today benefiting from this situation able to shorten the distance to their goal.

“We sneaked across the equator right in the middle of the night; the fourth time for Gitana 13 since the start of the year!" explained Dominic Vittet. "We’re now attacking the complicated section of this climb with a great deal of uncertainty. From one GRIB file to another it’s a very different story!” This sentiment was shared by Lionel Lemonchois: “We’re afraid that a low, which was over the African continent but has now shifted over to the Atlantic, won’t weaken the effect of the monsoon. As a result we’re crossing our fingers that the southwesterly wind will be steady enough to enable us to climb as far as 8° North, where the meteorological equator (Doldrums) is currently located.” 

Lemonchois continues: “A few days ago we opted to tackle the Doldrums via the eastern route. It’s a risky gamble but it’s worth it because if it works we’ll have gained a significant amount of time.” Were it not for this scenario, Gitana 13 would have had to shift across more than 500 miles to the west to stand a chance of an efficient passage through the Doldrums.

Now forced to make northing no matter what, Lionel Lemonchois and his nine man crew have to keep their fingers crossed. Once through the Doldrums area they will be straight into the northeasterly tradewinds of the North Atlantic and will find themselves slogging upwind.

For Lionel Lemonchois and his four loyal supporters – Zolive, Léo, Ludo and David -, they have been living this adventure for over ten months and their return to the northern hemisphere reminds them that it will soon be coming to a close. However, aboard Gitana 13, the time is ripe for savouring their final days at sea rather than letting themselves get carried away by the nostalgia of the moment. This is particularly true given that the North Atlantic again looks set to have some surprises in store for our ten sailors.

Weather analysis by Sylvain Mondon (Météo France)

Gitana 13 has been sailing since last night in the airflow from an African monsoon. Early last night, the wind began to drop off slowly (going from 17/19 knots to 12/14 knots), as it gradually veered (from ESE to SSE) even before they crossed the Equator. This trend will continue over the course of the day and will become more accentuated with the northward progress of the maxi-catamaran under the growing influence of the Coriolis force. In this way, the tradewinds initially orientated to the SE will be diverted to the south at the end of the day, enabling Lionel Lemonchois and his crew, once they’ve gybed, to make an almost parallel course to the African coast on port tack in fairly light (5 to 10 knots), but stable winds. On Friday, the winds will continue to veer southwest, as Gitana 13 reaches the ITCZ at around 8°N, which she’ll cross this weekend. An entirely different form of navigation will then begin along the southern edge of the Azores High, close-hauled in some established northeasterly tradewinds. The crossing of this new obstacle will occupy the crew for most of next week.

Today’s figures
Departure from Hong Kong: Thursday 14th August at 07h55’32’’ (UT)
Thursday 11th September at 1330 (UT)
Latitude: 2°53.08 N – Longitude : 14°23.04 W
Distance left to go: 3,200 miles