Photo By Benoit Stichelbaut / Algimouss
Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) had a close encounter with a cargo ship last night which he admits was a little too close for comfort as he sailed in busy shipping traffic off Cape Finisterre.
The British skipper emerged unscathed and is making fair speed across the Bay of Biscay now, trying to hike north in the contrary, Easterly winds as he makes for the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne where he is now expected Thursday.
White is expected to stay on the same tack now up to about the latitude of Lorient, where the breeze is likely to bend to a more favourable northerly direction, but the weather files also suggest it will be lighter, so nothing about his final approach seems to be falling in his favour. Once again he voiced his frustration today, saying that every time he tacked the wind had changed to be more against him.
“It’s like pulling teeth. I just want to get in.” White said today.
His VMG remains consistent at around 6-8 knots, although he said today that with 30 knot winds off Finisterre the seas were as big and awkward as he could remember, only the second time he could recall not being able to stand up on the foredeck of his Open 60, and having to work on his hands and knees.
At 1430hrs this afternoon White had a direct distance of 267 miles to Les Sables, which in reality is closer to 330 miles with winds still mainly Easterly to 25 knots.
Rich Wilson’s weather conundrum is just the type of cerebral challenge the American skipper would enjoy sitting at home toying with, in theory, trying to find the optimum routing around the high pressure system to his east, but with a high pressure ridge also to squeezing him to the west. Two hundred miles to his west there is the option of express downwind travel to the north, but from there he then has a long, long way back to the east to get to the French coast. Unfortunately this puzzle comes towards the end of Wilson’s highly commendableVendée Globe and in reality is just the kind of challenge he could be doing without when all he wants to do is be able to point the bows of the Great American III at Les Sables d’Olonne and get finished.
He is into lighter breezes in the high pressure ridge at the moment and so should be getting more chance to rest and recover a little, but still with a difficult regime of sail changes.
Conditions remain rough for Raphaël Dinelli. The skipper of Fondation Ocean Vital is having to battle upwind in 25-30 knot trade winds and heavy seas. He will be heeled over and shaken about for the next four or five days. Conditions are very different for Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport Kapsch) at the rear of the fleet. Unfortunately for the Austrian skipper, the Doldrums are stretching out as he climbs towards the Equator. Sedlacek said today that he was not enjoying the stress of the Doldrums but was looking forward to getting across the Equator tomorrow (Wednesday). And having access to a fuller sail selection now that he has replaced his headsail halyards has been a godsend, even though he has been slowed to three to five knots for much of the day.
Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water): “ I had a bit of a long night with a lot of ships around Finisterre, I had to call several of them to get them to alter course for me. So I am quite tired and nearly got run down as well. I came as close as I ever have in my entire life to getting run down. It was the closest I have ever been to a ship which was not at anchor I think. An under arm throw with a tennis ball and I could have put it on its deck.
I called him up and he obviously had not seen me and it took him five minutes to respond, and then when he did respond I said ‘what are you going to do?’ and he cam back and said he was going to turn to starboard and come down your starboard side. I thought that was rather odd, cos if he had turned to port he would have gone under our stern which would have been a much better thing to have done, he did an alteration to starboard which was big but it was not big enough, and I got headed and it finished up with us bow to bow and an angle of about 90 degrees and I baled out. I dumped the traveller all the way down because there was about 30 knots of breeze because the boat would not bear away, and as I crouched down to see I could see he had turned as well I had no idea that a ship that size, 160 metres, could turn so quickly and the bow was blown around and I saw his nav lights change underneath the boom, then I pushed the buttons on the pilot to come back up again, we both turned into each other effectively. Anyway I missed him he came under my stern and I called him up and said: ‘that was rather close wasn’t’ it?’ and he went absolutely berserk, and I thought which bit of the rules of the road have I not understood whereby you are supposed to get out of the way and I call you and ask what you are going to do, you tell me and you still end up hitting me. But I am going to report him You can’t let people get way with that.
Photo By Mark Lloyd / DPPI / Vendée Globe
His is a vicious cycle at the moment. Toe in the Water, a relatively older, wide boat with a fixed keel and sailplan more optimized for downwind sailing needs more breeze in order to sail to narrower angles to windward. But more wind means bigger seas and more crashing and bashing around.
“I am slamming away like I don’t know what, here. It is just so frustrating. This boat must be just about the worst there is in the fleet for going upwind. Norbert’s is a narrower boat with a canting keel and that would be preferable. In this wind I tack through anywhere around 100 to 105 degrees and below 15 knots that rises to 120 degrees and that really dictates where I am going. If I can get up the to the north of the latitude of Les Sables and the NE’lies hold it could be OK, but down in the south of the Bay it is a bit light and swirly.”
“It is very frustrating because it seems like every time I tack the wind heads me.” Said White this afternoon, 100 miles to the NW of Cape Finisterre, whilst still heading SE.
“I shall probably tack in a couple of hours and then see where that gets me. I am hoping the breeze will hold up. I am making 9.5 – 9.7 knots but I don’t want to push too hard in these seas because I don’t want to bring the rig down.”
Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) has been recovering today after a four hours mast climb yesterday. His climb, to repair his mast track and to replace two headsail halyards, ultimately proved successful but he found two small cracks in his mast level with the top spreaders.
“The climb was a bit ‘sportif’ and used every last bit of my energy to do it. It was completely done afterwards. I took a big spanner with me and managed to secure the mast track and replace the halyards. But now I am exhausted and it is a bit stressy with the ICTZ which is very active with big squalls.” Said Sedlacek this afternoon, who has 200 miles to sail to the equator.
“I will have to be very careful with the mast with the big headsails but otherwise it should be very careful. For the mainsail I can still only sail with two or three reefs. I have a bad headache today after yesterday and will be really happy to make the next 60 miles and get out of the ICT and get into the NE’ly trade winds.”
Rich Wilson is 1175 miles west of the Canary islands and has been making steady progress north. He is sailing upwind in the NE’ly trade winds off the Canaries. In the short term, he knows that he is at the mercy of a high-pressure area that has moved across from Nova Scotia. If he wishes to get around it to find downwind conditions, he will need to add many miles to his route to reach 45° longitude west. If he does not do this, Wilson will have to struggle upwind, which is something he has certainly been getting used to since the Horn. His current ETA in Les Sables d’Olonne is around 5th or 6th March.
Photo By PIERRICK CONTIN / DPPI / Vendée Globe
Arnaud Boissieres spoke of his win today ” My boat was extraordinary. She already came sixth and fifth and now seventh, so I owe her a lot. It’s a bit like Roxy coming first, first and fourth. It is the designers, who came up with these great boats, and I just try to drive it as best I can. I tried not to break anything as I would have been told off afterwards. The first to come out to me this morning was Dee Caffari, which was great as we did a lot of the race together and we often communicated with each other. These English sailors are extraordinary and I had a good relationship with Dee in particular. When you see all the people here, you start to wonder if you haven’t done something extraordinary. I don’t believe I’ve done anything out of the ordinary. I just sailed her as well as I could.”
“ Of course, I didn’t expect such a welcome. There were crowds for Michel, Armel and Marc, so maybe people said it would be unfair if there weren’t crowds out for me. When I entered this harbour two and a half years ago, it already felt like I was in the Vendée Globe.”
“ I was down at Cape Horn just ahead of Aviva. I turned left. I was warned that it was not easy after the Horn. But Aviva and Pindar really sail quickly and I had a tough time with the fishermen off Brazil and the oil rigs. I called up my project manager who told me it was normal that I was left behind and to head for the coast of Brazil, where it is nice and warm. On the radio sessions, I could only repeat the same thing every time – fishermen, oil rigs, no wind…”
“ When you see people like Mich and Vincent Riou and Peyron in the race, you think you don’t have much chance –maybe tenth or fifteenth if you’re lucky, but finishing was really the goal, so finishing seventh is great. After 105 days alone, you necessarily change somewhere inside. Your family, partner and team are also transformed. Of course, there were some hard times. Gusts at 85 knots. I call up Denis Horeau, the Race Director, and he tells me they’re looking at the weather for the three of us at the Horn. So the race was suspended. I’ve known Brian for some time and now I know Dee well, so it was nice to be with them and it all went well.”
“ Off Tierra del Fuego, you have violent gusts. You see the snow-capped mountains and as you approach the Horn, you tell yourself you have to merit the Horn. When you’re in the storm, you don’t have time to worry. You get ready for it and get your food and water and survival gear together and just wait. You can’t sleep or rest as you wonder how bad it will be. After you have a great story to tell and you feel like you have accomplished something. Brian told me to get close to the Horn to see what it looked like. I did the English Vendée Globe. I knew Brian from the Mini days and Sam and as I said before, Dee is extraordinary.”
“This wasn’t a challenge going back to my past. I got over my problems with support of those around me. I don’t see it as revenge for those trying times. I’m just lucky to earn my living from my passion. I’m someone who is privileged. Thanks to people like Jean-Philippe Chomette.”
The future? I’m already thinking of setting out again and starting a new 4-year campaign to develop a boat and team.
“ The team? This is vital. You need to get on with them. We’re only a small team with a group of friends, who come and help. To begin with, I owe everything to my parents, my sisters, who have always supported me. There aren’t words to describe the family. You need that solid support on land. My Dad told me not to say anything stupid when talking in a crowd.”
“vFollowing my leukaemia at the age of 17, I underwent treatment for 18 months. When I began this project with Jean-Philippe Chomette and Christophe Chabot, I met Christine Janin, who was the first Frenchwomen to climb Everest. She welcomes sick kids to the Alps. When I did the Round the Island race, we said there was a parallel between the sea and mountains, so we did a partnership with that charity. It seemed natural. There was no calculation in choosing that charity.”
“ I’m looking forward to fresh fish and fresh vegetables and a gin and tonic with more gin than tonic.”
Another consistent night for Rich Wilson as he works the narrow band of breeze between two high pressure systems. The Great American III has been making 8.7 to 8.9 knots this morning and covered over 150 miles in the last 24 hours.
Raphael Dinelli crossed the Equator last night at 1945hrs GMT back into the Northern Hemisphere on Fondation Océan Vital and this morning is already 65 miles north of the line and making 8-9 knots and is well into the NE’ly trade winds.
And Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) is 150 miles off the NE corner of Brasil now, 460 miles behind Dinelli and will be getting towards the fringes of the Doldrums this morning.
Photo By Jacques Vapillon / DPPI / Vendée Globe
Arnaud Boissières is remaining true to this afternoon’s schedule and should not disappoint the crowds who are certain to turn out and offer a huge welcome to this popular local IMOCA Open 60 and the skipper who is completing his first Vendée Globe.
Arnaud Boissières had less than 70 miles to sail to the finish this afternoon and was still making nearly seven knots, keeping him on target to arrive for a triumphant return up the channel in Akena Véranda’s hope port of Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday afternoon.
He told today’s radio session that he was already enjoying signs and memories of home, after having spoken with some Les Sables fishermen who congratulated him on his race:
“I’m enjoying myself out here and having a nice time. Yesterday evening some dolphins came alongside and this morning an hour and a half ago, some fishermen from Les Sables congratulated me on the VHF. I have a lot of respect for them, and so I really appreciated that. I hope to see them again soon in Les Sables.”
“ Already yesterday, there were a lot of cargo vessels around. I’ve come a long way in my Veranda and have so many memories. I just felt so good in my boat and I didn’t have any major problems.”
“ I will remember particularly Cape Horn and the Southern Ocean…There have been so many things. Finishing seventh is just incredible. The boat came sixth with Thomas Coville, fifth with “Jojo” (Sébastien Josse). As for my race, I owe it to my boat, my team, and all the experts, who were ready at all times of day and the people at Akena, who gave me so much support. It feels like there were 150 people aboard the boat!”
“ I should finish tomorrow after coffee and you’ll have time for a couple of brandies… The sun is out, the seas are not very choppy and there’s just 12 knots of wind, and even that is easing off. This morning the dolphins were back. It just makes it feel so good to be out here and so I’m taking advantage of every little moment. It’s just great!”
Steve White on Toe in the Water has 700 miles to the finish and seems to have to chosen to try and route to the east on an inshore course which are present is sending him back on a course south of Cape Finisterre where there is likely to be only light breezes and considerable traffic. He faces a long slow beat and consequently his ETA has now slipped to Wednesday or possibly Thursday. But he is still making the best part of ten knots this afternoon.
Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) has two options at the moment: to try and wriggle up the narrow band of contrary winds on the edge of the high pressure system to his east, which will save him miles but will require him to expend more energy, or to take the long way round. This routing sees him first having to breach a high pressure ridge which would see him slowed in light winds, which may in fact give him some time to re-group before a final push to France, but this is a longer routing.
Raphael Dinelli’s (Fondation Océan Vital) fortunes have improved this afternoon as he starts to feel the more solid NE’ly trades, signaling he is leaving the Doldrums behind and indeed his speeds have picked up nicely in recent hours. And while he has been in the Doldrums it has been a chance for Norbert Sedlacek to gain 50 or so miles and so the Austrian is now 430 miles behind on Nauticsport-Kapsch. Sedlacek was contemplating his mast climb this afternoon to try and replace his two foresail halyards.
Norbert Sedlacek, Nauticsport-Kapsch: “ I had a lot of work to do during the night. There was a little rain and the wind shifted a few times. Now it’s settled to become an ENE’ly, but it is not that strong. There is 30% cloud cover. So I’m in a good mood now. The air and sea temperature are the same. 28°C. It’s just right for a nice shower.”
Photo By Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI / Vendée Globe
As the skipper of one of the three boats which are based out of Les Sables d’Olonne – along with Raphael Dinelli’s Fondation Océan Vital and Nobert Sedlacek’s Nauticsport-Kapsch – which was kept in the Vendée port for many months before the start – Arnaud Boissières will be accorded a huge welcome as he returns to his home patch, due to pass the South Nouch buoy and the finish line some time on Sunday. With less than 226 miles to complete, these last few miles will neither be the toughest nor the easiest of his first Vendée Globe but when he sees the familiar silhouette of Les Sables and its long sandy beaches, the last miles will certainly be some of the sweetest.
Cali – nicknamed after the charming but unluckly little black cartoon chick – has long been inspired by the legendary race. He originally comes from Arcachon, home of Yves Parlier and Titouan Lamazou. He suffered from leukemia 19 years ago and when he was sick came with his father to see the first race in 1989 to see the first race which was won by Lamazou.
“That helped me in my fight against my illness. It allowed me in my head to get away from my room by following their adventure.”
Cali was greeted on today’s radio broadcast from Les Sables d’Olonne by Dee Caffari who sailed in close company with Akena Vérandas through the Southern Ocean.
Steve White’s course has been rapid for the last three days but he now faces a slightly more complex weather pattern as he now approaches the high pressure area which protects Les Sables d’Olonne and the Bay of Biscay, but he has been able to regain over 100 miles on Boissières in the last couple of days and he should now arrive Tuesday, according to his current routing. He has been turning in close to 300 miles on each of the last two days and has been enjoying the quicker progress on his older boat. White had 838 miles to finish at 1430hrs GMT this afternoon, but he is expected to encounter stronger headwinds tomorrow with gusts to 35 knots.
Rich Wilson’s attempts to reduce his speed temporarily to try and get more rest seemed to have worked as he managed to get into his bunk last night for the first time for some weeks, and achieve a better quality of rest. He was planning to remain under deep reefed main and a small storm jib while he a regrouped mentally and physically, moderating his speeds to the difficult, aggressive swell. Unfortunately for the race’s oldest skipper, he is going to have to spend rather too many days pointing towards ‘home’ as he goes around the outside of the high pressure.
Raphael Dinelli was close to Fernando de Noronha this morning, making more than 9 knots while, 530 miles behind in his wake, Norbert Sedlacek is not much slower under double reefed main on Nauticsport-Kapsch.
Dinelli was reporting Doldrums conditions today. The ICTZ are very large and very active so he will face a couple of days of pretty tough conditions with some big squalls… Sedlacek has good trades – the best conditions of the fleet at the moment – comfortable sailing beam reaching in 15-18 knots, one or two little trade winds squalls, but pretty much ideal today as he chases Dinelli
Dee Caffari, who, by completing her Vendée Globe on 16th February, became the first woman to sail solo non stop both ways around the world
CONGRATULATIONS DEE!!
