Bulletin: 3rd December 2007

An aftertaste of the doldrums

For several days now, each ranking is a repeat of the previous one. The wind is now blowing favourably over the course of the frontrunners and the deficits of those in the chasing pack continue, irremediably, to open up. Even if the Saint Helena High slowed the dazzling pace of the two leaders for a while, their comfortable lead has provided them with a cushion of protection from their pursuers. Whatever the scenario in the weather models, the leaders are likely to be the first to benefit from the downwind conditions of the roaring forties, and once again be able to lengthen their stride ahead of the rest of the fleet.
Conditions aboard TEMENOS II are now more reminiscent of the doldrums than the deep South.

“The day started out fine though, with a beautiful sunrise" wrote Michèle in an email sent last night “but as usual there wasn’t enough wind in the sails for our bluebird. She continued to plod along slowly, the weather alternating between windless squalls and lots of rain. During that time, up front, the others managed to get away... that's the nature of the game though and we accept that."

Since the previous night the situation has visibly not improved if we listen to Dominique, contacted midway through this afternoon.

“We are being deluged by rain squalls; it's very light and we still only have around ten knots of breeze. We've making headway a little more regularly than last night, but it's still not great.”

The Swiss skipper seems rather fatalistic about the scenario. “There’s not really anything we can do. It feels like we’re being severely punished. The leaders went through the same zone with wind, but the high pressure has filled in that corridor of wind. We’re making the most of the little sniffs of wind and it's certainly not for lack of trying on our part, but rather the lack of wind" laughed the skipper. “It really feels like we’re in the doldrums, with heavy, leaden skies and big static clouds, which for lack of wind are sending rain down on us instead. It is fairly heavy so conditions are surprisingly similar, and I think it is worse still for those behind us!”