Bulletin: 30th October 2006

Light conditions for the first few hours of racing

Decidedly, the scenario for the start of this 8th edition of the Route du Rhum – la Banque Postale is radically different than that of the previous edition. Yesterday everyone seemed to be delighting in the light conditions, but the particularly testing conditions of the first night had changed the outlook somewhat today.
With less than 5 knots of wind, the material was certainly spared, but it was a very different picture for the 73 skippers still racing (Jeremie Beyou having informed the Race Committee of his retirement from the race for family reasons). Repeated manoeuvres, long sessions at the helm to mirror a shifty wind struggling to establish a steady strength and direction, the watch for cargo ships; all the various night-time activities left the sailors little time for rest.

Contacted very briefly in the early afternoon due to communication problems, the skipper of Temenos told a familiar story echoed throughout the fleet.

“It was a difficult night, with a lot of wind shifts and sail changes. I got stuck in less than 2 knots of wind on several occasions. I came across a fair amount of cargo ships and got caught up in a crab pot, which forced me to back up. I didn’t really sleep much with all that going on.”

TEMENOS II

Since mid morning on Monday, the situation seems to have changed for the better. With the W’ly wind filling in at the head of the fleet, the top trio was the first to reap the benefits, gaining a slight edge over TEMENOS II and PRB.

Barely two hours later, TEMENOS II also hit the favourable wind, which is set to distance her from the zone of high pressure.

”Since around lunch time, the wind has steadily increased, so I have just completely shifted the moveable ballast. There have been a few sunny patches, which come as a welcome relief after all the mist last night.”

The various options of the fleet are now clearly drawn out. The vast majority of the skippers, including Dominique, have taken a W’ly option, taking them up towards the Scilly Isles in search of a forecast wind shift.

At the 1600 hours ranking TEMENOS II, who had gained the edge over Vincent Riou’s monohull, was in 5th position, 27 miles behind the leader Virbac-Paprec. The head of the fleet are making over 10 knots of boat speed, a sign that the high pressure of last night is now behind them…