Bulletin: 6th November 2006

TEMENOS II snatches 2nd place!

Headline news today has been the superb victory of Norman sailor, Lionel Lemonchois, who crossed the finish line after just 7 days and 17 hours at sea, pulverising the previous event record by 4 days; but amidst the monohull fleet the suspense is still palpable. At the latest 1600 hour ranking TEMENOS II had snatched back second place, Virbac-Paprec and VM-Matériaux slipping back down to 3rd and 4th position respectively.

The past few days have born witness to a wealth of new developments within the Imoca class. The ridge of high pressure lying across their course is spoiling things for the inseparable Virbac-Paprec and VM-Matériaux, who are presently losing ground on their N’ly option, whilst Sill-Véolia and TEMENOS II are fairing better on a direct course.

The situation looks set to change however. In fact, the arrival of a depression could once again turn the ranking upside down. Closer to the latter, Virbac-Paprec and VM-Matériaux should be the first to benefit from the stronger winds and make up part of their deficit.

For Dominique, questioned around 1500 hours by his shore crew, "this spices things up a bit, watching these options and seeing how they’re going to make us converge in the same place. I have had a difficult night under spinnaker with a fair amount of broaches as a result of the autopilot not holding.

It switches itself off in a small gust or a little wave and I’ve even ended up with the boat the wrong way round. Fortunately, I’ve come out of it unharmed and I’ve since changed the computer and the pilot seemed to be holding earlier. The boat is going along nicely on its own. It’s slipping along, reaching on flat seas. It’s thoroughly enjoyable.”

With his spirits visibly lifted by his boat’s smooth running, the skipper really seemed to be on great form during the radio chat session. In a clear, cheerful voice Dominique continued, "I’m in great shape. I’m enjoying myself and I feel so good with the boat that it keeps me alert. I don’t really feel like going for a sleep…The weather should be a bit calmer by the end of the day so I’m making the most of conditions now to cover some ground!”

Another calm night aboard TEMENOS II

While those on a direct course at the moment are currently leading, Dominique clearly believes that nothing is set down in stone. "It’s highly likely we’re going to have flat calm at the end of the afternoon, which is pretty much par for the course in this particular zone! The evolutions in the weather are difficult to forecast so you really have to work on them on a day to day basis. The sailing is more about reacting to the clouds for the time being.”

The fleet is continuing to encounter vast banks of weed along the way; the skippers forced to backtrack in order to unravel it.

"I’ve never seen so many banks of weed. I don’t know what has caused it" wonders the skipper of TEMENOS II.

Should the trade winds become established from tomorrow onwards as the latest forecasts predict, the next few hours with the arrival of a depression are going to be crucial. Which option will come good? Answer tomorrow…