[singlepic=599,250,170,,left]Vela e record – Oceano Atlantico – Ventiquattro ore di mare e i primi segni della fatica cominciano a farsi sentire. Un problema, specie in considerazione del fatto che nelle prossime ore Speedboat, il maxi impegnato nel tentativo di migliorare il record sulla traversata atlantica fissato nel 2003 da Mari Cha IV, entrerà in una zona di bassa pressione, all’interno della quale i venti dovrebbero soffiare attorno ai cinquanta nodi: “Dormire, nelle prossime ore, sarà determinante – ha spiegato lo skipper Mike Sanderson – Per affrontare al meglio gli elementi è indispensabile essere riposati”.
Questa mattina Virgin Money stava ancora cavalcando la stessa burrasca che aveva agganciato al passaggio del faro di Ambrose: una burrasca molto dura, caratterizzata da forti venti dai quadranti settentrionali e mare particolarmente ingrossato: “Il vero problema sarà passare attraverso alcune zone di vento leggero – ha commentato il navigatore Stan Honey – I bollettini meteo ne hanno individuate alcune: speriamo solo che la brezza sia più intensa di quanto previsto”. Come dire: tanto vento ma non troppo. Ricordiamo, infatti, che per battere il primato di 6 giorni e 17 ore, Speedboat-Virgin Money dovrà navigare sempre al limite delle proprie possibilità.
Per leggere il blog di Richard Branson clicca qui.
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Video courtesy Virgin Money.
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Video courtesy Virgin Money.
Brutal but amazing
Date: 10/23/2008
Time (GMT): 13:30
Elapsed Journey Time: 27 hrs 50 mins
Distance covered: 500 miles
Virgin Money status:
Position: 38°22.04’N 062°37.63’W
Course over ground: 098°
Boat speed: 20.3 kts
Wind speed: 26.2 kts
Wind direction: 356°
Commanders Weather: ‘Virgin Money has gone about 500 miles but unfortunately not exactly toward the finish. They have been forced south of rhumb line route by strong N winds and seas. They should be able to begin heading more toward the finish over the next few days.’
Brutal but amazing
[Team Origin Press Release] The team has been going for just over 24 hours and the first signs of fatigue are starting to show.
In preparation for the rough conditions forecast the crew on board Virgin Money has tried to get as much rest as possible before the predicted winds of up to 50kts hit their decks.
Race skipper Mike Sanderson, said: ‘We are having a pretty rough trip out here but we need to get some sleep before it gets even more heinous tonight. Surviving on three hours sleep is not easy when you’re getting battered on all sides by the elements’.
This morning Virgin Money and crew are still riding the same storm that pushed them passed Ambrose to start their attempt at this historical record attempt. The yacht has been pushed to its limits, facing fierce Northerly winds and high seas.
Navigator Stan Honey, said: ‘We have two crossings of troughs where there will be areas of light air that we need to get through. The trough passages look ok on the GFS (global forecast system), but I’ve always found them to be tougher than forecast’.
With challenging conditions like these the team will need to concentrate on strategic navigating that will allow the boat to maintain good speeds in order to pass through these periods of light wind as fast as possible.
From Virgin Money
Adam Boome, sailor: “At the moment we’re really motoring … Imagine living on the waltzers at the fairground during a freezing storm and you’re almost there. Even the smallest task takes intense concentration and is very physically demanding. Can’t imagine how we will feel if this goes on for another 5 days, right up to the wire”.
Sam Branson, blog: “We have been out here now just over 24 hours but it feels like 24 days. Leaving New York we had a magnificent sight of the Statue of Liberty and it wasn’t until then that it hit home what we were embarking on. The winds have been up to gale force 8 and we’ve had sea swells up to 35 feet and seen speeds of 30 knots. It is difficult trying to get used to having only three hours sleep and as the breast of the ship crashes over every wave a loud shudder runs down through the whole boat – brutal but amazing”.
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