Vendée Globe, senza via d’uscita
OceanoVelaVendée Globe 8 Gennaio 2009 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=1310,250,170,,left]Vendée Globe – Oceano Atlantico – Prima volta a Capo Horn per Armel Le Cléac’h. Lo skipper di Brit Air, reduce dal salvataggio di Jean Le Cam, ha doppiato questo pomeriggio l’estremità meridionale del Cile per terzo e ha iniziato la sua risalita verso nord anche se, poche ore dopo l’emozionante momento, ha dovuto modificare la sua rotta per tentare di scappare dalle insidie rappresentate dal centro di un’alta pressione.
Settecento miglia più a nord, intanto, continua il duello tra Michel Desjoyeaux e Roland Jourdain, separati all’ultimo rilevamento da 116.7 miglia. La battaglia è resa ancora più dura dalle difficili condizioni meteo. La giornata di ieri, infatti, è stata caratterizzata dall’alternarsi dei groppi, accompagnati da violenti colpi di vento: “Sono un pò stanco. Dopo l’Indiano e il Pacifico speravo di potermi riposare un pò, ma la notte scorsa ho avuto 40-45 nodi – ha spiegato Jourdain nel corso di un collegamento telefonico – Mi sono steso su un fianco due volte, ma la barca ha reagito bene. Sinceramente mi aspettavo un Atlantico diverso. Per uscire da questa situazione devo seguire Michel Desjoyeaux: altra strada non c’è. Il tempo è molto migliore davanti, ma finchè c’è vita, c’è speranza”.
Dal canto suo Foncia sembra essere scappato dal centro della perturbazione e dopo aver navigato alcune ore verso est, ha ripreso la sua marcia alla volta del traguardo.
Il ritiro di PRB, determinato dalla rottura dell’albero danneggiatosi durante le operazioni di recupero di Jean Le Cam, ha permesso a Sam Davies di salire dal quinto al quarto posto. Un piazzamento virtuale, visto che Marc Guillemot, staccato da Roxy di circa 400 miglia, può contare su un bonus di 82 ore contro le 32 della Davies.
Day 59, 20.00 GMT, ranking
1 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) DTF 6254.9 nm
2 – Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) +116.7 nm
3 – Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) +686.3 nm
4 – Davies Samantha (Roxy) +1861.0 nm
5 – Marc Guillemot (Safran) +2259.0 nm
Per seguire la regata sul web clicca qui.
[flashvideo filename=video/oceano/Vendee_070109.flv /]
Video courtesy Vendée Globe.
VENDEE GLOBE, JOURDAIN LOOKS FOR GOOD FORTUNE
[Vendée Globe Press Release] Roland Jourdain, 116.7 miles behind Michel Desjoyeaux, is scaling the south Atlantic, surveying his options as he pursues the leader. The two men are on the point of leaving the Furious Fifties, but they still have the Roaring Forties to deal with. Conditions are still not that different from being in the Big South and it’s crucial they remain just as vigilant as before. Last night Bilou came across two squalls with 45 knots that laid the boat on its side and threw him out of his bunk onto the chart table.
“I’m a little tired. We in the after-effects of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but after a day like yesterday, it gets you thinking! Last night was full of squalls with 40-45 knots. The boat went on its side twice. It’s not the coolest kind of Atlantic! And also Mich is driving me a little potty. I can’t see a way in to him at this point. The weather seems more favourable in front, so I’m scratching my head! But where there’s life, there’s hope!” summarised Bilou in this afternoon’s radio vacs.
With the help of some opportune gybing, Desjoyeaux shifted slightly to the East overnight and according to the routing, signs so far, are that he did the right thing. But his theory may not be as concrete as it first seems. Bilou is looking for a way out and it’s not over yet as the weather situation is looking quite complex.
“Yes so I’m a bit disappointed with the lack of opportunities showing. Ever since Cape Horn if I’d had a chance to catch Mich a bit it would have been interesting. Bad luck has meant that the system I’m in now, could have been good to go round the outside, but I’d have run out of time. So that would have been too difficult. So I’ve had to stick behind him. And now Mich has headed out to the East. According to the routing, it looks like he’ll benefit for just under a week. So long as things don’t change… the weather doesn’t always do what you expect it to!”
Over the last few hours, the sun has come out and the wind has calmed to 15-20 knots, but it remains very irregular. So Bilou will have to be patient and ready to seize the next opportunity that the weather offers him. More than ever, the race continues at the head of the fleet as they head towards slightly warmer climes!
Day 59, 20.00 GMT, ranking
1 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) DTF 6254.9 nm
2 – Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) +116.7 nm
3 – Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) +686.3 nm
4 – Davies Samantha (Roxy) +1861.0 nm
5 – Marc Guillemot (Safran) +2259.0 nm
To follow the race on the web click here.
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