Vendée Globe, verso l’ignoto
OceanoVelaVendée Globe 19 Novembre 2008 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=817,250,170,,left]Vendée Globe – Capo Verde – Mentre la flotta è ormai pronta per affrontare i Doldrums, Loick peyron su Gitana Eighty difende senza troppi problemi la propria leadership. Quaranta sono le miglia che lo separano da Sébastien Josse su BT e Jean-Pierre Dick su Paprec-Virbac 2, avvicinatosi leggermente nel corso della notte.
A guardare con interesse all’attraversamento dell’Equatore è Jean Le Cam su VM Matériaux. Attestato in quinta posizione, il solitario transalpino spera che nessuno riesca a superare la linea immaginaria prima delle 00.30 di domani, in modo da mantenere il suo primato: nel 2004, infatti, impiegò 10 giorni, 11 ore e 28 minuti per raggiungere il fatidico punto zero.
Intanto i protagonisti cominciano a prendere confidenza con le condizioni tipiche del centro Atlantico. Le temperature sono in crescita e a momenti di calma se ne alternano altri caratterizzati da vento forte e scrosci di pioggia piuttosto violenti.
Day 9, 11.00 GMT, ranking
1 – Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) a 21164.6 miles to finish
2 – Seb Josse (BT) at +31.4 nm
3 – Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) at +45.5 nm
4 – Le Cléac’h Armel (Brit Air) at +48 nm
5 – Riou Vincent (PRB) at +61.5 nm
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INTO THE UNKNOW
[singlepic=818,170,250,,left][Vendée Globe Press Release] With the fleet making south towards their preferred Doldrums crossing corridor, Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) maintains his supremacy, keeping a cushion of around forty miles between himself and Sébastien Josse (BT), with Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) making a small eight miles gain overnight in third place.
In fifth place, 72.6 miles behind, Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) will be only too aware that after contrary conditions in the Bay of Biscay and the slow going now, that his 2004 record to the Equator – 10 days, 11 hours, 28 minutes – will not be broken. The leader would need to cross by 00.30 hrs tonight.
As the fleet head into the Doldrums – described yesterday by skippers as ‘messy’ and ‘uncertain’ – Peyron has shown consistent speed across the wind conditions and had played out a meticulous strategy, but even he has been admitting that the weather computer models and imagery do not correspond. Today the skippers will start to experience some of the extremes of the Doldrums, spells of calm one minute and 40 knots squalls and torrential rain the next.
After taking a ‘hit’ to make west Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) has stabilized at 109 miles from Peyron in ninth place, 32 miles ahead of Jeremie Beyou (Delta Dore). Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) has passed her main rival Arnaud Boissieres (Akena Verandas) to hold 12th.
Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) took a long westerly to try and re-gain some miles and lies 14th.
After re-starting five days ago Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Cheminées Poujoulat) was passing the Canary Islands last night.
Day 9, 11.00 GMT, ranking
1 – Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) a 21164.6 miles to finish
2 – Seb Josse (BT) at +31.4 nm
3 – Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) at +45.5 nm
4 – Le Cléac’h Armel (Brit Air) at +48 nm
5 – Riou Vincent (PRB) at +61.5 nm
To follow the race on web click here.
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