Sea, Sail & Surf newsJules Verne Trophy
250 miles away from the latitude of the Cape of Good Hop
mercredi 20 mars 2002 –
"We have just hoisted the medium gennaker, I’m in oilskin pants and stripped to the waist, running with sweat !" Philippe Péché can’t get over it. The north-westerly that has been propelling them at full speed for two days seems still to be impregnated with the warm atmosphere of the tropics. "It’s the world upside down" added Peyron : "In 93, we feared for ice. Today we’re passing schools of flying fish...". Still clinging on to latitude 38° South, Orange is biding her time before plunging into the forties. The centre of a very active depression is moving very fast under the catamaran which is sliding along in a strengthening 30 knot north-westerly. The game consists for the time being in adapting the boat’s point of sailing with the strength of the wind. This means that several times a day, 9 members of crew are called on to adapt the sail area to the strength of the wind and trim it accordingly. This is an acrobatic act on a 20 tonne "monster" permanently launched at between 25 and 30 knots. With the chef’s batten, Peyron is keeping their fervour under control and is orchestrating just enough rhythm to keep things between speed and enthusiasm, caution and reason. The pulse of the big cat Orange will now be beating to the rhythm of the impressive development of the Southern lows. "The header expected tomorrow will permit us to gybe and slip down south" said Bruno. "But the rotation to the SW will be accompanied by 40 to 45 knot winds ! I hope we will have crossed the Agulhas shelf by then. I wouldn’t like to face the crossed seaway that the sudden rising of the seabed creates." 530 mile days and more will now follow one another for Orange. Sport Elec is more than 2000 miles "astern". Club Med a day and a half. "It’s interesting to known so that we can compare" said Peyron. "The wind angle and the extra weight of the boat is not favourable for breaking 24 hour records. Not yet. But our current rhythm, a compromise between speed and sparing the boat, is in my mind synonymous with success in this Jules Verne Trophy".
19th day of the race for Orange : 32 ˜ 33 knots ! The wind is still rising. The men on watch hunker down to driving the boat. The standby watch is waiting to leap into action. A gesture from Peyron and they’ll be on deck, ready to roll up the gennaker, or take a reef and hoist a storm spinnaker. That’s the South for you...
Quote / unquote...
Bruno Peyron : "A friendly Hi to the French rugby team preparing for their match against Scotland, and a thought for the people of Marseilles. Orange is their boat and the Jules Verne is a trophy that we count on bringing back with us to the Phocaean City."
Philippe Péché : "Bruno Peyron is an amazing regulator. He senses what’s coming and anticipates marvellously to keep Orange perfectly balanced. He is playing for the long term, favouring as always safety, sparing the boat and pure performance. Even if sometimes we sail a bit under canvassed, we are never caught out by sudden changes of wind. Moreover, life to the rhythm of the watches is so intense that I don’t seem to notice the time flying by..."
Denis van den Brink / Mer & Media / Orange
Map : Geronimo vs Orange
Dans la même rubrique
Jules Verne Trophy : Peyron : "we’re savouring the delivrance !"
Photo : JP Epron / Maxi Catamaran Orange
Jules Verne Trophy : Orange is keeping up a good average
Jules Verne Trophy : Orange on the way to the roring forties
Jules Verne Trophy : One high hides antoher
