Sea, Sail & Surf newsTROPHEE JULES VERNE
Orange is indeed pretty close in to the eats coast of the Falkland Islands
dimanche 14 avril 2002 –
During today’s radio chat at one o’clock today, Bruno said " We have decided to gybe in 25 minutes, otherwise we’ll be making an assault on the cliffs ! ". The maxi-catamaran Orange is indeed pretty close in to the eats coast of the Falkland Islands, currently 15 miles from Port Stanley and Cape Pembroke. Gilles Chiorri : " It’s nice to see land - that makes twice - the last bit of land we saw was Madeira ! ". Orange is sticking to the same route as the one sailed by Olivier de Kersauson in 1997 for the moment, but should be changing course shortly to start heading east.
Why ? " For the moment, we are in a 20-knot south-westerly flow which is starting to pick up. This wind should be with us until tomorrow, but overnight, in view of the weather information we have, we’ve decided to head east over to 35° longitude west. We’ll be going onto the easterly edge of a zone of high pressure to latch onto leading winds and avoid running head on into a low off the coast of Argentina ". Bruno continued : " No way are we going to go headlong into 45-knot winds and bring the boat to a halt to let the low pass ! " So, as was to be expected, the climb up the Atlantic has brought us face to face with complex situations - it’s make-your-mind-up time on the options front.
" If we have to take some radical weather options, then so be it ! " concludes Bruno . He knows only too well that this Atlantic climb can have more than its fair share of surprises in store for them ? both good and bad. But the skipper and his crew have one major trick up their sleeve. Bruno stresses his point once again today : " The boat is in fine fettle. It’s great to know that we can rely upon her in this last home straight ". A line which will certainly not be that straight in fact, as over the next few days the maxi-catamaran Orange will be attacking a mad slalom between highs and lows, edges and other fronts... As things stand, the countdown at Press HQ today leaves 28 days for Orange to pocket the Trophée Jules Verne. Time is getting shorter day by day.
Quote/Unquote :
Bruno Peyron : " We slalomed between two enormous masses of drifting seaweed. You see masses of seaweed like this off the Kerguelen Islands too. You have to be careful because you don’t see them until the very last moment. If it gets caught up in your daggerboards or your rudders, you have a hell of a job getting rid of it ! ".
Gilles Chiorri : " This was the first time I rounded Cape Horn. Even though it means I can now wear an earring spit into the wind, what I’ll remember most of all is the images ! ".
Pierrick Garenne / Mer & Média Translated by Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Dans la même rubrique
Jules Verne Trophy : Rounding cape Horn andPacific record for Orange
Jules Verne Trophy : Orange slows down one day to cape Horn
Record : Maiden II On Standby For Transatlantic Crossing
Jules Verne Trophy : Iceberg dead ahead Orange
