2015 Jules Verne Trophy – Record attempt – Day 5 + Video

by Spindrift racing on 27 Nov 2015 Jules Verne Trophy – Tonight, Spindrift 2 and her crew will cross the equator, the first symbolic milestone on the circumnavigation for the fourteen sailors. Thanks to an effective route since their departure last Sunday at 05:01:58 GMT, the crew could cross the equator well up on the split time set by Loïck Peyron on Banque Populaire V in November 2011 (five days, 14 hours, 55 minutes and 10 seconds).

But exiting the doldrums will not be easy. The weather conditions are difficult to predict, forcing the sailors to adapt to wind speeds that are oscillating between five and 25 knots. Their order of the day from the watch captains is not to drop their guard, and to anticipate what lies ahead.

16h15 GMT : 243 miles ahead of the current record holder
Distance covered from the start: 3139 miles
Average speed over 24 hours: 22 knots

Message from Dona:

'During one of the lulls I finally decide to take a shower. Not at the foot of the mast like Erwan; I don't want to feel uncomfortable. Normally, as soon as the first heavy showers breakout, the guys go out on deck, stark naked, to take a wash in the rainwater, using the special, non-polluting soap. I had my first experience during my first offshore race, on the Discovery Route. They would take their opportunity while I was sleeping. Right now, the wind is too variable and the boat too unstable for that kind of manoeuvre at the front of the boat. And the rain is holding off in any case. No choice then but to take a shower inside, right at the back of the main hull.

I just need a bottle of water and I'm sorted. It feels fantastic! I just need to mop up now, which is not a bad thing as it will make the boat a bit cleaner!'

We're really in the doldrums! That's been our only concern for the past few hours on board. Erwan, our navigator, told us about a time in the Volvo Ocean Race when his team were cruising at 30 knots as they approached the doldrums, then suddenly they ground to a halt. Nothing. Not even a slight breeze!

So we're keeping a close eye on every cloud in the sky, any breeze that blows, and any change in the sea colour or wave intensity. It's not too bad right now. We're making progress, albeit slowly, and we haven't yet ground to a complete standstill. The hardest thing is having to change sails each time the wind speed fluctuates between five and 25 knots. The important instruction from the watch captains is not to drop our guard, and to anticipate what lies ahead.

Two petrels came to greet us this morning. The white-breasted birds with black backs live in the open sea, only returning to land to lay a single egg. They followed us for a short time, then disappeared over the horizon under the grey, humid skies. So, when do we get a shower?

Weather Forecast :

November 26
Crossing the doldrums during the day: after an area of active squalls and weak variable wind.
Exit forecast for the late evening, followed by trade winds from the south-east that look a little soft (15 knots). £

November 27
Crossing the equator in the early morning (don’t forget to drink and make offerings to Neptune…)
Southern hemisphere trade winds from the ESE, 15-20 knots, unstable.
Time to take a serious interest in the area between Recife and Bahia, which is the real gateway to the South Atlantic weather systems.

Message from Spindrift 2:

Nothing very spectacular to report for Spindrift 2 and her crew as they enter the Doldrums. A first line of squalls overnight with strong rain for a quarter of an hour, but fortunately, there was still wind. This morning, the maxi-trimaran is sailing downwind in drizzle with her gennaker up and a boat speed of 20 knots. It is highly likely that the wind will be changeable in both strength and direction throughout the day, but in the meantime, each mile logged southwards is one mile closer to the exit.

Inside the boat, the atmosphere is hot and damp. Some of the crew have tried to make the most of the light rain created by the storm activity to take a shower. However, their attempts have not always been successful!