Orange II poised to smash record today

by Event media on 16 Mar 2005 Last evening GMT and at an average of 26.6 knots, the maxi catamaran Orange II was continuing its march forward towards the finish with an ETA of little less than 24 hours time.

In Bruno Peyron’s chase for the around the world non-stop speed record, the southerly wind, which is bringing a welcome mildness across France, is pushing Peyron and his 13 crew on Orange II, along at a cracking pace.

The sailing conditions are ideal and on the home straight, negotiated under two- reef mainsail, trinquette and small gennaker, Orange II is gliding along safely.

Described by the skipper over recent days, the scenario is panning out with perfect timing. At the latter part of the morning, the world’s fastest ocean-going multihull will enter into the Bay of Biscay, with a passage of the finish line off Ouessant during the second part of Tuesday night.

Orange II will come and moor in Brest’s commercial port tomorrow morning, Wednesday GMT, having improved on the record by over a week, in a race time of around 50 days and 15 hours.

At the 0400 GMT radio session, Peyron told officials, ‘you have to savour the last few miles, the last few hours. The daily life on land will soon catch up with us and there’s nothing we can do about it.

‘As a result, it would be almost criminal not to make the most of these magic moments that we’re experiencing today. They are all too rare to have the right to miss them.

‘When I go up on deck, it’s pure pleasure. Everyone is content, happy. It’s so good to see the look in the eyes of all the crew. There is no need for a long speech to understand what is happening between us.

‘In principal, we are 24 hours from the finish. There is a regular 30 knot air flow and the sailing is good. We are gliding along in complete safety. We couldn’t have dreamt of a sweeter note to end on.'

References :

Day at sea : 50th

Date : 15/03/2005

Time (GMT) : 04h30

Latitude : 43 52.84' N

Longitude : 17 34.60' W

Instantaneous speed : 29.4 kts

Instantaneous heading : 40

Average speed : 24.8 kts

Speed over 24hr : 26.6 kts

Distance over 24hr : 640 nm

Speed since the start : 22.1 kts

Overall distance : 26398 nm

Distance remaining : 585.10 nm

Gaps on day 49 :

- J.Verne record: +3826 nm (ahead)

- Outright record : +2843 nm (ahead)


Internet : http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com