Orange II speeds towards record books

by Event media on 15 Mar 2005 The Portuguese archipelago will be in their wake from the first hours of daylight, while the south-south-westerly wind that will accompany Bruno Peyron and his Orange II crew to the finish is blowing at 30 knots.

The fantastic pace set on this round the world speed record chase, was found again yesterday, at around 1500 GMT. Since then, the maxi catamaran Orange II has covered 300 miles in half a day, which augers well for another 600 nautical mile day or more.

Only one fly in the ointment this morning GMT; it is impossible to follow a direct course again, with a heading that is 15° too far East.

To round the archipelago and glide between the island of Florès in the North and that of Faïal to the South, Peyron is anticipating a gybe in two or three hours time to head North again.

This realignment onto a north-easterly heading again, should be short term, prior to making for the finish line off Ouessant once more.

Orange II’s crew is expected between Tuesday evening on 15 March GMT and early morning on Wednesday 16 March, on the 50th day at sea.

From Bruno Peyron, this morning at 0400 GMT: ‘The first part of the night was starry with the sky gradually clouding over and with a barometer continuing to drop. The depression system is settling into position. We’ll keep it up to the finish, even though there’s still a doubt as to whether it really touches Brittany.

‘We have 30 knots of south-westerly and we have all the sail area up with one reef in the mainsail. We’re currently trying to decide if we should pass to the small gennaker. We’re making a constant 32/33 knots and it’s at this speed that we begin to ask ourselves this type of question.

‘The sea is OK, even though it was crossed at times when we climbed up to the archipelago’s plateau. We are having to get used to this pace again, get back into the rhythm, trying to get re-accustomed to sleeping in these conditions.

‘We are less than 100 miles from Faïal and we’re going to take a left in a few hours to round the archipelago. We’re going to make the move before the wind backs, which will set us in good stead for the rest of the voyage.

‘We should finish on Tuesday, during the second part of the night. We’re not going to take any unnecessary risks for nothing.’

References :

Day at sea : 49th

Date : 14/03/2005

Time (GMT) : 0420

Latitude : 38 38.64' N

Longitude : 30 04.32' W

Instantaneous speed : 30.3 kts

Instantaneous heading : 70

Average speed : 29.5 kts

Speed over 24hr : 20.2 kts

Distance over 24hr : 486 nm

Speed since the start : 22.0 kts

Overall distance : 25744 nm

Distance remaining : 1226.60 nm

Gaps on day 48 :

• J.Verne record: +3503 nm (ahead)

• Outright record : +2803 nm (ahead)

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