THE UNUSUAL CALM BEFORE THE STORM

by Philippe Jeantot on 31 Dec 2000
THE BRITS' GREAT ESCAPE FROM LIGHT AIRS

The Pacific and Indian Oceans, even in summer time, are renowned for rather violent conditions. Whether
out of respect for the celebratory turn of the new Millenium or not, the winds have been rather lazy and not
doing their job of hammering the Vendée Globe fleet, as the veteran skippers recall from past editions.
However, the winds could quickly arise from their festive slumber and brutally shake up the fleet still.
Vigilance is paramount as the skippers analyse and re-analyse the forecasts.

The three leading boats are to the South of a large anticyclone, in a very complex low pressure system,
which is evolving quickly in changeable winds. So it¹s not proving easy to find the best route in this
system. Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB) and Roland Jourdain (Sill Matines La Potagere) have come off worse, but
British skipper Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) has manoeuvred herself through exceptionally well, and has
slashed the distances ahead to just 50 miles behind Jourdain and 163 behind Desjoyeaux. She explained: 'I
followed the low pressure to get the Southerly winds. Thomas did the same but was less lucky and lost a
few miles. I was also lucky that the two ahead were stuck by a little ridge.'

In the second group of four boats, Marc Thiercelin (Active Wear) has taken the most Northerly option and
should thus reach first the new low pressure arriving from New Zealand. He is heading North East to try and
get into good following winds. In comparison, the three leaders more to the South should see the centre of
this depression pass them to the North and hand them some less favourable wind for a more uncomfortable
point of sail. Thiercelin commented: 'I¹m counting on this system to come back on the leaders. I hope it¹s
my jackpot and I¹m lying in wait in these lighter airs knowing that soon I¹ll get going again.'

Dominique Wavre (Union Bancaire Privée) is in the same pack as Thiercelin, but this skipper, known for his
weather strategy, lies in the South West of the playing field, and like Whirlpool & Sodebo, is nearly
becalmed. Bernard Gallay (Voilà.fr), has also been yearning for stronger weather to arrive. 'I remember much
harder conditions in the Indian Ocean 8 years ago. It¹s comfortable sailing, ten days of moderate North
Westerly winds but it¹s costing me dearly ­ Josh Hall has taken 500 miles.' He has even been surpassed in
the rankings by the leading Open 50 VM Materiaux, the Œyellow boat¹ skippered by Patrice Carpentier.

Indeed, the one skipper not complaining of the lack of muscling conditions is Brit Josh Hall (EBP-Gartmore),
who was just yesterday still in 40 knots, albeit on an uncomfortable angle, escaping from the chasing high
pressure, and consequently gaining on everyone ahead. 'I have been pushing to stay in this air stream
since Christmas Eve. We are travelling east at nearly the same speed as the system but an embedded cold
front is really kicking my ass'.

The other Brit profiting from the weather situation is Mike Golding (Team Group 4), who was briefly reported
to be feeling very motivated with the news of the boats slowing ahead. He is cracking along at nearly 15
knots and sorting out the technical problems with his water-maker and generator.

Thierry Dubois (Solidaires) is due to reach Bluff, New Zealand, at 0800 hrs (NZ time) on the 31st December,
and all his replacement parts have arrived in time for his stop-over to remain within its 48 hour time frame.
The Race HQ has not communicated an updated ranking for Russian Fedor Konyoukhov, as his positioning
beacon has not been located by Argos in the last 24 hours. As soon as we receive his position we will
update the official website at http://www.vendeeglobe.com.

Radio Chat Extracts

Patrice Carpentier (VM Matériaux) : 'I¹ve had the spinnaker up 3 times in the last 12 hours! The wind¹s risen
to 25 knots and coming from a favourable angle. I¹ve been able to put 1 reef in the main even. I¹m racing,
here, as if I was in the Trades! Tomorrow night I¹ll be halfway, and I never thought I¹d be to the South of
Tasmania after 50 days at sea.'

Bernard Gallay (Voila.fr) : 'In 6 ­ 7 days I¹ve covered 600 or 700 miles. With Patrice we¹ve come to a halt here
in a wind hole. I have a very high atmospheric pressure and it¹s rising. I remember much harder conditions in
the Indian Ocean 8 years ago. It¹s comfortable sailing, ten days of North Westerly winds but it¹s costing me
dearly ­ Josh Hall has taken 500 miles.'

Dominique Wavre (Union Bancaire Privée) : 'I¹ve been in these light airs for nearly 24 hours. With Sodebo
& Whirlpool, we¹ve kind of hit a brick wall. I can¹t see the situation reversing. I was expecting to see the
situation invert but Kingfisher has really come out of it on top! It¹s hard work navigating like this, helming
manually for long periods of time to gain just a fraction of a knot. I¹m going at 3.8 knots right now, about to
be totally becalmed!'

Marc Thiercelin (Active Wear) : 'I am in a dead wind zone at the moment but I knew it would be like that. I
passed on the other side of the wall, at 180°, last night. Now I have better hope as there is a low pressure
coming from New Zealand, it¹s my joker card. As I am the one the furthest in the North I should be the first
to touch the wind and in the right direction. Ellen has stolen more miles again! Next year I will turn into a girl
and change my boat. I have sixty DVD movies, I just miss the pop corn and the ice cream! I read a lot, write
my chronicles. Are they just pulling their ropes ahead?'

Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) : 'I am heading East in15 knots. As the conditions were good, I went up the
mast. The boat is in good state, I have already broken three sails, so I must be careful with the ones left. I
chose the good option, I have followed the low pressure to get the Southerly winds. Thomas did the same
but was less lucky and lost a few miles. Marc went further North. I was also lucky that the two ahead were
stuck by a little ridge. They have the wind from behind which means less power. For New Year I have a
bottle of Champagne onboard, and I am going to eat some beans, very English! It¹s still better than freeze
dried food, and it will be a change!'


Latest Ranking* polled at 1000hrs (UT):

Psn Boat Skipper Lat Long Headg Av. Speed** DTF*** Miles from leader
1 PRB Michel Desjoyeaux 53°37'S 166°05'W 57 13.7 10398 0
2 Sill Matines & La Potagère Roland Jourdain 54°07'S 169°39'W 91 10.2 10510 112
3 Kingfisher Ellen MacArthur 54°00'S 171°07'W 102 12.7 10561 163
4 Active Wear Marc Thiercelin 52°10'S 179°20'W 57 3.98 10874 476
5 Sodebo Savourons la Vie Thomas Coville 54°12'S 171°33'E 92 6.7 11119 721
6 Union Bancaire Privée Dominique Wavre 53°45'S 169°02'E 71 8.45 11193 795
7 Whirlpool Catherine Chabaud 53°18'S 167°29'E 98 7.38 11273 875
8 Solidaires Thierry Dubois 47°45'S 163°17'E 73 14.1 11566 1168
9 EBP - Défi PME - Gartmore Josh Hall 49°43'S 160°41'E 94 13.7 11588 1190
10 VM Matériaux Patrice Carpentier 52°44'S 138°49'E 95 11.5 12222 1824
11 Aquitaine Innovations Yves Parlier 51°49'S 138°46'E 89 8.37 12248 1850
12 Voilà.fr Bernard Gallay 51°40'S 138°56'E 104 10.7 12248 1850
13 Nord Pas de Calais - Chocolats du Monde Joe Seeten 54°24'S 128°50'E 83 10 12519 2121
14 Team Group 4 Mike Golding 50°42'S 112°21'E 89 14.9 13162 2764
15 Aquarelle.com Simone Bianchetti 47°26'S 109°13'E 99 9.95 13367 2969
16 Wind Pasquale de Gregorio 46°05'S 80°08'E 88 9.86 14406 4008
17 Old Spice Javier San