Windsurfer headed for the home straight

by Event Media on 2 Jun 2006 As of this morning, Rodrigue Island is behind the lady windsurfer, and now her target is Reunion Island. She's entering the final straight but she isn't quite there yet.

During the link-up on Tuesday 30th May, Raphaëla had a surprise when she saw the Mauritius Island Coast Guards fly over her surfboard. 'I didn't have any wind, and I had even had to stop sailing early. Then I heard an unusual sound and after a quick look around, I noticed a plane coming right at me. It wasn't flying very high and it started circling around. So I called them up on the VHF radio and we had a chat. It was really nice. They told me that they were taking photos. It was quite strange, because so unexpected.' We received a message from Commander Negi this morning on Raphaëla's Internet site saying that they had flown over at 3.57 p.m. when she was located at 20 54.55 N, 064 49.8E. The message mentioned they had found Raphaëla in good spirits and said they were available if needed. Below are the first photos of the crossing, taken by the Mauritian Coast Guard crew:

The patrol boat 'La Rieuse' commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ouk cast off its moorings yesterday (Wednesday) at 6 a.m. from the naval base at Le Port (on the west of the island). After sailing rapidly eastwards, they came close to Raphaëla's board this morning at 8.45 a.m. (10.45 a.m. Reunion Island time). The crew had some difficulty finding the lady windsurfer in spite of the Argos positions that they were sent regularly. Cyril Ducrot, on board, tells us via the Iridium phone, 'We were about 100 metres from her before we detected her. She's really a small speck on the sea, especially from our patrol boat, only 56 metres long. Lieutenant Commander Ouk had a semi-rigid craft put in the water so we could get close to her surfboard without any danger. We were accompanied by three members of the French navy, with the cameraman and myself. I was able to recover the videocassettes that Raphaëla had prepared. What was surprising is that she was wet through, because just before we arrived, while she was getting ready to rig her mast, her sail had fallen in the water. She had to jump in so as not to lose it since the sail wasn't fixed to anything. In any case, I found she was more or less on form, and didn't look too thin. It was a really emotional moment.' The patrol boat remained there about 45 minutes then returned to Reunion Island, leaving the lady windsurfer alone with her emotions.

Passing Rodrigue Island is also an important moment for Raphaëla, located this morning 430 nautical miles from the finish. It is an island that the Reunion Islanders know very well, since it is so close. This also means that the major part of the crossing is behind Raphaëla, even if she says that she never looks in the rear-view mirror. Of course, she isn't quite there yet and the Breton lady knows this only too well. She is obsessed with retaining her concentration and won't take any risks. That is what she said to Patrick Le Lay (Director of TF1 television) and to Valérie Bernis (executive vice president of SUEZ) yesterday evening, during the phone link. Knowing that the two main partners were sitting round the table at Race HQ at Radio France, made Raphaëla very happy, as she imagined their respective work schedules. Their presence there proves their strong commitment to her venture.

At this very moment, Raphaëla is tackling the last nautical miles of her crossing. We'd love to say it's already over, but that really isn't true. She is in fact tackling the most delicate part of her crossing, for several reasons.

The first reason is meteorological; the trade winds have not yet completely set in, in the Southeast sector and she will have to do some zigzagging to reach Reunion Island. The current wind direction does not allow her to take a direct westerly route all the time. She is changing between Southeast and Northeast. So she has to gybe, that is, move at very precise moments from one tack with the wind astern, to the other tack, in order to keep an average heading towards the finishing zone, off Saint-Denis. She mustn't be too far south, or she risks not being able to head towards Reunion Island. To the North, she is blocked by Mauritius Island and the dangers of coastal navigation.

There are strategic and other reasons too. But the router has to take them into account. For example, there is the physical fatigue that is telling on her more and more, and that will be even more present as she wakes up during the night-time to ensure the right heading. There is also an increase in maritime traffic and therefore risks of collision. For even though she is equipped with a system enabling her to signal her presence to other craft, watching with her eyes remains the best anti-collision system. Her slalom began last night and should continue until the finishing line.

RACE HQ: It is Sustainable Development Week and, in this context, Raphaëla wished to dedicate the phone link to this subject today. Organized by Eric le Gouvello (EDAXIS), the people in charge of Sustainable Development with some of our partners, Stéphane Quéré (SUEZ) and Hélène Valade (LYONNAISE DES EAUX), will be among those present.

The crossing - today's figures (8 a.m. French time):
Length of the direct route: 3300 nautical miles (6111 km)
Distance covered since departure: 2838 nautical miles (5255 km)
Distance left to cover: 430 nautical miles
ETA (Estimate Time of Arrival) at Reunion Island: around 8 June (depending on future weather)


www.raphaela-legouvello.com

Town of arrival on Reunion Island: Le Port (Pointe des Galets) (opposite the town of Saint Denis – fictitious North-South line; materialized by the patrol boat 'La Rieuse' positioned north of the Prefecture).