Kingfisher update - extremely wet and bumpy onboard

by Kingfisher Challenges on 22 Aug 2001 * Conditions in the EDS Atlantic Challenge have continued to produce yet
more 400+ mile days - extremely wet and bumpy onboard. 'We're now soaked
through to the skin from the continuous firehouse pounding we're getting on
deck' explained Nick Moloney at the morning call in.

* FILA has grown her lead (24 miles on ECOVER at 0440 GMT), with incredibly
ECOVER and KINGFISHER actually sailing in view of each other for much of
yesterday.

* Navigator Adrienne Cahalan explained their thoughts on KINGFISHER as to
how hard to push...'We've struggled to match ECOVER's speed in these
conditions, so yesterday we decided to throttle back a few tenths to save
the boat that last bit of pounding. We want to try to stay within 10 miles
of Mike - this race is probably going to restart when we drop out of these
winds on the approach to the English Channel'

* Onboard KINGFISHER they have experienced winds from 22 to 35
knots...'we've used just about every combination of the sail inventory in
the past 24 hours...its exhausting sailing...but the way we like it!'

* Relief comes once a day...sunrise brings visibility and the helmsman can
once again see the waves. Driving hard in the pitch black in these
conditions is extremely difficult. Nick - 'Everything seemed harder during
the night, thankfully we survived unscathed, but its great to be able to see
when the water is going to come pouring across the deck at you. Its pretty
brutal sometimes!'

* Ellen is now at sea with Alain Gautier onboard FONCIA-KINGFISHER, his 60
foot trimaran. The two of them are sailing their qualifier for the Transat
Jacques Vabre race...and they are heading out towards the EDS fleet...

* See images sent direct from KINGFISHER this morning at http://www.kingfisherchallenges.com
DIRECT FROM KINGFISHER THIS MORNING

Time GMT : 1:38:07
Position 48° 21.8N 027° 10.8W
Heading/speed 81 18.37
Wind from 315 at 27.8 knots
Sail configuration is 2nd reef Solent

Since the boys are so wet, they are banned from the nav station so I
have put together a compilation of their thoughts on the current conditions
out here. Bear in mind that the navigator only goes on deck from time to
time for manoeuvres and to bark some orders about the course (sensible eh?)
so I can not fully describe the long hours on the helm, soaking wet in the
cold sailing at speeds of over 20kts constantly covered in spray. I almost
feel sorry for them when they come down from each watch - almost.

>From the crew :

- Nick says 'there are six balls of spray tearing across a broken ocean' (He
means the six entries and don't worry readers we have since given him some
medication)

- Herve the crazy Frenchman thinks 'its bloody wet mate but funny too' (glad
he thinks so) 'if it wasn't soaking wet all the time'.

- Youngster's comment went like this 'A comment? I don't really have one but
Its like being strapped to a mechanical bull at a rodeo and hosed by a
firehose all at once'. I later took him aside and questioned him about this
and it came out that he has a past life we didn't know about.
And lastly

- Brian who is currently on the helm swinging it down at 25kts in
30kts of wind (what a guy!) ' Well (Youngster relayed) he started to talk
about cross seas creating the perfect wind cycle for the driver'. It
sounds like it is probably about time we gave old Brian a break from
driving.

So that's it from here mid Atlantic, everyone is in good spirits enjoying
this type of fantastic ride that only comes with blue water sailing and the
gang are looking forward more than ever to some French hospitality.

Adrienne for the Kingfisher team out here.

Position updated at :
http://www.edsatlanticchallenge.com/en/default.asp?pg=/en/viewer/raceviewer.htm
For further information on the race visit http://www.edsatlanticchallenge.com

POSITIONS : 21st August 2001, 08:06 GMT

1 FILA, Andrea Scarabelli, 867 miles from the Finish
2 Ecover, Mike Golding, 25 miles behind leader.
3 Kingfisher , Ellen MacArthur / Nick Moloney, 32 miles behind leader.
4 Sill Plein Fruit, Roland Jourdain / Gael Le'Cleach, 129 miles behind leader.
5 Gartmore, Josh Hall, 294 miles behind the leader
6 Alpha Graphics, Helena Darvelid, 615 miles behind leader.

Not Racing
La Rage de Vivre, Loic Pochet / Patrick Tabarly

LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING: The great circle route.
The great circle route is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of the Earth. As a general rule, a straight line is the shortest distance between two points on a flat surfaceŠ But this rule doesn't apply to the Earth which is 'round'. Therefore at sea, sailors must take into account several factors to reach their 'waypoint' or destination. The speed of the boat, the changes in the weather, the currents, the direction of the wind, and so onŠ just some of the parameters that help sailors adapt their tactics. For the fifth leg of the EDS Atlantic Challenge for example, the 60 footers like Kingfisher use the Gulf Stream, a warm current, like a natural 'conveyor belt' to EuropeŠ To do this, they first had to descend down south away from the direct route.

Regular updates at http://www.kingfisherchallenges.com
Official race site http://www.edsatlanticchallenge.com

'Sailing towards the English Channel.
In the UK Kingfisher plc are represented by
Comet http://www.comet.co.uk for Electrical
B&Q http://www.bandq.co.uk for DIY