Gitana Eighty still ahead but lead halved - Vendee

by Vendee Globe media/Various competitors on 15 Nov 2008
Consistent Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) has a steady night but sees his lead halved by Jean Le Cam (VM Materiaux) to 13.8 miles.

Third placed Seb Josse (BT) gains too as the leading group slows in lighter breezes. A noticeable gap develops after the top 10. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canda) has good first 24 hours. Dominique Wavre, SUI, ( Temenos II) gains another place, quickest of his immediate rivals to lie 15th.

If there is ever a time and opportunity to rest then maybe the leading Vendee Globe skippers are seeing this as the time to seize a spell of slightly lighter winds to recharge their very depleted energy and sleep reserves. From typical trade wind conditions they are back in 11-13 knot breezes, boat speeds reined back from 18-20 knot bursts yesterday to a more moderate 13-15 knots this morning.

Peyron’s lead may be halved but his average speed overnight is still strong, but Le Cam still keeps up his threat. Third placed Seb Josse (BT) has also gained overnight against the leader, making up nearly eight miles to lie 22.8 miles behind. The product of several different reasons perhaps, a gap of nearly 80 miles has opened between 10th Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) and 11th, Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar). 2004 winner Vincent Riou (PRB) is making places, up to fifth, and shaking off Armel Le Cleac’h (Brit Air) who has slipper to eighth.

This pair were only 1.5 miles apart 24 hours ago Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) has another good night and makes a gain of about 10 miles overnight on Peyron, lying 10th. Switzerland’s Dominic Wavre (Temenos II) is still working his way steadily up the fleet, rising a place overnight to 15th, and is hot in the wake of Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY). Davies also gained one position on the ranking overnight and is 12th. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) has made good straight line speed in moderate, favourable winds since restarting yesterday, and is 120 miles from Cape Finisterre this morning.

Standings at 0500GMT, Day 6.

1- Loick Peyron (FRA), Gitana Eighty, 22064.4 miles to finish.
2- Jean Le Cam (FRA), VM Materiaux +13.8 miles.
3- Seb Josse (FRA), BT +22.8 miles.
4- Jean Pierre Dick (FRA), Paprec Virbarc 2 + 51 miles.
5- Yann Elies (FRA), Generali, + 52 miles.

Selected international:

10- Mike Golding (GBR), ECOVER 3, + 77.3 miles
12- Brian Thompson (GBR), Bahrain Team Pindar, + 168.3 miles.
13- Sam Davies (GBR), ROXY, + 190.6 miles.
15- Dominique Wavre (SUI), Temenos II, +228.2 miles
16- Dee Caffari (GBR), AVIVA, + 236.1 miles.
17- Steve White (GBR), Toe in the Water, + 309.3 miles.
18- Jonny Malbon (GBR), Artemis, + 356.9 miles.
20- Unai Basurko (ESP) + 413.2 miles.
21- Rich Wilson (USA), Great American III + 450.3 miles.

Boat Blogs.

Latest from Dee Caffari, received 14 November 2008 at 19H20: http://www.avivaoceanracing.com

'I have been really struggling with finding the right rhythm and pace for Aviva over the last couple of days. Too much sail I kept wiping out on my ear or only able to hand steer or I reduce sail and wallow in the huge waves that have been surfing us along. It has been strange, a huge sea state that blasts you forward at 20 knots or allows you to sink the depths of the craters the waves create. Trying different combinations has been tricky also as the wind speed is gusting as high as 27 knots or settling at just 15 knots.

I am not complaining just looking at awe of the speed the others are getting with their boats. I have promised Aviva that we will get there and she can go and play with everyone again, until then we shall concentrate on getting past the Canaries and at least staying in touch with the leading pack. I am still pleased to even be on the same chart area as them without having to pan out too much still.

Annoyed with my frustration I set about fixing my staysail that was damaged on night two. That led to all sorts of tools and equipment being used, as I needed to recover the batten end from the broken batten to put on my new cut to size job. However it was not budging and needed cutting off and being drilled out. So now it is dark and I am still not there yet but I am covered in carbon dust and when I do need to fly it again I shall be very pleased.'

Dee Caffari and Aviva

Day 5 onboard Roxy in the Vendée Globe – Sam Davies’ daily log. An Oil-Free Day of Sail Changes,

'Hello everyone!

Finally, yesterday, I cleaned up the oil! Hooray! It took me 5 hours, three special oil absorber sheets, half a bottle of washing up liquid and a lot of elbow grease - it's still not perfect, but I'm happy. Not too much damage to the spares (except the mess). It's still a bit slippery, but I will be careful.

Today is the day of sail changes! With the wind between 10 and 30 knots, I have been changing between Gennaker + full main, all the way down to solent + 2 reefs. It’s pretty tiring, so I am trying to find a compromise between course, speed and sail configuration to economise energy and not lose speed with a pointless manoeuvre. At some points Roxy was doing 22+ knots, which appeared to terrify Pierre Louis on the radio vacation! I took his advice and calmed things down a little as it was a bit fruity at the time!

I have also managed to stick up all my cards and photos that I received before the start, so Roxy is looking more homely than ever. I even have a four leafed clover stuck on my dashboard too - merci Nico!

Lucky (my lucky duck) and Foxy (my lucky pink flamingo) are finding their sea legs and have returned to their normal spot on my chart table. They rapidly took cover at the bottom of a gear bag for the first two days to avoid any flying around during the storms; I don't think they realise they are birds!

Sam x'

At 1600 UK time, Sam Davies aboard Roxy was in 14th position. www.roxysailing.com or www.samdavies.com

Message from Dominique Wavre (Temenos).

'Fine night, choppy to begin with, but steady trade wind with a moon lighting the way. Broad reaching with automatic pilot and big gennaker. I start to snooze, keeping one eye on the dials, as frequently surfing at 20-22 knots, and heeling over occasionally.

'All of a sudden the pilot alarm went off. I rushed outside and saw we were broaching. I leapt to the helm without my foul weather gear on, with tons of water crashing down. We were under gennaker (300 m2), staysail and mainsail and heeled over at 50°. I turned the alarm off and bore away and to my surprise, Temenos righted herself. We were still sailing quickly and the leeward rudder stayed in the water.

'Got the boat back on track and put the pilot back on and it seemed to work....Hurried back inside to start up the engine to charge the batteries, as sometimes the problem can be electrical (I'm a bit wary after the problem at the start). I stayed up for a couple of hours and all seems well. Waiting to see whether pushing the boat so hard has paid off and whether I've narrowed the gap.'

Message from Arnaud Boissières aboard Akena Vérandas:

'Hi, Who's stolen my washing up liquid? I did a spot of advertising for the verandas in the Canaries; I didn't hang around, but I'm sure the message was understood. In any case, very busy on board and very little sleep…'

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