Peyron leads as fleet slows into the Doldrums

by Vendee Globe media on 19 Nov 2008
As the Vendée Globe fleet slow into the Doldrums the top six boats are within 100 miles of each other but, with a steady margin of 38.4 miles, it is Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) who leads by nearly 40 miles.

The leading group of eight are within 100 miles of the leader, all making around 10-12 knots. Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) lies eighth, 109.6 miles behind Peyron. Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos II) is 11th. 2004 course record to the Equator, 500 miles south, will stay intact.

With the fleet making south towards their preferred Doldrums crossing corridor, Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) maintains his supremacy, keeping a cushion of around 40 miles between himself and Sébastien Josse (BT), with Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) making a small, 8 miles gain overnight in third place. In fifth place, 72.6 miles behind, Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) will be only too aware that after contrary conditions in the Bay of Biscay and the slow going now, that his 2004 record to the Equator, 10 days, 11 hours, 28 minutes – will not be broken.

The leader would need to cross by 00:30 hrs tonight. As the fleet head into the Doldrums – described yesterday by skippers as ‘messy’ and ‘uncertain’ – Peyron has shown consistent speed across the wind conditions and had played out a meticulous strategy, but even he has been admitting that the weather computer models and imagery do not correspond. Today the skippers will start to experience some of the extremes of the Doldrums, spells of calm one minute and 40 knots squalls and torrential rain the next.

After taking a ‘hit’ to make west Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) has stabilized at 109 miles from Peyron in ninth place, 32 miles ahead of Roland ‘Bilou’ Jourdain. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) has passed her main rival Arnaud Boissieres (Akena Verandas) to hold 12th. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) took a long westerly to try and re-gain some miles and lies 14th. After re-starting five days ago Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Cheminées Poujoulat) was passing the Canary Islands last night.

News from the boats:

Vincent Riou (PRB) - 'The good news is the bunching up of the leaders in the fleet. As far as the Doldrums are concerned, it's too early to draw any conclusions. As always, it's going to be a game of poker. The only rational analysis you can make about this zone is to say that by being out to the west, you run fewer risks. But for everything else, it's largely down to luck.'

Message received from Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia, 18th) at 1h00 this morning: 'Going through the islands in about an hour from now. Lots of waves up to fifteen miles upwind of the islands. It's strange, as I hadn't noticed it, but it's warm.

You imagine that it's going to be sunny all day long and ideal for sunbathing, but in fact, it's not at all like that. It's cloudy throughout the day, but for two days now the skies have cleared at night, which has allowed me to appreciate my mentor, Orion the hunter, who's looking down on me. He may be a hunter, but he doesn't have a gun or sword. The close combat stuff with a sword is for later, I hope...'

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat), 24th, 1173 miles from the leader.
'Hi, News from Cheminées Poujoulat. Things are going rather well. I'm taking advantage of a decent NE'ly flow to make good progress. I'm starting to see some squalls. The air is much more unstable and there are a lot of sail changes and trimming to do.

Each time I can, depending on the wind oscillations, I gybe to head a little further west, as I move southwards. The sea is a bit choppy with some short waves. But I think the wind is likely to ease off. The high speed sailing is over and it will be much quieter. I haven't yet seen any flying fish and the moon is just disappearing.

I think we're lucky, as it will be back with us as we enter the Indian, when we really need it. Having some problems with the video system, which isn't working now. Think it comes from when we removing the mast and restepping it back in Les Sables. I hope to be able to see what's wrong. There's also something with the camera,as the battery charger has a bug. I'll sort it later on and hope to be taking pictures and filming as soon s possible.
Enjoy the rest of the night.'

Standings at 0500GMT, Day 9
1- Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) 21,211.2 to the finish
2-Seb Josse (BT) at + 38.4 miles to leader
3- Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) at + 47.3 miles to leader
4- Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) at + 54.3 miles to leader
5- Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at + 72.6 miles to

Selected international:
7- Mike Golding, GBR, (ECOVER 3) at + 98.1 miles
11- Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) at + 239.5
12- Sam Davies, GBR,(ROXY) at + 253.6 miles
13- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 284.3 miles
16- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 366.4 miles
17- Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 432.4 miles
19- Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 465.6 miles
20- Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) at + 556.8 miles
21- Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) at + 575.1 miles