Istanbul Europa Race- Estrella Damm Sailing Team 1876 ready to attack

by Estrella Damm Sailing Team Media on 3 Sep 2009 Estrella Damm Sailing Team is currently half-way between Istanbul and Nice, and with less than 800 miles before the finish of the first leg, Guillermo Altadill and Pachi Rivero’s team can afford to be optimistic.

According to this morning’s 10.00 CET position report, Estrella Damm is in second place only 27.1 miles from Kito de Pavant’s Groupe Bel. The battle with Michel Desjoyeaux’s Foncia continues, although Rivero and Altadill have defended their position well over the last few hours.

As per predictions, a large area of high pressure, an anti-cyclone ‘bubble’ meant a night of total calm for the boats at the front of the fleet, that had to contend with barely 3 knots of wind.

However Estrella Damm is well-positioned to benefit from their efforts and tactics of staying further south.

Pachi Rivero described conditions overnight as ‘incredibly calm’, meaning an even greater effort for the crew to gain as much as possible out of the boat and recover every possible mile, although it has proven to pay off: the Spanish boat gained 16 miles in the last 12 hours, an average of less than a knot and a half to gain as much as a non-existent breeze would allow.

The huge effort has allowed Estrella Damm to maintain their exceptional position in the fleet as they wait for the downwind sailing that will take them north.

“So far things are going really well for us, “continued Rivero, “although Paprec-Virbac seems to have had better speed during the night.”

Jean-Pierre Dick’s team is the only boat that has stayed further south than Estrella Damm and Foncia, caught in a head-to-head battle since the start of the leg in Istanbul, and has managed to recover distance over night.

However Rivero was optimistic with the conditions this morning: “We have to continue as we are for now, and see how things work out in the south of Italy, which could be quite decisive for the finish. We seem to be making the same speed now as Paprec-Virbac which is reassuring, but we cannot take anything for granted. We are the two boats that have been closest so far this race, both of us have been ahead at different times. Right now is obviously a good time to be in front,” he explained.

The Spanish skipper is well aware that the ensuing battle with Desjoyeaux’s boat is ‘dangerous’ and risks other attacks from the rest of the fleet, such as Paprec-Virbac that has had greater speed, but he remains optimistic,

“They are also taking more risks than us. If everything goes well we can expect to gain distance on them in the next few hours.”

The Estrella Damm Sailing Team navigator Wouter Verbraak was also positive, “Things seem be going OK for us, “ said the Dutchman, “the last position report was good, although we haven’t been able to control some of our rivals as they are sailing in with different wind,” he explained.

“Last night we had very little wind and didn’t sleep at all. We were sailing in only 1.5 to 3 knots, but in the last couple of hours we have found a little more pressure. We are very happy with our position and hoping now to pick up more wind. We still have to be careful as both Groupe Bel and Veolia are in a totally different system to us and we can’t control them. The next 12 hours are going to be crucial. The new wind is going to mean we can increasingly gain speed.”

Moreover it is not only the team’s position that is a cause for optimism, according to the navigator, “the atmosphere on board is fantastic.”

The fleet is expected to arrive in Barcelona on Thursday 10th September. The Barcelona Trophy will be held just outside the port on Saturday 12thSeptember, and Monday 14 th September will see the start of the final 1750 mile leg between Barcelona and Brest; with an expected arrival at the French port on 23rd September.

Estrella Damm Sailing Team website: http://www.estrelladammsailingteam.es

Event website: http://www.istanbuleuroparace.com