More Supplies Transfered
Samsung successfully transferred medical supplies to Imagine It. Done and has continued racing
Helicopter medivac now looking likely on Imagine It. Done
Gale force winds predicted for the yacht to further complicate matters
BG SPIRIT moves into second place
Conference call takes place between Mike Golding aboard the Vendee Globe, Stuart Jackson aboard Barclays Adventurer and Sir Chay Blyth
News in full:
Samsung has successfully diverted her course to provide Imagine It. Done with vital medical supplies for John Masters the second yacht to divert for the medical emergency. Matt Riddell and his crew aboard Samsung are now back and racing, eager to make up the lost miles, but relieved to have helped out a fellow competitor.
Imagine It. Done is currently 420 miles away from their Chatham Islands destination, which they should reach by Saturday. However, race organisers are working with the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand, every step of the way, and it looks like a Medivac (helicopter lift from the yacht) looks like the most favorable option, at present.
The wind is forecast to strengthen to gale force winds over the next few hours and shift to the northwest making for potentially rough, dead upwind sailing.
Although Imagine it. Done is currently motorsailing, once the winds rise to gale force the motor is no longer effective and they will make best speed under sail.
In other areas of the race, having seen some close-quarters racing for much of this leg, things are starting to change in the fleet - and the most striking move overnight has been from BG SPIRIT, which has overtaken BP Explorer to move into 2nd place behind Spirit of Sark.
In the past 12 hours BG SPIRIT has made an impressive 15 mile gain on the leaders and there is now only 4 miles between them and leading boat Spirit of Sark. Not surprisingly, they have also recorded the highest 24 hour run of 201 miles and have maintained the highest speed of 8.4 knots in the fleet during the same period.
Meanwhile the mid-fleet pack (Me To You, VAIO, SAIC La Jolla and Barclays Adventurer) currently lying to the south of the leading yachts have their own fight on their hands - with each other and the weather. Many of the teams have been experiencing gale force conditions with wind speeds upwards of 40 knots.
Fully-reefed mains, Yankee 3s, storm staysails and of course plenty of water over the decks seem to be the order of the day. The competition is still fierce as Ben Beasley, Crew Volunteer aboard VAIO, comments, “around 5 days to go and weather watching from faxes is hotting up…as always the leg remains very tight and there’s all to play for!”
Today also saw a very interesting conference call between Stuart Jackson, skipper of Barclays Adventurer (youngest skipper and winner of Leg 1 of the Global Challenge) and Mike Golding, veteran skipper of the Global Challenge and currently lying 3rd place in the Vendee Globe. Joining them on the call was Sir Chay Blyth who shared his experience of extreme Southern Ocean sailing.
Quotes from the boats:
David Melville, BP Explorer:
”BG have done well to position themselves to the north - and we grit our teeth as we see them pass us earlier today. The boat is hard on the wind and we are working hard to maximise boat speed and catch up with the leaders.”
Amadeo Sorrentino, VAIO:
”We are currently on starboard tack sailing at maximum speed in gale force conditions south of great circle route to cross a frontal system. We want to take advantage of the winds behind it to carry us to NZ.”
Loz Marriott, Pindar:
”The tactics have paid off so far - going slightly north for this wind shift, that takes us back to the Rhumb line…On the outlook for the weather there seems to be a low moving towards us which will give us some westerly winds then south westerly potentially going south …This would be great since we would tack on the shift then follow the lift with the rhumb line directly to Wellington.
“The wind at the moment is slowly coming round to the west so it’s just a matter of when do we take the hit? Just before the shift or after it? The problem is that there is a large cold front heading towards us which could also produce very strong winds and if we went now we could be out of its path but we would take a negative vmg hit for a few hours which is not good…”
Clive Cosby, Team Stelmar
”Best speed to Wellington, as always. Storm on horizon, which we will try to avoid tacking into the heart of. We have developed a chart to track speed - time - distance, to keep an eye on getting to Wellington by 21st; though currently making good speed more or less in the right direction. Wind up, 1st reef is next possibility.”
Stuart Jackson, Barclays:
”The worst of the weather in association with the low to the south seems to have passed, the front seems to have just passed through so we are expecting the wind to ease off and come more northerly. We have just tacked to try and make some ground north as there is no clear making tack and it doesn’t look like any SW winds are due soon. It’s definitely more favourable to be north but being south we shall have to hope for some unexpected weather!”
Eero Lehtinen, SAIC La Jolla:
”Have tacked to port two hours ago. Due to current and bad seas not doing very good progress on this tack, but have to go north to avoid a light patch coming from west. Also might be wise to get between Barclays and Wellington before it’s too late. Still hanging on to Me to You and VAIO, now we might lose to them quite a bit if they continue on starboard, but hopefully this pays back later.
“Guys in north doing very well, some light winds coming still before finish, might give one more chance for us to catch up… but it’s all looking a bit desperate just now. The medivac and associated medical assistance so far from Kids and Samsung are unfortunately confusing the race situation. But we all hope John on Imagine it. Done. will have a safe trip to hospital and are ready to assist if needed.”
Fleet positions:
Distance to finish:
Spirit of Sark 724
BG SPIRIT 728
BP Explorer 737
Me to You 809
VAIO 812
SAIC La Jolla 834
Barclays Adventurer 854
Imagine It. Done 865
Team Save the Children 878
Samsung 887
Pindar 1,010
Team Stelmar 3,188
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