Vincent Riou on PRB retains his lead at around 18 miles this morning with around 650 miles to sail to the famous Fastnet Rock light, but it is Bernard Stamm on Cheminées Poujoulat which has revelled in the strong downwind conditions, but it is extremely close between St
Stamm has been sailing a lower course and is making slightly better more direct miles towards the mark, but that is all that is in it between these two.
It has been a long night, lived at an intense rhythm. Macif has been slightly slower as skipper Francois Gabart admits this morning. He has lost 14 miles on PRB overnight, lying fourth now. Without doubt the retiral of Jean-Pierre Dick and Kito de Pacant will nag at the minds at some of the skippers. Any serious damage at this stage can compromise the Vendée Globe preparations. And that is what life is dedicated to 100% at the moment.
Winds are around 22-25kts from the SSW and the leading duo are staying slightly high of course to live with the band of strongest wind pressure for longest. To the west and east it is four or five knots lighter.
Current estimates have the leaders at Fastnet at around 20h tomorrow night.
As Francois Gabart notes in his mail this morning: “Wow we are going some. The conditions are really great to go fast and have been since the Azores. If I was being pedantic I’d complain the sea if not so even, the wves are a bit disorganised and fast. But that’s just an observation, I’m not seriously complaining. In all of this we must find the best rhythm. I tried to keep it smooth, not to really press the boat too hard. I understand from the ranking this has not been enough I would have to press a bit harder. But then that is what the Warm’Up is about, to find the rhythm, where to set the level. Gradually I learn the boat and where to put the cursor.”
Kito de Pavant is about 200miles from Sao Miguel where his technical team are waiting. Jean-Pierre Dick should arrive in Cascais imminently.
31/05/2012 - 18h00
1 PRB Vincent Riou
2 Cheminées Poujoulat Bernard Stamm 9.5
3 Banque Populaire Armel Le Cléac'h 32.8
4 ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered Javier Sanso 249.0
5 MACIF François Gabart NL
Virbac-Paprec Jean-Pierre Dick Abandonment
Groupe Bel Kito de Pavant Abandonment
From : Europa Warm'Up
Credit : Macif
Stamm has been sailing a lower course and is making slightly better more direct miles towards the mark, but that is all that is in it between these two.
It has been a long night, lived at an intense rhythm. Macif has been slightly slower as skipper Francois Gabart admits this morning. He has lost 14 miles on PRB overnight, lying fourth now. Without doubt the retiral of Jean-Pierre Dick and Kito de Pacant will nag at the minds at some of the skippers. Any serious damage at this stage can compromise the Vendée Globe preparations. And that is what life is dedicated to 100% at the moment.
Winds are around 22-25kts from the SSW and the leading duo are staying slightly high of course to live with the band of strongest wind pressure for longest. To the west and east it is four or five knots lighter.
Current estimates have the leaders at Fastnet at around 20h tomorrow night.
As Francois Gabart notes in his mail this morning: “Wow we are going some. The conditions are really great to go fast and have been since the Azores. If I was being pedantic I’d complain the sea if not so even, the wves are a bit disorganised and fast. But that’s just an observation, I’m not seriously complaining. In all of this we must find the best rhythm. I tried to keep it smooth, not to really press the boat too hard. I understand from the ranking this has not been enough I would have to press a bit harder. But then that is what the Warm’Up is about, to find the rhythm, where to set the level. Gradually I learn the boat and where to put the cursor.”
Kito de Pavant is about 200miles from Sao Miguel where his technical team are waiting. Jean-Pierre Dick should arrive in Cascais imminently.
31/05/2012 - 18h00
1 PRB Vincent Riou
2 Cheminées Poujoulat Bernard Stamm 9.5
3 Banque Populaire Armel Le Cléac'h 32.8
4 ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered Javier Sanso 249.0
5 MACIF François Gabart NL
Virbac-Paprec Jean-Pierre Dick Abandonment
Groupe Bel Kito de Pavant Abandonment
From : Europa Warm'Up
