After a brutal 48 hours of tough, unstable conditions, big, untidy seas and winds which varied massively in strength, Mike Golding is consolidating this morning in slightly lighter winds making 13-14kts as he tries all he can to stay in touch with the leading group of five on the Vendée Globe.
His primary objective has been to stay in the same weather system as the leaders who are about 400 miles to the west of the Crozet ice gate, while Golding is now some 530 miles behind the leading boat, Banque Populaire and 360 miles behind Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss. But a high pressure ridge has started to catch Golding and his immediate rivals, seventh placed Jean Le Cam and eighth Dominique Wavre and so their speeds have dropped and there is a real risk that they will continue to lose miles to the leading group. A high pressure is building ahead of them but the evolution is not clear how much that will affect them.
Alex Thomson :"I will be happy when things will calm down a little"
Day 25 – "I was surrounded by black clouds for much of the night with wind from 10 knots to 30 and varying in direction by up to 50 degrees. I thought i would have lost some miles but it seems that i had better wind still than those to the north and those to the east of me. Wind is back up to 25-30 knots and the boat is moving around violently in big uneven waves.
Last night the wind direction indicator on the anemometer at the top of the mast broke and the boat Chinese gybed, fortunately i was not in a 30 knot gust and i was awake so I was able to sort the situation quickly and without breaking anything. I would like to start working again on the hydro generator but it is impossible to stand up at present let alone wield a screw driver
It is a very stressful environment onboard and although I am happy the speed is up I will be happy when things will calm down a little"
Alex
From : Mike Golding and Alex Thomson
Credit : M.Golding/Gamesa
His primary objective has been to stay in the same weather system as the leaders who are about 400 miles to the west of the Crozet ice gate, while Golding is now some 530 miles behind the leading boat, Banque Populaire and 360 miles behind Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss. But a high pressure ridge has started to catch Golding and his immediate rivals, seventh placed Jean Le Cam and eighth Dominique Wavre and so their speeds have dropped and there is a real risk that they will continue to lose miles to the leading group. A high pressure is building ahead of them but the evolution is not clear how much that will affect them.
Alex Thomson :"I will be happy when things will calm down a little"
Day 25 – "I was surrounded by black clouds for much of the night with wind from 10 knots to 30 and varying in direction by up to 50 degrees. I thought i would have lost some miles but it seems that i had better wind still than those to the north and those to the east of me. Wind is back up to 25-30 knots and the boat is moving around violently in big uneven waves.
Last night the wind direction indicator on the anemometer at the top of the mast broke and the boat Chinese gybed, fortunately i was not in a 30 knot gust and i was awake so I was able to sort the situation quickly and without breaking anything. I would like to start working again on the hydro generator but it is impossible to stand up at present let alone wield a screw driver
It is a very stressful environment onboard and although I am happy the speed is up I will be happy when things will calm down a little"
Alex
From : Mike Golding and Alex Thomson
