Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale 2010 Official Web site

On 16/11/2010

Conrad Colman, hampered by sail damage, battling on

Conrad Colman (NZL/40 Degrees): “It is a beautiful sunny day, calm conditions, not too bad at all. It is quite nice. I have more than a little catching up to do, but unfortunately I am down on power, the big problem is that I broke two very valuable sails, my AP reaching gennaker and also my big spinnaker. I did that very early on in the race and so I have been making do with what I have for most of the time and so I have been slower than the rest, and strategically I have been to the north and unable to get south. I spent three days putting the big kite together and it ripped somewhere else. So the original repair was on the luff and the foot and I used up all the material that I had to repair kites with, and then I put it up and a few hours after that it ripped down the leech, So that is irrepairable. I started this project a few months before the race and did not have an opportunity to buy new sails, and I am paying for it because the old stuff is breaking Strategically after the first week I was in a good position, the boat was in one piece and for a while I was feeling pretty confident about my ability to come down from the north and be up with the leaders. And so I think there was a good chance then of me still being in the top ten at this point. Whereas now mid-30’s it is quite difficult mentally, as well as physically after having done all those repairs because I have ended up in a position in the fleet that I don’t quite think I deserve. But that is ocean racing. I think it will be very difficult at this stage to come back because given my sail situation, and the boat, given the tools for the job I myself as a skipper think I am competitive, but that is life at the moment.” ALSO IN AUDIO SECTION >>>>

On 16/11/2010

Marco Nannini from radio vac today

e Marco Nannini (ITA/GBR, Unicredit); “ It has been varied, I made one big mistake going too near the high. I was in about tenth position and that cost me a lot. Since then it has been very challenging because the weather conditions have been confused, and so it is very rare to have more than a few hours of the same conditions, and so it is continually stack-unstack, ballast-unballast, reef-unreef, and change course, so it is very, very challenging to keep the boat speed up. As a person at the moment I feel fantastic, not a care in the world. (audio is in audio section)

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On 16/11/2010

Pete Goss from vacs today

Pete Goss (GBR, DMS): “ We are tootling along nicely on the good ship DMS, we could do with a little more wind but that has often been the case lately but I am having a great time, I have really enjoyed it so far, it has been everything I’d hoped for, and some more. I was always going to be different! There was a big decision if you go north or south, I chose to go south and I don’t regret the decision at all but it is apparent the northerly boats, that was the way to go, but you can’t win them all. But I am quite happy with the race I have had, I am really enjoying myself, and for now it is just the final sail in to Guadeloupe. I’ll keep on sailing as I am, keep on pushing as I am and the wind should back and gybe and get the spinnaker up, and we should have a nice sail up the island. (audio is in audios section)

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On 16/11/2010

Cammas' words after the finish

Franck Cammas (Groupama 3), quotes: On ranking this win among others: “All victories are good but I’ve never experienced a finish like this, either the weather on the water or the welcome here.” “This victory it was not really expected, we prepared very well but I did not really know how it would unfold on the boat, so it is hard to know how to rank it in the list. But certainly I am very proud to be able to add my name to those who have won it before me.”

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On 16/11/2010

Top 40 skippers today

Thomas Ruyant (Destination Dunkerque “It is starting to feel a little long now! And so I need to just find some patience. I am getting towards the finish but it is still slow. I have not got the spinnaker out yet. It will not be very fast. I am not completely relaxed about it because the conditions are far from simple. What can say it is that you have to work very hard being at the front of this fleet, it is a demanding stressful thing, but it is cool. I think my ETA will be around the 18th or after depending on the winds around Guadeloupe.” Damien Grimont (Monbana): “It is nice to be in slightly more peaceful sailing conditions, after Annapurna! So it is down to a battle for the podium between Noblet, Manuard, Jorg and me and there is everything to play for with 500 miles still to go. When you see that I made 40 miles again on taking the right tack at the right time, then it shows there are still options. And conversely you can say that if you mess up a manoeuvre then you will pay a big price. If you want to gain on the shifts then you need to be well placed and positioned to do so. We will fight until the end. The end of the road will be thrilling.” Sam Manuard (Vecteur Plus): “I’d like to get third place. I am a bit closer to the wind and bit more isolated from the more squally stuff, so we will see if that pays off. I have never had any problems of motivation or moral, everything is good. I right in the race and it is all going well. Sure, I am a bit jaded and tired, accumulated tiredness, so I try to go at a sustainable rate and to save a little bit back for the finish which will be difficult. I spend some time looking at the weather, even if my overall strategy is fixed.”

On 16/11/2010

Here come the roaring 40's!

A long, and busy night in Pointe-à-Pitre saw more and more finishers completing the Route du Rhum La Banque Postale, and it is only set to get more hectic when the Class 40 fleet start arriving late Wednesday or Thursday depending on how cruel or kind the winds on the approach to Guadeloupe turn out to be. Notable finishes last night included Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas), the two IMOCA Open 60 skippers who chose the southerly routing option. Desjoyueax arrived in sixth position, just under one day behind fellow Vendée Globe winner Vincent Riou (PRB). He joked about going south for the sun early but admitted that there was very little to choose between the two options before making his choice “ I did what I wanted. From time to time you try things when you don’t know if they will be good or not so good. I expected to have 50 miles of deficit in the south of the Azores amticyclone and it was 150. There the mass was said.” Desjoyeaux said. “I have had time to digest this. Now we move on. Life goes on.”

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On 16/11/2010

Marco's musings today: a few bits and bobs going wrong

I must admit i've had a tough 36 hours with a few bits and bobs going wrong, a wrap while furling the solent, tangled sheets, a split pvc cover on the inner forestay that ripped off three hanks on the staysail and for a very long time it looked like i had to climb the mast as the sail was stuck, so last night i needed to relax. And sailed myself through an electric storm.

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On 16/11/2010

Desjoyeaux, 6th, "we will turn the page"

Crossing the finish line at 06h31m04s (CET/Paris(05h31m04s GMT) Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) took sixth place in the IMOCA Open 60 class, some 2d 00h 18m 08s after class winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement). The southern routing, one which also cost him dearly a year ago in the Transat Jacques Vabre, worked for the Ultimate class but this time it clearly did not work for the double Vendée Globe winner with his new VPLP/Verdier design. Desjoyeaux has had time to analyse his result and the way forwards, making ready for the Barcelona World Race which starts 31st December. “It would have been good if they had left us some wind for the finish because in the end it was bit too long at the end. Everyone says it’s a good trick to head off to the sun, but I went too early. We had looked at it and there were good chances of passing over the top, but it was on the Monday morning I took the decision. That was the best routing on the morning, I was on a good shift on the left with Kito and I wanted a trip to the south, I had wanted to go there for a while. I did what I wanted. From time to time you try things when you don’t know if they will be good or not so good. I expected to have 50 miles of deficit in the south of the Azores amticyclone and it was 150. There the mass was said.

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On 15/11/2010

Conrad Colman, wet now but looking forward to being dry again

Water water, EVERYWHERE!!!! It has become apparent that in the rush to get ready I forgot two vitally important items, a towel and talcum powder. This has meant that I have been unable to keep dry those parts of my body that one should reasonably expect to keep dry between the ages of 48 months and 190, or 95 years if you prefer.

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On 15/11/2010

The second double

After Roland Jourdain became the first skipper to win the IMOCA Open 60 class twice in successive editions of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale, today it was the turn of Lionel Lemonchois to break the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre on Prince de Bretagne and win the Multi 50 class, thereby becoming the first skipper to win different classes in back to back editions. Lemonchois smashed the race record in 2006 on Gitana 11, this time it has been a special comeback for the skipper who fought back from a main halyard problem which saw him very, very close to quitting. At one point Lemonchois was more than 480 miles off the lead. It is something of a comeback too for a boat which Lemonchois spent six months refitting and repairing after it was damaged in last year’s Transat Jacques Vabre. The IMOCA podium was completed by a remarkable third place by Marc Guillemot (Safran) who seized his chance when he found Jean Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) slowed on the west coast of the island. The scenario was in some ways a replay of 1998 when he lost out on third place to one Franck Cammas during final approach. What goes around, comes around. Meantime Thomas Ruyant (Destination Dunkerque) has neatly consolidated his position at the front of the Class 40 fleet with a lead of 72 miles and had less than 500 miles to finish. SEE FULL LEMONCHOIS STORY AND QUOTES UNDER MULTI 50 NEWS>>>>>>

On 15/11/2010

Lionel Lemonchois comes back for Rhum double

Lionel Lemonchois duly completed the second measure of a pair of Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale 2010 doubles, today when he triumphed on a second consecutive edition of the race. In 2006 Lemonchois smashed the course record by four days, winning on Gitana 11 in 7 days 17 hours 19 hours 6 seconds, just under half the time that it took on this very different but courageous race on Prince de Bretagne.

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On 15/11/2010

Lemonchois squeezing ever closer to Rhum double

Lionel Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagne) passed Basse Terre mark on the SW corner of Guadeloupe at 15:06:20hrs (CET/Paris) this afternoon Monday and so has just over 25 miles left to complete the second Rhum double of this ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale, on course to win the Multi 50 Class after triumphing overall on Gitana XI and setting the outright race record in 2006. Behind him Lalou Roucayrol (Région Aquitaine – Port Médoc) is back on course for second with a lead of 32 miles on Loïc Féquet (Maitre Jacques).

On 15/11/2010

Gliding Goss, a milestone passed

Well it's a sweltering day here with sun that is so fierce that I am forced to stay below and bake - if i had some bread mix I would put it beside me for I am sure it would rise, indeed cook. Aside from the heat the good ship DMS is a happy little ship for we had a good night last night and I don't feel too tired.

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On 15/11/2010

Philippe Monnet (La Boite à Pizza) finished fifth

Philippe Monnet (La Boite à Pizza) finished fifth in the Ultime class in the Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale 2010 Crossing the finish line in Guadeloupe at 14h 10m 50s (CET/Paris) (13h10m50s GMT/ 12h 10m 50s local) Philippe Monnet secured fifth place in the Ultime multihull class in the ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale . The elapsed time on course for La Boite à Pizza is 15 d 1 h 08m 50 s, average speed on the water is 13.58 kts, over a total distance sailed on the water of 4906 miles. On the theoretical course of 3539 miles, Philippe Monnet’s average speed is 9,80 kts. He arrived 5 d21 h, 54 m 03 s after the race winner Franck Cammas (Groupama 3)

On 15/11/2010

Marco Nannini: Troussel and Ruyant, the Heron collider brothers...waiting for the big bang..And..., "i'm sailing in my underpants and still gasp for air".

Looking at Troussel and Ruyant converging on their tracks is like watching the slowest ever replay of a Heron collider experiment, if they hit each each other will that prove something useful from a scientific point of view?

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On 15/11/2010

The Fifth man, Vincent Riou: it was long and it was painful

Vincent Riou's sentiments echoed those of Jean-Pierre Dick, which is hardly surprising since he suffered some of the same problems with his electrical battery system, but the 2004-5 Vendee Globe winner also underlines how the need to be at 100% for all of the race is a pre-requisite of the IMOCA class now, this is what he had to say>>>>>

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On 15/11/2010

Jean-Pierre Dick in fourth, work to do on the boat

Jean-Pierre Dick finished this morning at 04h 13m 13s 9 (CET) taking fourth place, disappointed to have lost out to Marc Guillemot for third, but the Barcelona Race winner suffered with electrical problems the whole way, his battery system failing. His dockside de-brief suggests he feels he should have taken more time to re-assess and not be too head down in the problems, easy to say at this stage no doubt, but clearly he has some work to do on Virbac-Paprec 3, with only limited lead time to the Barcelona start and the boat on delivery by ship. Here is a short summary of what he had to say:

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On 15/11/2010

Riou fifth

Vincent Riou (FRA) (PRB) takes fifth place in the IMOCA Open 60 Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale Breaking the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 07hrs 05mins 52 mins today (Monday, CET/Paris) (Monday 06 hrs 05mins 52 mins GMT/ Local 03hrs 05mins 52mins (CET -4hrs)) Vincent Riou on the IMOCA 60 PRB took fifth place in the IMOCA Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale solo Transatlantic race which started from Saint-Malo, France at 1302hrs (CET) Sunday 31st October. The elapsed time for PRB is 14 days 18 heures 03 minutes 52 seconds His average speed is 11.37kts for the distance he sailed of 4026 miles. Over the theoretical course distance of 3539 miles Vincent Riou’s average speed is 10.00knots Riou finished 01 day 00 hours 52mins 56secs after IMOCA Open 60 winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement

On 15/11/2010

After Jourdain's double, here comes Lemonchois?

After Franck Cammas (Groupama 3), overall winner of this ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale, also topped a podium comprising Francis Joyon (IDEC) and Thomas Coville (Sodebo), so now the podium for the very closely matched IMOCA Open 60’s was completed early Monday morning by Marc Guillemot (Safran). He was greeted on the dockside by a relaxed looking, scrubbed up Armel Le Cléac'h who was second while Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) of course made Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale history early Sunday morning when he successfully won the IMOCA class for the second successive edition. Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) arrived not long after Guillemot, just losing out on third in the final miles of the race, and Vincent Riou was due in fifth. Meantime young Christopher Pratt in sixth is having his mettle tested with no power on DCNS 1000. He has been hand steering since Thursday and hopes to be in by Tuesday night. But this ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale a transatlantic race which will continue to deliver. Lionel Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagne) leads the Multi 50 class by 60 miles with 84 miles to go and is on course to be the second double Rhum winner after Jourdain. The overall winner from the last, 2006 edition is due in this evening (Monday). And in the Class 40 fleet from 400 miles of lateral separation to more like 60 this morning, Thomas Ruyant (Destination Dunkerque) has now come south and repositioned to windward of second placed Nico Troussel (Credit Mutuel de Bretagne) and leads by 64 miles. The leaders are expected Thursday.

On 15/11/2010

Dick takes fourth IMOCA Open 60.

Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) (Virbac-Paprec 3) takes fourth place in the IMOCA Open 60 Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale Breaking the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 04hrs 13mins 13 mins today (Monday, CET/Paris) (Monday 03 hrs 13mins 13 mins GMT/ Monday 23hrs 13mins 13 mins (CET -4hrs)) Jean-Pierre Dick on the IMOCA 60 Virbac Paprec 3 took fourth place in the IMOCA Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale solo Transatlantic race which started from Saint-Malo, France at 1302hrs (CET) Sunday 31st October. The elapsed time for Virbac –Paprec 3 is 14 days 15hours 11minutes 13seconds His average speed is 11.36kts for the distance he sailed of 3998 miles. Over the theoretical course distance of 3539 miles Jean Pierre Dick’s average speed is 10.08knots Dick finished 22hrs 00mins 17 secs after IMOCA Open 60 winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement

On 15/11/2010

Guillemot swoops to steal podium third

Guillemot swoops for third place on the IMOCA Podium Marc Guillemot staged a podium raid within the last 60 miles of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale transatlantic race stealing third place on the west coast of Guadeloupe when he sailed round the unfortunate long term tenant Jean-Pierre Dick whose Virbac-Paprec 3 was moving at less than half the pace that the IMOCA world champion was making, Arriving out of the north on Safran, having passed close to the east of Montserrat. Guillemot admitted his surprise at seeing the blue branded sails of Virbac-Paprec appear to his left, and when they were just over a mile apart he gybed away because Dick was clearly in a different wind, closer in to the island shore. Safran scarcely missed a beat and went on to passed the Basse Terre mark two and a half hours ahead of Dick

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On 14/11/2010

A big splash across the ocean for the Rhum class now

The distance between Andrea Mura (Vento di Sardegna) and Luc Coquelin (Pour le Rite de Médecin) remains pretty stable – around 150 miles for the last four days – behind them the gaps between the other boats grow. The fleet is now spread out of close to 800 miles. In fact most of them are now dealing with their own particular meteo system. For the leaders, actually on the wind, the persistence of a depression NE of Bermuda continues to give them an unsettled SW’ly airstream, which is also kicking up some unpleasant seas. The situation is radically different for Yves Ecarlat, the skipper of VALE Nouvelle Calédonie continues to make good progress but in a slightly unstable and hesitant trade wind.

On 14/11/2010

Christopher Pratt suffers electrical problems on DCNS 1000

Rookie IMOCA Open 60 skipper Christopher Pratt is suffering from a complete lack of power on DCNS 1000 due to a problem with the engine of his boat. The engine failed Thursday and since then he has been running with almost no power. He is navigating off a small hand held GPS. “Thursday morning I tried to repair the engine but it is the injection pump and so I have been unable to use it and so have no means of recharging the batteries. I have been in virtual blackout since then. I have a little help from the solar power but have been racing with no computer, no pilot, no keel motor, no nav station. There is just the small hand held GPS which I have a waypoint in, and with a little sun have managed to fire up the computer a couple of times. I have been carefully trying to build up enough power in the batteries to use the pilot a little and navigate a little. But the last two days there has been really very little wind. As soon as I drop the helm it goes through 360 degrees, so I have to steer all the time. I have tried everything. Ive had a pouffe at the helm and steered with my feet as well as my arms and hands. I have not been able to move off the helm much since Thursday. I just go to make some food, then get back to the helm and sleep there. I think I should get to Guadeloupe Tuesday evening.”

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On 14/11/2010

Marco the Podium Pirate of the Caribbean?

Tonight's podium pirate of the Caribbean seems to be Marc Guillemot who has swept in from the NW, stayed offshore in a little more breeze on Safran and turned around a deficit of 12 miles to lead Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) around the Basse-Terre mark. Marco has sailed right around the slowed Virbac Paprec in a move reminiscent of an afternoon coastal race and leads by around 10 miles with 21 miles to make to the finish line. But it is not over yet, soon as it is dark it can be ferociously slow approaching that finish line, as we have learned over the last three days. Has Marco done enough to steal that podium? Follow the tracking live to the left here<<<<<<<<

On 14/11/2010

Lalou Roucayrol, down to Russian Roulette

In the Multi 50’s Lionel Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagne) has 160 miles to sail with a lead of 43 miles over second placed Lalou Roucayrol (Région Aquitaine – Port Médoc)

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On 14/11/2010

Squaring up as Ruyant moves south

On the Class 40 race course Le Cléac’h’s friend Troussel in the south of the main pack finds himself with race leader Thomas Ruyant (Destination Dunkerque) now moving south west to consolidate and perhaps keep more of a cover on Troussel (Crédit Mutuel Bretagne), whose lead is now back to 38.5 miles as he makes his slant SW. QUOTES FOLLOW>>>>

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On 14/11/2010

Armel Le Cléac'h: Bilou made a perfect race

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) quotes: “ The decision to go in the North was not really easy to make. And then there were many transition zones to manage. At that times you needed to be absolutely full on. Bilou did very well in those situations, I believe I did it as well but just after him. He really sailed a perfect race.”

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On 14/11/2010

The Sunday of the Jackal

He has been the form sailor of the season Armel Le Cléac'h, winning both AG2R and dominating the Figaro du Solitaire which he won for the second time….conclusively. That Le Cléac’h finished second overall in the highly competitive, evenly matched IMOCA Open 60 fleet which contested this ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale today speaks volumes for the clinical execution of Roland Jourdain’s second consecutive victory.

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On 14/11/2010

Pete Goss, time for skipper and boat

Last night went well in that we managed to keep going despite the fickle winds that we find ourselves in. I had set a goal of maintaining eight knots and just worked at it all night, not always successful but at least we were making a reasonable speed in the right direction. The result was that I felt pretty old this morning and needed a lift so it was a case of taking an hour or so out for myself and the good ship DMS

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On 14/11/2010

Conrad Colman: back...and a rude awakening

I had a great night’s sailing last night, spread out on my back in the cockpit watching the cloudless starry expanse. Trimming and humming along with the boat as we finally found a good course and matched the polars. I was up until about 0600 UTC, by which point I was pretty weary and the the boat was being slightly headed from 260 to 230, the ideal course. I went down for a nap and awoke after 30 minutes to the sound of rain. I looked at the computer and saw that the wind had turned dramatically to the right and we had been sailing North (!) while I was asleep rather than the intended southwest. I was draining the ballast, a lengthy procedure after the valve failed on the starting, putting on my jacket to go outside when we were wolloped by a massive gust and a lightning bolt touched down closeby, flash-crash. The anemometer went from 10 to 35, the heel indicator went from 15 to 50 and all loose items self-stowed to leeward, with the first aid kit collecting my head as it went past.

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On 14/11/2010

Roland Jourdain, quotes on the dockside

It is beautiful, it’s amazing and I’m really happy. I won’t say it was easy but it went well on balance. There was definitely a kind of winning aura with me. The little advance I had on Armel and the others helped me finish the race really nicely. It was different from four years ago as Jean [le Cam] was not hot on my heels. More....

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On 14/11/2010

Two in a row

The familiar megawatt smile lit up the darkness on a still Caribbean night as Roland Jourdain and his Veolia Environnement finally ghosted to a halt in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe as the charismatic skipper wrote himself further into the history of the Route du Rhum as the first sailor to win the monoholl division twice in consecutive editions.

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On 14/11/2010

Bilou's race

In what has amounted to a very intense, tactical ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale, with very many transitions and changes to negotiate Roland Jourdain sailed an impeccable race, consistently choosing a routing for best wind pressure rather than taking unnecessary risks to cut miles. When he had the opportunity he consolidated to manage the fleet, keeping them directly behind him.

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On 13/11/2010

A fright for 3rd placed Yann Noblet

A big fright for Yann Noblet The skipper of Appart’ City Yann Noblet, currently third overall in the Class 40 fleet, had a big fright today when he came close to losing his rig after a shroud fitting failed. By dropping his sails immediately Noblet was able to keep his mast upright and in one piece. He reports that the rig is steadied and secured and he has been able to carry on racing. The mast foot remains on the plate but dropped 45 degrees backwards. The end of the boom fell in the water. I dropped sails and the mast came back upright. I then set up the inner forestay that I carried. The mast is now secure.” Saud Noblet. He had to stop for three hours to secure the rigging and then set out again, back on the attack even if he feels he will be compromised in some wind conditions and angles. The forestay is attached by a lashing which, it appears, had chafed. “It is going to be difficult to contain the others around me, but I will fight on, I have the drive and set off again with some faith in the rig, the rigging seems quite stiff enough and just now I am back making more than nine knots. Last night was the hardest yet for me, conditions which really make the boats suffer. Tomorrow we will be tacking as the wind comes in from the SW. The sea will build. This damage will especially hurt between 9 and 15 knots of wind when there is too much wind for a Code Zero

On 13/11/2010

Etienne Giroire safely on board a ship

Etienne Giroire, whose small 18.5 metres trimaran ATNinc.com capsized this morning around 0900hrs (CET/Paris) some 1500 miles from Guadeloupe and 900 miles from the Azores, was picked up a little after 1730hrs (CET/Paris) by the cargo ship CMA CGM. The Franco-American skipper is now on board and heading for Point-à-Pitre, expected next Tuesday at around 1030hrs (CET/Paris, 0530hrs local). The rescue operation was a collaboration between the Cross Griz-Nez and the MRCC, Norfolk, USA who should be credited for their efficiency.

On 13/11/2010

Ruyant: no match race please....

Long time leader Thomas Ruyant (Destination Dunkerque) said today that he was hoping that the outcome of the Class 40 race does not go down to a head to head match race in to Guadeloupe against Nico Troussel (Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne). Troussel’s ascent of the leaderboard has been consistent since he paid an heavy initial tax for splitting from the main group which went north over the Azores high.

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On 13/11/2010

Being Patient, Lionel Lemonchois

Lionel Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagne): “It is complicated. The wind is going in all directions. To find the right shift you need to be patient. We (Lalou Roucayrol) are not that close, not really in the same conditions, like we were sailing against each other but I am trying to get close to him so that I can keep myself between him and Guadeloupe, to control him. Anything can happen. It is not going too badly. There is still a bit of a margin. 300 miles still to go should not offer too many big surprises. We can make it. Yesterday the boats were hurting a bit with cross seas and since then it has been really quiet, but now there is a big sun, I check the boat regularly and I cant see anything to worry about, no cracks and that is a good sign.

On 13/11/2010

Trade winds would be nice

Andrea Mura (Vento di Sardegna): “It is all good, the weather is good and the water is warmer at 26 degrees. And that is nice. I am controlling him very well but he is fast, very fast and is closer to me but I think that down here in the south I have better wind than him up in the north, I expect to arrive before the 17th but there is no wind and so I cant be sure Maybe the tradewinds will be in for the 18th.”

On 13/11/2010

Dick and Desjoyeaux today's vacs

Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3): “There is not a lot of wind, there is not even a ripple on the sea, and there a bit of swell and so I have to be a bit careful of the sails because they are slatting. It is very tiring, not easy and I just don’t know how much longer this will last. It will be long and tiring. There are still options. The seas are good, the skies are nice, this sailing is nice. There is a lot of tiredness brought on, you need to stay focused and concentrated. So you need to pick when you can go to sleep, make sure you have the best sail combinations, there are plenty of questions always in the head of the single handed sailor. That would be interesting to analyse them. But that is not easy to deal with, we have to think of so many details. I am doing all I can to sail in good conditions and at the same time manage the fleet which I am sailing against here. If I sail well and Bilou has some bad luck then maybe. But at the moment it is not the situation I find myself in. Bye.

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On 13/11/2010

With a little help from the wind. Jourdain should finish this evening.

At 1600hrs (CET/Paris) this afternoon Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) was working slowly but steadily in the light and very fickle 6 kts SEly breeze and looked to have built himself enough of a margin to account for some of the evening shut down, but bearing in mind the Farr designed IMOCA Open 60 has shown speeds of between 1 knot and 10 knots today, it may will still be a long night. It would mark a well earned honours for both the popular skipper and the boat. Since his 2006 win, Jourdain had to abandon when leading the final stages of the Vendée Globe and also when he was dismasted in the 2007 Barcelona World Race.

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On 13/11/2010

Roland Jourdain, closing to the finish

IMOCA Open 60 class leader Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), this morning: “What’s done so far is good. It is hotting up all the time. The breeze is light and fickle. It was up in the morning but just faded away. I don’t know when it will come back. And I don’t know when this race will end. 96 miles at 1 knot is…96 hours and even at twice that speed it is still 48 hours. The beginning of the night was really nice with nice conditions. Really I don’t ask much but at one moment I just ended up dropping off to sleep. There were a couple of birds and I just told them to mind the shop and dozed off, pulled down the shutters for a while, went to sleep. It comes with the job to fear you opposition until the end. I will always have an eye in the rear view mirror. The nice weather files are telling us we will have winds from the SE, E, one thing. This is the adventure, the unknown. After all the changes of weather, the strategy, I am going to be done in when I arrive. And I promise I am doing my best to arrive quickly.

On 13/11/2010

ATNinc.com capsizes, skipper safe and well.

At 0900hrs (CET/Paris) the small 12.18m trimaram ATNinc.com capsized. Franco-American skipper Etienne Giroire is reported to be well. They were positioned 1500 miles from Guadeloupe and 900 miles from the Azores. The solo skipper has inflated his liferaft and is alongside his boat. Conditions are relatively fair, 10-15 knots of wind and small seas. MMCC Portugal are coordinating rescue, and a cargo is expected to be diverted in the coming hours.

On 13/11/2010

Nicolas Troussel, happy to be up to second and will try to hang on to it.

Nicolas Troussel (Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne: " Last night went pretty well really. The night before there were lost of clouds and so you really had to be on top of the winds which were always changing. Now it is just a case of pressing the boat as quick as possible. I am happy to have go up to second and will be trying to hang on to this place on the podium. It is certainly different from the transatlantic races I have done before. I don’t remember any being like this. Here, you would normally be flying along in the trade winds. Sure this is different but not unpleasant. The seas are choppy and disorganized, but it is warm and so taking a bit of spray in the face is no hardship. As soon as the breeze is a little more stable and the boat is better settled, I should be able to grab some rest. But I need to be wary to change if the breeze moves.”

On 13/11/2010

Lionel Lemonchois, 270 miles to go: 'Days not hours!'

Multi 50 class leader Lionel Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagne) has 64.8 miles of margin this morning: “Let’s say yesterday was interesting, plenty to do and as the wind turns, tactical choices. I get the impression I am putting the pieces of the puzzle together OK. But we will slow as we progress. It is certainly not straightforward or simple, but I do feel the end is in sight. There are light winds with gusts and shifts and we don’t go vey fast. Since yesterday afternoon I have probably an average of eight knots of wind. But normally at 270 miles you’d be under gennaker and flying along between 20 and 30 knots depending on the boat you have, counting down the hours before you finish. This one you are still counting the days.”

On 13/11/2010

Saturday night special for Jourdain?

On the 0800hrs (CET/Paris) rankings Jourdain had 95.4 miles to sail theoretically to the finish, with a lead of 88.4 miles on Le Cleach, which grew by 14 miles overnight for Bilou. The leader is expected in Point-à-Pitre at some point this evening or Sunday morning (CET/Paris).

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On 13/11/2010

Nerves of steel for Jourdain, is 'the Troussel' paying?

Win, lose or draw the final 95 miles of this ninth edition of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale will be the worst for Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement.). This is simply the time for nerves of steel rather than any inspired strategies. Some 45 miles now off the NW corner of Guadeloupe’s Basse Terre, Jourdain is ghosting along less than 2 knots at times, knowing only that at the moment the second placed pursuer Armel Le Cléac'h on Brit Air has not been getting any closer to him. In the Multi 50 Class Lionel Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagme) has strengthened his lead over night over Lalou Roucayrol (Région Aquitaine – Port Médoc). Lemonchois was 483 miles off the lead last Sunday after his main halyard problem but this morning had a lead of nearly 65 miles, doubling it since yesterday evening and going quicker this morning.

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On 12/11/2010

A stable leaderboard for the Rhum class

Not much change for the Rhum-ists as they head into their second weekend at sea. Andrea Mura (Vento di Sardegna) leads by 130 miles from Luc Coquelin (Pour le Rire Médecin) who had 30 miles of a lead over Julien Mabit (Monopticien.com). The leading trio, as with the tiny trimarans of Charlie Capelle (Acapella) and Etienne Giroire (ATNinc.com) are being pushed along nicely brisk southerly winds which have been quite unstable now with some stormy clouds. Yves Ecarlat (VALE Nouvelle-Calédonie), who is furthest back, is fastest in the fleet making 210 miles yesterday, is in SE’ly flow but the smallest boat in the fleet will be slowed by fringe of the high pressure system.

On 12/11/2010

Hidden biscuits for Goss, but will his southern route get him in the chocolates

I made two discoveries yesterday, the first was a lucky dip really in that out of the food bag came a lamb curry and I cant tell you how nice it was. The second was a stash of Garibaldi biscuits, I packed them so it ought not to have been a surprise but they were in an obscure bag and they had slipped my mind in all the pre-race pressure.

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On 12/11/2010

Ruyant extends again 2nd, 3rd 40's squaring up

In the Class 40 fleet leader Thomas Ruyant (Destination Dunkerque) admitted his spirits had taken a dive yesterday when his margin was trimmed savagely by Yvan Noblet on Appart’ City, but the rubber band ran out again for Ruyant and tonight he is 92 miles ahead, with Nicolas Troussel (Credit Mutuel de Bretagne) third only four miles further behind in terms of Distance to Finish, but tracking 400 miles south of Ruyant.

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On 12/11/2010

Lalou Roucayrol

Lalou Roucayrol (Région Aquitaine – Port Médoc): “A bit of work today. last night I heard a loud noise, but I couldn't see as it was pitch dark. I'm trying to manage the water leaking. all ok, we should be reaching and going fast and... We will be finishing under the rain, the world is upside down but what can I do? It's not fun to position the boat as I have no automatic positioning system. With Eric Mas we focus on strategy. It's handicapping not being able to plan a clear strategy compared to the other boats.

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