TJV: Compression Theory

Veolia Environnement. Image copyright B.Stichelbaut.

by Régis Lerat

In theory they should have done enough. The leading trio of the Transat Jacques Vabre race from Le Havre to Costa Rica, Safran, Groupe Bel and Mike Golding Yacht Racing have a substantial cushion to fourth, and seem set to scrap over who wins which step on the podium, but there will still be some nervous hours ahead and the weather forecasts are none too stable.

The trio, the two French leaders and Britain's third placed Mike Golding who is racing with Spain's Javier Sanso on Mike Golding Yacht Racing, will tomorrow be first to hit a wall of lighter, even more unsettled breezes and compression – as the chasing pack catches miles back on them – is predicted to continue periodically for the next couple of days.

The margin back from third to fourth, to double-Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux, is now 270 miles with less than 2000 miles to go.

Desjoyeaux, who has squeezed close to 100 miles ahead of Veolia Environnement since passing them, re-asserted today that there was no acceptance on his part that the race was a foregone conclusion, and clearly his legendary fighting spirit is undimmed. If there is one skipper out there who is as happy battling the mathematical odds as he is his opponents, it is him.

At midday today leaders Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier on Safran were about 500 miles from breaching the gap between Antigua and Guadeloupe for the final trans Caribbean stage down to the finish at Puerto Limon.

The gap between first and second has been prised open again by the leaders Safran, standing at 52.5 miles back to Groupe Bel, whilst Golding and Sanso had sneaked back under the 100 miles from the lead line early this morning, but their gains have been nullified over the day and the third placed boat has now 125 miles to catch up. The British skipper today reported that he has had some success in repairing the electronic wind instrumentation which is helping their attack slightly, but he noted that he considers there will be several tactical opportunities through the final few days of this passage.

Down the fleet the sentiments are the same. The attack goes on, from first to last the conditions may be pleasurable but the rhythm is intense. Sam Davies, the effervescent British Vendée Globe skipper on Artemis, remarks that spirits between her and her French co-skipper remain generally high, despite them having a big deficit to make up.

“It's hard because you've got to keep concentrating as well so you have to find a balance between not being suicidal because you're last so you do have to find the light side of things, and also at the same time keep concentrating, because it's never over till the fat lady sings, and there's a long way to go.” Emphasized Davies.

Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson's alliance on Aviva seems to be reaping rewards as they hold the upper hand over their nearest rivals, the Spanish crew on W-Hotel. From being just a couple of miles ahead yesterday Aviva had moved 13 miles clear this evening, and they have gone from a deficit of about 60 miles on fifth placed Veolia Environnement to an increasingly tenable 23 miles this afternoon. The battle for fifth to ninth is increasingly engaging as just 130 miles separates Veolia from Akena Verandas and, just as for the leaders, more compression is virtually inevitable.

QUOTES:

Marc Guillemot, (FRA) Safran:
“We're continuing to keep a close eye on our rivals, but we decided a few days ago, where we intend to get through the Antilles. In fact, it won't be Thursday, but more likely Friday, as the trade winds have eased off. It will be the trade wind and its strength that will decide. Charles has been working extremely hard preparing the navigation. It has paid off, as our route has been very smooth, which shows how well he has judged it.

François Gabart (FRA), Groupe Bel:
“It's going well, big sun with a slightly lighter wind and so we are a bit slower. It lets us rest a bit. It's a shame that we have lost some ground to on Safran, but I am still telling myself some of the great things we have been through and see. I would rather be here than in France in winter! Kito is resting and I'm on the helm because the wind does not stop shifting round.”

Brian Thompson Aviva:
“We are driving the whole time, like an hour on and an hour off. So it's more like single-handing really in the sense of sleeping for only an hour at a time, which is quite good because you can do a sail change or things like that as you change over, and we are sharing all the other duties on board and just sorting out some of the equipment on board.

"We have spent the last day catching up with a lot of the jobs list. So it was a long day fixing the boat. We are getting on top if it now. Our generator is still down, but otherwise we are on fire.

"There is some light air coming up tomorrow for everyone, and then we get into the trade winds proper from about 20 deg north, then it is regular about picking the right gybes through the Caribbean where there might more wind in the south, but that could change, but we do have this dead air to the north of us.”

Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA), Foncia:
“We are always on the attack. Just because the weather is beautiful and sunny it does not mean we have slackened off. There are always waves over the deck and we still get soaked from time to time. But we don't stay on deck too much because there are not that many maneuvers to be carried out. Jeremie had a beautiful starry night which is better than for mine, I got wind and rain. I am feeling sorry for myself.

“We'll try and listen to the French match a bit. Jérémie can listen when he is driving a bit, and I will try and listen on line.

“ As far as the work goes it is 50:50. I do bit more of the weather, and Jeremie looks at it too.

“We are always pushing to go fast. I did not look at the crossing of the West Indies arc, but I will try to see friends in St Francois off Gaudeloupe. There is good acceleration in the Saints channel.”

Pachi Rivero (ESP) 1876:
“We are doing really well, and today feel a lot calmer. Yesterday we headed west looking for the wind shift .About two hours ago we tacked to the south-west and are heading in a 230-235º direction and awaiting the front. We are sailing really well, upwind with a Solent and one reef in the main sail. We have about 20 knots of wind.

“We are following the others positions carefully and they are taking miles off us. It isn't easy. Today we were overtaken by AVIVA and W Hotels but we are still very optimistic because everything can change. When we get into the front we will make up the distance. We still have a chance.

“We are looking forward to finally getting into the front and putting some sails up to head straight for the Canal de la Mona,” said the Cantabrian skipper, “then the wind is expected to drop for the whole fleet and if we are lucky we should be able to ride on a little longer as we are hoping, and maybe give them all a little run for their money!

“We are happy to be going south, we can already feel the water is much warmer and the outside temperature is much higher, which always helps lift the spirits!”

Transat Jacques Vabre