Saturday, 22 January 2011

BWR: Dee Caffari Prepares to Celebrate a third Birthday at Sea


Dee Caffari on Gaes Centros Auditivos. She will celebrate her birthday at sea on Sunday, 23rd January. Image copyright Gaes Centros Auditivos.

by Coralie Rassinoux

On Sunday 23rd January Caffari will be celebrating her birthday in the South Atlantic aboard GAES Centros Auditivos, making this the third occasion she will have notched up another year on a round the world voyage. However, the difference this time is that Caffari will not be alone as she has the company of her Spanish co-skipper, Anna Corbella onboard to help her get in the party mood. Having climbed several places during the week, GAES Centros Auditivos has now entered some volatile weather conditions and dropped back down to 9th place in the 0900hrs rankings this morning.

Speaking about the weekend ahead Caffari said:

“Any celebrations onboard will be short and sweet as we have some really tricky conditions to get through and our focus will be making sure we are pushing GAES Centros Auditivos as hard as possible. I think I might have a few presents onboard to open and, who knows, maybe I will even find a birthday cake stashed away somewhere.”

Commenting on the next few days, GAES Project Manager Harry Spedding added:

“A high pressure off the east coast of Brazil is going to become more stable and move east into the South Atlantic. This will squeeze next to the St Helena high that is already formed in the centre of the ocean. For the majority of the fleet this will mean a few days of complex weather, with squally conditions and potentially light winds. Those that get south fast enough will have a good run to get towards the light area situated near Gough Island. The followers, a group to which the girls will probably belong, are going to have a tough weekend and lose a few more miles on the leaders. They will hope that these miles might be made up as there may be a compression as the fleet approach Gough Island.”

Foncia and Virbac Paprec 3 have returned to their number one and two spots respectively and are currently speeding along at 20 knots plus. Estrella Damn has been relegated to third place as the pack to the north east experience lighter conditions than the front runners. At the 0900hrs ranking today, Caffari and Corbella onboard GAES Centros Auditivos were in 9th place, thirty miles behind closest rivals Boris Herrmann & Ryan Breymaier on Neutrogena.

Gaes Centros Auditivos
Barcelona World Race

Le Feu Passe au Vert pour le Maxi Banque Populaire V


Banque Populaire V. Image copyright B.Stichelbaut/BPCE.

Summary in English:

The Banque Populaire V maxi-trimaran team has moved to Code Green for their attempt on the Trophée Jules Verne, non-stop around the world record, although they are still preoccupied with the forecasts around the Canaries. At present they envisage a departure during the day tomorrow, Saturday, 22nd January. More information will be supplied this evening.

par Virginie Bouchet

Le Team Banque Populaire passe en code VERT et envisage un départ de Brest demain dans la journée. Pascal Bidégorry et ses hommes s’apprêtent donc à écrire les premières lignes de leur Trophée Jules Verne même si la situation météo au niveau des Canaries reste au centre des préoccupations de l’équipe.

"Il y a cette dépression sur les Canaries qui a tendance à traîner au large et nous donne un déroulé plus long et plus mou qu'envisagé au départ". Des vents moins soutenus imposant un contournement plus important et une situation qui ne joue pas encore la franchise sur le début de l'Atlantique Sud, le casse-tête est de taille pour Pascal Bidégorry et la cellule météo du Maxi Banque Populaire V.

Si la première partie du parcours est bien évidemment scrutée de près, la suite du programme et notamment l'enchaînement avec le début de l'Atlantique Sud, le sont également avec attention : "Nous essayons de nous caler au mieux par rapport à ce qu'il se passe en début d'Atlantique Sud et notamment en fonction des dépressions qui partent de l'Amérique du Sud de manière assez régulière. Notre objectif est d'en bénéficier et surtout de ne pas arriver en fin de cycle. Nous sommes aujourd'hui dans une fenêtre qui, pour ce qui est du Pot au Noir et de l'entrée dans l'Atlantique Sud, nous met au mieux dans les temps du record".

Banque Populaire V

Audi Victoria Week: Ten Too revived and renamed "Bo Derek" in time for Audi Victoria Week



by Di Pearson

Extraordinary things happen in sailing; and one of many tales from Audi Victoria Week relates to the unthinkable - the sinking of a Victorian yacht in the Passage Race last year – and her revival under a new owner and with a new name…

Greg Cooper and Peter Southwell’s Adams 10, ‘Ten Too’, sank approximately 10 nautical miles after the start of the race, following a collision with another competing yacht, Magic Bullet.

Cooper and Southwell, along with their four crew members, were rescued by competitor Robert Tanner and taken aboard his yacht Alegria 2 to the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.

Sadly, ‘Ten Too’ disappeared to the bottom of the ocean, but two months later was recovered and salvaged. Ironically, she was purchased by a sailing mate of Southwell’s, Max Peters. The two are also members of the same club, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron.

Peters takes up the story: “We purchased the wreck and rebuilt her and renamed her ‘Bo Derek’.” Why? “Because she’s the perfect 10,” he retorts, explaining that in sailing circles, Adams 10’s are known as “Tens”.

Now both Peters and Southwell are entered in Audi Victoria Week’s BIA Super 30 series. Peters with ‘Bo Derek’ and Southwell with his replacement Adams 10, aptly named ‘Ten Past Too’.

Remembering the sinking, Southwell said: “That was only our second attempt at Audi Victoria Week.”

“Thanks to the help of Club Marine, we were able to buy another Adams 10 within a couple of months of that sad day, so we’re back for more this year with ‘Ten Past Too’ - and a determination not to hit or be hit by anyone!”

Of his old boat, Southwell says: “Max has completely replaced the damaged bow section and refurbished the mast and rigging. He’s now beating us regularly in our old boat! He sails well and he has a better rating, so I would think he’ll have the upper hand this week.”

Watch this space...

Audi Victoria Week

Friday, 21 January 2011

BWR: Wouter Verbraak's Blog from HUGO BOSS - Full On and Little Time for Much-Needed Deep Sleep!


Wouter Verbraak (left) and Andy Meiklejohn (right). Image copyright Jean Marie Liot/Barcelona World Race.

by Wouter Verbraak

“Nice work, I got this. Put your head down.” A few words, that mean the end of a three hour watch in which I have been struggling to keep my eyes open. Light wind transition yesterday morning, then three hours with squalls, then fast reaching behind the cloud line, then changing modes to fast upwind fetch. Oh, and don’t forget the tricky weather situation ahead, which requires our full attention on the strategy...


HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Alex Thomson Racing.

The tanks are empty, and need refilling. Our heads are overflowing with information to digest, and need to be cleared. Yet, every meter counts, so we are constantly trimming the sails to the never ending train of puffs, headers, lifts, and lulls. Up a bit, traveler on a bit. Cloud line, dump traveler in the gust, easing jib sheet. In the end it all becomes a haze, with considerations for the strategy going through my mind at the same time... winds will be underestimated in the area around the front, so we should skew our course slightly more south.

I grab my fleece jumper, stuff it roughly in the shape of a pillow, take off my board shorts and T-shirt and pop into the sleeping bag. Within a minute I am fast asleep. All worries gone, as I know Andy will do a great job the next three hours. Like me he is focused on every metre, and he is fantastic at keeping a sharp eye out for anything that might be slightly different then it should. This extreme endurance race will find any weakness in your armor. Whether it is a weak technical aspect of the boat, or a ten year old injury in your body, it will be brought to the front line. Ignore it, and what might seem a small issue today, can quickly spiral out of control and be a huge issue tomorrow. So we need to be on our toes all the time.


HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Barcelona World Race.

“Wouter, time to get up.” I have no idea where I am, completely disorientated. Our sleeps on the boat are very very deep, and when waking up you have no idea whether you slept for 10 minutes or three hours. “What time is it” is the standard question followed by “How long did I sleep?”

“You were down for two and a half hours. Put in a reef not long ago We are doing well. Just got position report in. Everybody in our group has gone the same direction through the night. We have been 1-2 knots faster.” Now that is good news to wake up to! Batteries charged, a sip of water, some chewing gum (we still have a strict ration on toothpaste…), ready to go. “Nice work Andy, put your head down.” A grateful little smile on a very tired face. Andy is doing an awesome job. Couldn’t wish for a better team mate. My turn to squeeze the last digits out of the boat speed. Need to pass these guys ahead!


HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Alex Thomson Racing.

Note from SailRaceWin: HUGO BOSS is up to 10th overall now. Until the fleet turns the corner into the Southern Ocean proper, some of the rankings are going to look a bit odd, due to the variety of routes taken.

Wouter Verbraak
Andy Meiklejohn
Alex Thomson Racing
Barcelona World Race

BWR: Videos from the two leading boats: Virbac Paprec 3 and Foncia (in French)

Virbac Paprec 3:



Foncia:



Barcelona World Race

America's Cup: Images of the AC45 Sailing off Auckland on Day 4 of the Sea Trials

Rather splashy sailing trials on Day 4, 21st January 2011, for Murray Jones and crew...


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com


Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

America's Cup

America's Cup: The Captain Takes the Helm on Day 4 of Sea Trials for the AC45


The AC45 helmed by Murray Jones, Auckland, NZ. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

by Jane Eagleson

The AC 45’s test crew’s skipper Jimmy Spithill was a bit under the weather today so Murray Jones aka "The Captain" took the helm for testing.

For Jones it was his first day driving the AC 45. “I got thrown into the deep end having to sail out of the Harbour and throw a few tacks,” Jones said.

The Captain negotiated the Viaduct Harbour beautifully and was soon blasting along the Waitemata Harbour. The AC 45 topped out at about 28 knots today although Jones reckons they were pushing 30 knots.

“There was 25 knots of breeze along the cityfront with the tide against us. The boat was really performing well and going pretty fast. The teams will be pleasantly surprised. The boat is really responsive. It was really fun. I am just hoping Jimmy doesn’t make a very quick recovery,” Jones said in jest.

Saturday is a scheduled maintenance day for the boat and Sunday will be a day off. On-the-water testing continues again Monday.

Launch of the AC45:




Core Builders, Warkworth, Northland, where the AC45 was built. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

America's Cup