Virbac Paprec 3 is still 373 miles from the east extremity of the Crozet gate at 0500hrs UTC this morning and their prospects don’t look to have improved any in terms of the nasty low which is going to be hitting that point by Tuesday night.
Virbac Paprec 3’s lead is at 582 miles this morning over MAPFRE. The Spanish duo is sailing the much more direct course to the gate in more favorable breeze, and their gains have been consistent against the leaders who have been sailing fast but on a classic loop south and north between the last gate and this Crozet gate.
31 January 2011
29 January 2011
Veritas CIII
Today's Truth:
By late afternoon this Saturday, five Barcelona World Race teams will have passed the Cape of Good Hope milestone.
28 January 2011
Veritas CII
Today's Truth: Thanks to human intervention, Florida's Everglades is now half it's original size. And dwindling.
Veritas C
Today's Truth: Virbac-Paprec 3 passed through the middle of the Agulhas ice gate, the second of the course, at around 0100hrs UTC this morning, and this morning leads MAPFRE by 608 miles.
Veritas XCIX
Today's Truth: Finding the most accurate, profitable racing line to link up the ice gates will be key to success across the Indian Ocean. Timing will be critical, especially further down the track where current forecasts for six days hence are predicting the generation of very active, fast moving low pressure systems to emanate from between the two high pressure features which will set the agenda for the next few days.
27 January 2011
Veritas XCVIII
Today's Truth: Race leader Virbac-Paprec 3 passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope at 0135hrs UTC this morning, an elapsed passage time of 26 days 13 hours and 35 minutes.
This morning they were 175 miles west of the westernmost extension of Gate 2, the Algulhas gate, and was still making around 14-15 knots, starting to experience the gradual slow down but appear to still have around 18-20 knots of westerly breeze.
As Virbac-Paprec 3 slows, the high pressure is moving east and south, set to take up station over the Kerguelen Islands, moves with them close to the center of it. And meantime it looks like MAPFRE especially will be making rapid inroads, in 30 knots of W'ly and possibly making 460-480 mile days, which could bring them gains of 180-200 miles on the leaders who have 579 miles on MAPFRE on this morning's 0900hrs sked. In short it looks like a great opportunity for MAPFRE, Estrella Damm, Groupe Bel and Renault ZE Sailing Team to catch up.
The requirements of the gates means that the passage across the South Indian Ocean, at least, has the propensity to become punctuated by constant fast, slow. That will make it especially hard for the leaders' nerves.
26 January 2011
Veritas XCVII
Today's Truth: Foncia's Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) and Francois Gabart (FRA) contacted Barcelona World Race Course Direction at around 0349hrs UTC this morning to report that the top of the mast of their IMOCA Open 60 had broken at close to 0300hrs UTC .
Foncia, lying in second place in the race, had been sailing under mainsail with one reef and Solent in 30 knots of SW’ly wind.The crew of Foncia have reported that they are both OK and the duo are sailing towards Cape Town initially at around 10 knots.
The top of the mast is reported to have broken off between the Solent forestay and the staysail forestay.The broken section of the mast is saved on the deck, leaving around 24 metres of mast remaining. There is no other damage noted.
The position of the boat was at a distance from Cape Town of 619 miles.
The top of the mast is reported to have broken off between the Solent forestay and the staysail forestay.The broken section of the mast is saved on the deck, leaving around 24 metres of mast remaining. There is no other damage noted.
The position of the boat was at a distance from Cape Town of 619 miles.
Veritas XCVI
Today's Truth:
The Race Directors have made modifications to the Barcelona World Race course due to the proliferation of icebergs and floating ice in the Indian Ocean. This safety measure replaces the former gate at Kerguelen (48º20S) with two new waypoints: Crozet and Amsterdam. Both are positioned at 42ºS, which means to say 380 miles further North of the previous gate.
The great number of icebergs and floating ice that have shown up on satellite imaging from the Indian Ocean have forced the Barcelona World Race Directors to bump up security measures for the regatta. In an official notice this morning, the skippers were informed that the former safety gate at Kerguelen at 48º20 S between 40º 30 E and 50º 30 E is no longer valid.
25 January 2011
Veritas XCV
Today's Truth: The first boat in the BWR to approach the ‘Roaring Forties’ as the latitudes of usually strong westerly winds south of 40° latitude are known, is Virbac Paprec 3.
24 January 2011
Veritas XCIV
Today's Truth: Foncia in Ghost Mode. I think they are all having fun with this new twist.
Veritas XCIII
Today's Truth: This morning MAPFRE takes over as the fastest boat on the fleet as they pick up new breeze from a front which is curving north as it tracks east. Iker and Xabi are sailing at over 15 knots in this morning's 1000hrs update, and have gained over 20 miles on leader Virbac Paprec 3.
23 January 2011
Veritas XCII
Virbac Paprec 3 back into the lead for the first time since they diverted to Recife in Brazil for repairs nine days ago.
22 January 2011
Veritas XCI
Today's Truth: Due to an accumulation of ice near the anticipated route of the BWR fleet, Race Direction have modified the position for the first Atlantic ice gate.
By moving the gate further north the competitors’ route is
restricted to outside the danger zones.
The position of the first gate after the Cape of Good Hope, the Agulhas Gate, has also been announced.
The new position of the Atlantic Gate is 40°30S and 001°00E-006°00E. The position of the Agulhas Gate is 42°00S and
23°00E-28°00E.
Veritas XC
Today's Truth: Dog-opoly takes at least as long to play as Monopoly but is much more fun. We started yesterday and are taking our second break so far ... first was to sleep, the second to go to an appointment.
21 January 2011
Veritas LXXXIX
Today's Truth: Yesterday Foncia surged into first place, and now Virbac Paprec 3 joined them at second place.
20 January 2011
19 January 2011
Veritas LXXXVII
Today's Truth: The South Atlantic is serving up another speed hump to the BWR, with current leader Estrella Damm covering just over 23 miles since last night’s 2000hrs position report.
Additional truth: Following the BWR makes me miss the Kwaj Beer Can Races ...
Additional truth: Following the BWR makes me miss the Kwaj Beer Can Races ...
Veritas LXXXVI
Today's Truth: Virbac Paprec 3 exited stealth mode today, and JP's smile in video-con today hints he's pleased with their new position ...
18 January 2011
Veritas LXXXV
Today's Truth: Virbac-Paprec 3 is now in Ghost Mode ... wonder what their plans could be?
17 January 2011
Veritas LXXXIII
Today's Truth: MLK Day - time to step back and re-assess how you judge people you have never met.
16 January 2011
Veritas LXXXII
Today's Truth: Barcelona World Race is getting better ... MAPFRE is in Ghost Mode ...
15 January 2011
13 January 2011
12 January 2011
Veritas LXXIX
Today's Truth: If a parent REALLY wanted to reconnect with his child, he'd accept temporary supervised visitation without hesitation.
11 January 2011
Veritas LXXVIII
Today's truth: While being a parent can be a tough job, I love this girl so much and am blessed to have her in my life. She is a beautiful soul.
10 January 2011
09 January 2011
06 January 2011
02 January 2011
Veritas LXXIV
Today's Truth: Sometimes people think only of themselves and not what is best for the children.
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