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October 19. 2009

Less than ten...

They are still around ten to suffer in the Doldrums... Paradoxically, there are more prototypes still caught in there than Series. But for most they are heading to the South flow that will lead them to the southeast flow that forecasts the trade winds. Among those that are still "stuck" is Izabel Pimentel, Fabrice Germond, Staale Jordan, Carolina Vieille and Maxence Desfeux which brings up the rear at 8°27 North. For Series, Emmanuel Laurent is still in a complicated area... at 8°52 North.

October 18. 2009

Upside down!

Done! Since 12h15 (French time), the young leader of The Charente Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) is sailing in the Southern Hemisphere consecutively to his crossing of "the line". Thomas was at 11 am positionned 32 miles ahead of a new pursuer, the surprising HP Schipman (Maison de l'avenir Urbatys) that has overpassed François Cuinet (Plan Jardin).

October 17. 2009

Antoine Rioux forced to abandon his boat!

The New Caledonian Antoine Rioux has to board on the escort boat "Solo", abandoning his sailboat "Nouvelle Calédonie", a Proto Martin Fisher 2008.
Antoine has triggered this afternoon the red button of his beacon, indicating the race director that he had serious problems requiring assistance. "Solo" was immediately called and quickly found the Caledonian. The failure of a drift caused a major leak. With the help of the crew of "Solo", some repair were attempted and Antoine, at one moment, was sailing. But some 600 miles from the Archipelago Fernando da Noronha, this repair did not hold and the prototype was again filled with water. Antoine had no other choice but to get aborad the escort boat that remained in close contact, and thus to abandon the sailboat he had built by himself for the Transat 6.50.

October 15. 2009

South Africa leads!

If the rankings are experiencing ongoing waltz like the showers on the fleet... We cannot let you ignore the pole position of Matt Trautman for prototypes at 4:00 pm. Okay, he is only 0.61 miles ahead of Thomas Ruyant... Anyway, Matt is the first prototypes in the standings this Thursday the 15th of October 2009. And we know the enthusiasm aroused by the South African in his country, And he deserves it this quiet boy of 24 years who finished 6th in the first stage... So we notice, his nice 1st ranking!

Why this unusual classification at 4 pm? Just because a boat was not set and we wanted them to be all positionned.

October 15. 2009

Ricardo, new series leader

The new Series leader is Ricardo Apolloni (My Vie pour Mapei), 3 short miles, before Charlie Dalin (Cherche sponsor-charliedalin.com). A few tenths miles further is the Portuguese Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN). Once again, nothing is done in the second stage! T

October 15. 2009

Offshore info: message from Max Havelaar

"Very few wind with showers. The night was restless, the storms have succeeded without interruption like in a real nightclub! But the gusts did not exceed 30 kts. Andreas (Lindlarh) has VHF problems."

October 14. 2009

400 nautical miles

400 miles are not to go on this Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50... But 400 miles is "just" what the proto's Leader Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) has to sail before cutting the equator nd switch upside down...

October 14. 2009

Aqué, Germond and Verrier

Brice Aqué (CNTL-Scube Sails), Mathieu Verrier (Zygomar) and Fabrice Germond (Stratus) left Mindelo and returned to sea, they sailed together and together they will go out, later in the day, of the archipelago of Cape Verde. Mathieu and Fabrice are this morning 540 miles behind the leader prototype. Brice is 468 miles from the the first series boat.

October 14. 2009