June 23. 2009

Nothing is ever finished!

Départ de l'étape Funchal - Salavdor de Bahia 2007 - Pierrick Garenne / GPO

"The race course of the 17th The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 is now known by all the competitors. A first step where the Minis will cross the Bay of Biscay. This step may be very fine if the weather is favourable, with downwind. However, if low pressure come to them, they will then be forced to tack and head northwest to find the rotation of the winds, a classic situation in the Gulf. Along Portugal, if competitors catch the "Portuguese trade winds", then everything can be very fast! But if the sailors meet muzzler, the descent of Portugal may be difficult with high sea. The continental shelf is very close to the coast and the sea's floor goes up from 4000 meters to 100 meters in a very short distance, so the roller of the open sea changes fast to breaking waves when the weather is bad. Competitors will arrive from the East to Madeira to avoid the lack of wind of the island - especially at night the wind will become softer - before ending up in the South. The arrival will be very interesting and very stressful and tactical for sailors.

The second leg, which will start on October the 3rd, will bring the fleet to the Southern hemisphere. To do so, they will move down to Canary Islands where there will be no mark. There will be opportunities between the islands of the archipelago, where wind increase in speed occurs very frequently. But be careful to the important windfall due to relief of some islands (Tenerife whose peak lies at 3,700 meters causes wind fall up to 30 miles). Competitors will be sailing in a system of trade winds to Cape Verde. Here, the positioning of the Minis while crossing the archipelago will determine their direction while arriving in the doldrums. The crossing mark will be located between the island of Maio, the Easter one in the archipelago and the island of San Antao the most West. This mark will allow the fleet to meet up for safety reasons. It will then belong to them to find the best position possible to get to the doldrums, the inter-tropical convergence zone where the winds of the Northern Hemisphere meet those from the Southern Hemisphere. This is a particularly tricky zone where boats can stay for long hours with no wind and suddenly experience a 50 knots heavy shower! Awareness at all times is necessary to leave this area the fastest. Some competitors may be trapped and surprises can occur during this part.

After the crossing of the Equator, and after having made the traditional donation to Neptune, competitors will find the trade winds from southeast, which will lead them up to Salvador de Bahia. The best option is to sail as much possible in the west at the equator and at the doldrums and get out the most east. A rough situation because the prevailing winds in the Southern Hemisphere will be east and southeast! In 2003, there were many surprises three days prior to the arrival. Some leaders dismasted because of a stationary front on Salvador de Bahia generating a strong swell... Nothing is ever finished! Of course, all the competitors will be expected with the same fervour from the first to the last on the pontoons of Salvador de Bahia!"
 

V.L