As the saying goes „It’s in the end of the concert that we pay the musicians“. We will therefore know who was right or wrong once the Doldrums crossed. Right or wrong, to sail in the West as Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN) – new leader for series, as the South African Matt Trautman (Mini Mac) 3rd at 3:00 pm or as Remi Auburn (AT Children’s Project) the extreme. Right or wrong for making the East as most competitors, including HP Schipman (Maisons de l’Avenir Urbatys) and Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre durablement) which remain a few miles from Thomas Ruyant (Faber France), 1st at 3:00 pm. How to know with certainty today, where is the truth? One thing is certain: they are all stuck in this natural trap. Then, is it stickier on the right or left side? They all have one thing in mind, get out as quickly as possible while trying to get their mini some south. Last night had been particularly difficult. One of the escort boats, the 60 feet Max Havelaar, explained: “ There was very few wind with showers. The night was restless; the storms have succeeded each other without interruption like in a real nightclub! But the gusts did not exceed 30 knots.“ That same Max Havelaar said at midday: „It has calmed down! It was not madness.“ Long live the Doldrums!
First out, first served!
Still, all the skippers have to fight every moment between clouds and showers, trying to find the slightest breeze, the smallest puff of air. Tack again and again. Being on the bridge almost 24 hours a day. Stay focused until exhaustion. Perhaps because they overslept a little, Nicolas Boidevezi (Défi GDE) and Olivier Avram (Cap Monde 2) lost several miles. The leaders still have a day with hard times before they will finally find a little wind. A southeast flow. Who will find Aeolus first and will breath a little, will rest… Only a few hours make the difference between a boat sailing at 5-6 knots and one sailing at 1,5 to 2 knot.
The Portuguese once again…
Then, Lobato winner for series? This is not for sure. He has certainly more pressure at the moment even if his speed shows that he is „fully in“ the Doldrums too. And then southern flow should (we insist on „should“) arrive at those in the east first. And even if he succeed, nevertheless, to leave this accursed spot more quickly than others, Francisco will have to beat very tightly to Fernando do Noronha. In short, at this point, rankings are not very worthy as it has changed several times today, with Charlie Dalin (Cherche sponsor-charliedalin.com) at first, then Ricardo Apolloni (Ma Vie pour Mapei) at 11:00 and now Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN)… Nothing is ever finished!
All at Sea…
However, we are now happy. All the sailors who stopped at the Cape Verde islands, have returned to sea, they are all back in the race. They are therefore all „appreciating“ the Doldrums. Some came on this transatlantic almost solely to entertain, to discover, to experience what they read in books. They will not regret it…
Ranking at 3pm, Wednesday the14th of October 2009:
Prototypes
1. Thomas Ruyant (Faber France) 1137 nm
2. Henry-Paul Schipman (Maison de l’Avenir Urbatys) 3,64 miles from the leader
3. Matt Trautman (Mini Mac) 5,39 miles from the leader
5. Pierre Brasseur (Région Nord Pas de Calias-Ripolin) 12,6 miles from the leader
Serie:
1. Francisco Lobato (Roff-TMN) 1355 nm
2. Ricardo Apolloni (Ma Vie pour Mapeï) 4,2 miles from the leader
3. Charlie Dalin (Cherche sponsor-charlindalin.com) 9,67 miles from the leader
4. Xavier Macaire (Masoco Bay) 19,58 miles from the leader
5. Fabien Sellier (Surfrider Fondation) 28,57 miles from the leader
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