Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard’s maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 last night endured the slowest, most complicated and most stressful phase of the Discovery Route record attempt since leaving Cadiz last Thursday, October 31st.
In its sixth day of the race, and following the planned course, the world’s largest racing trimaran had to deal with rough seas between the two weather systems. All the crew had a rough ride with often violent storms bringing exhausting wind conditions. The squalls meant the wind would leave them flying or at a complete standstill. Finding the right sail plan in these brutally changing conditions proved to be a real conundrum that had the entire crew focused and responsive all night.
Dona’s description perfectly illustrates the atmosphere and circumstances of the night: “Spindrift 2 seemed more like an old banger that had run out of fuel than a Formula 1 of the seas. We remained becalmed in the storms, with the wind going from 2 to 25 knots, with no way of getting out of them.
An to further complicate an already tricky situation, the first serious mechanical failure occurred at the same time: « For some added setbacks, and to keep the crew awake all night, the medium sized gennaker fell down on the net, fortunately causing no damage. Thomas (Rouxel) climbed almost 40 meters up the mast to retrieve the halyard. This is no easy task that was successfully carried out in a calm, discerning and speedy manner”.
Just 175 mile was gained on the past 12 hours at an average 14.5 knots. The lead over Groupama 3 has slipped 60 miles from 333 last night to 270 this morning. Such was the price to pay reach the stronger northerly breeze that is coming down the North American coastline to the Bahamas.
« We are now on starboard tack » Bertarelli confided this morning. « We have 35 knots of wind and went from full sail to two reefs and staysail. » The last 600 miles of the race should see Spindrift 2 sail to its potential and join San Salvador in record time. « There will be one or two gybes to negotiate strong winds, » says Dona. « On the radar we can see that there are storms on the finish area. This last phase of the course looks like is going to be tough. » The crew has managed to get through the tense moment last night, which deprived the team of any rest and are now just focused on making the boat sail fast. « Spindrift 2 is a beast of a machine, her strength in the strong wind is phenomenal. Handled well, she is a fantastic machine », concludes Dona as she continues to enjoy her first transatlantic race.
« The team spirit and the support we all give each other on board is just fantastic and gives you an idea of just a very strong human dimension to our adventure. » Since being stalled last night, Spindrift 2 should benefit from the good conveyor belt and sail fast towards the Bahamas and finish line in San Salvador.
Spindrift 2 is expected to arrive in San Salvador on Wednesday the 6th of November at approximately 5am (6am in Paris). Some informations about how to follow the finish will be sent later today.
At 10hrs GMT (11hrs french time) this morning, Spindrift had a 308.91 miles of advantage on the reference time.
Le Maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 de Dona Bertarelli et Yann Guichard a connu la nuit dernière la phase la plus lente, la plus compliquée et la plus stressante de sa tentative contre le record de la route de la Découverte depuis son départ de Cadix jeudi 31 octobre dernier.
En son 6ème jour de course, et conformément à son plan de route, le plus grand trimaran de course au monde a dû affronter des zones perturbées entre deux systèmes météo. Des orages souvent virulents sont venus toute la nuit malmener l’équipage, les soumettant à l’usante alternance des soudaines montées de vent, et d’arrêts buffet sous les grains. Trouver la toile du temps dans ces conditions aussi brutalement changeantes s’est avéré un véritable casse tête qui a toute la nuit mobilisé l’attention et la réactivité de l’équipage. C’est Dona qui illustre avec les mots justes l’ambiance et les circonstances de la nuit : « Spindrift 2 ressemblait plus a une veille voiture en manque d’essence qu’à une formule 1 des mers. Nous sommes restés encalminés sous les orages, avec le vent passant de 2 à 25 noeuds, sans options de sortie. »
Et comme pour corser davantage encore une affaire au demeurant fort compliquée, un incident est survenu au même moment : « Pour ne pas arranger les choses et garder tous les équipiers éveillées, le gennaker medium est tombé sur le filet, heureusement sans occasionner de dégâts. Thomas (Rouxel) s’est dévoué pour monter à près de 40 mètres de haut dans le mât pour récupérer la drisse. Cela n’est pas une mince affaire mais la manoeuvre a été effectuée avec succès dans le calme, discernement et rapidité ». Au passif de cette nuit noire, sans lune et quelque peu angoissante, un gain sur la route de 175 petits milles sur 12 heures, soit 14,5 noeuds de moyenne. L’avance sur Groupama 3 a elle fondu de plus de 60 milles, passant de 333 milles hier soir, à moins de 270 ce matin. Tel était le prix à payer pour rejoindre un vaste flux de secteur nord est qui descend le long des côtes d’Amérique du nord et baigne généreusement les Bahamas.
« Nous sommes désormais tribord amure » confiait Dona Bertarelli ce matin. « Nous avons 35 noeuds de vent et sommes passés sans transition de la toile maximum à deux ris et trinquette ». Les derniers 600 milles de course devraient voir de nouveau Spindrift 2 déployer ses ailes de géant et rejoindre San Salvador dans les temps du record. « Il y aura un ou deux empannages à négocier dans du vent fort » précise Dona. « Nous voyons au radar que des phénomènes orageux circulent sur la zone d’arrivée. Cette dernière phase du parcours s’annonce musclée. »Tout l’équipage de Spindrift 2, au sortir de l’épineux épisode de la nuit qui les a totalement privés de repos, reste plus que jamais concentré sur la marche du bateau. « Spindrift 2 est une machine infernale. Sa puissance dans le vent est phénoménale. Bien maîtrisée, c’est une machine fantastique » résume Dona Bertarelli, toujours à l’émerveillement de sa première transat en course. « L’esprit d’équipe, la notion d’entre aide à bord est absolument fantastique et donne une dimension humaine très forte à notre aventure. » Après le coup de frein de la nuit, Spindrift 2 va toute la journée bénéficier d’un tapis roulant à grande vitesse vers les Bahamas et la ligne d’arrivée de San Salvador.
L’arrivée de Spindrift 2 à San Salvador est prévue mercredi 6 novembre aux alentours de 5h TU (soit 6h du matin heure Paris). Un dispositif arrivée sera envoyé dans la journée.
A 8:30 TU (9h30 heure Paris), Spindrift 2 dispose d’une avance de 285.44 milles sur le temps de référence.
Day 6 – Slowdown and conveyor to the finish
Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard’s maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 last night endured the slowest, most complicated and most stressful phase of the Discovery Route record attempt since leaving Cadiz last Thursday, October 31st.
In its sixth day of the race, and following the planned course, the world’s largest racing trimaran had to deal with rough seas between the two weather systems. All the crew had a rough ride with often violent storms bringing exhausting wind conditions. The squalls meant the wind would leave them flying or at a complete standstill. Finding the right sail plan in these brutally changing conditions proved to be a real conundrum that had the entire crew focused and responsive all night.
Dona’s description perfectly illustrates the atmosphere and circumstances of the night: “Spindrift 2 seemed more like an old banger that had run out of fuel than a Formula 1 of the seas. We remained becalmed in the storms, with the wind going from 2 to 25 knots, with no way of getting out of them.
An to further complicate an already tricky situation, the first serious mechanical failure occurred at the same time: « For some added setbacks, and to keep the crew awake all night, the medium sized gennaker fell down on the net, fortunately causing no damage. Thomas (Rouxel) climbed almost 40 meters up the mast to retrieve the halyard. This is no easy task that was successfully carried out in a calm, discerning and speedy manner”.
Just 175 mile was gained on the past 12 hours at an average 14.5 knots. The lead over Groupama 3 has slipped 60 miles from 333 last night to 270 this morning. Such was the price to pay reach the stronger northerly breeze that is coming down the North American coastline to the Bahamas.
« We are now on starboard tack » Bertarelli confided this morning. « We have 35 knots of wind and went from full sail to two reefs and staysail. » The last 600 miles of the race should see Spindrift 2 sail to its potential and join San Salvador in record time. « There will be one or two gybes to negotiate strong winds, » says Dona. « On the radar we can see that there are storms on the finish area. This last phase of the course looks like is going to be tough. » The crew has managed to get through the tense moment last night, which deprived the team of any rest and are now just focused on making the boat sail fast. « Spindrift 2 is a beast of a machine, her strength in the strong wind is phenomenal. Handled well, she is a fantastic machine », concludes Dona as she continues to enjoy her first transatlantic race.
« The team spirit and the support we all give each other on board is just fantastic and gives you an idea of just a very strong human dimension to our adventure. » Since being stalled last night, Spindrift 2 should benefit from the good conveyor belt and sail fast towards the Bahamas and finish line in San Salvador.
Spindrift 2 is expected to arrive in San Salvador on Wednesday the 6th of November at approximately 5am (6am in Paris). Some informations about how to follow the finish will be sent later today.
At 10hrs GMT (11hrs french time) this morning, Spindrift had a 308.91 miles of advantage on the reference time.