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Jules Verne Trophy

250 nm in one day again for Orange

dimanche 21 avril 2002 –

Mission accomplished for the maxi-cat Orange which on Saturday at around 2000 eased her mainsheet and hoisted the big masthead gennaker. They’ve made their rendezvous with the south-east trades and the Marseilles Giant is now on a direct heading for the northern hemisphere at more than 20 knots average. Bruno Peyron and his men are finally reaping the benefits of their eastern route and can hope to cross the Equator and tackle the Doldrums in less than four days. A route that looks more like a motorway which will allow Orange to position herself in the best possible way for her entry into the North Atlantic. A clear round for this more than original eastern route !


At 1300 today Sunday April 21st, we could hear the water racing past the hull of the maxi-cat Orange when they came on for the radio chat session. And a few seconds later confirmation came with the announcement that the boat has been skimming along for several hours at more than 25 knots. It was last night at around 2000 that the wind started to pick up again progressively from the ESE strengthening throughout the night. The gateway to the Southern Hemisphere trade winds had finally been crossed, meaning that they could set course to the north, the direct route. It was a bit laborious crossing the high, because it kept moving along with us, declared Gilles Chiorri during the talk show. But yesterday evening the wind progressively picked up. We hoisted first the big gennaker and then the medium one and we’re now under reacher (a large foresail for points of sailing closer to the wind). We now have 21 to 22 knots of true wind and the sea is calm.
And while the maxi-catamaran Orange should soon be brushing with averages of 500 miles per day, this option which is at least original even extreme but in no way due to a gamble, in the words of Bruno Peyron in his nightly e-mail, will have enabled us to gain some easting without loosing anything in latitude compared with previous routes. It’s not obvious following a course around 60° off the direct route for such a long time but it’s interesting to see the result ! And the result today is concrete : We’re doing 24 knots along the direct route and our little comrades (of The Race and the Jules Verne Trophy) were beating along the Brazilian coast at 9 knots at this latitude and I don’t like beating.
But apart from avoiding upwind work that is not good for the boat’s daily runs, this position will enable the maxi-catamaran Orange to do two things. Firstly : to pile on the speed and therefore progressively stretch out her lead over the current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy. Secondly : to be able to position herself as best as possible to be in the right place when they break through the Doldrums compared with the north-east trades and the position of the Azores high that governs weather systems for the climb back up the North Atlantic. This will be the final pitfall to skirt before heading for the tip of Brittany.

Quote / unquote...

Gilles Chiorri : "This morning I printed the programme of the sixteen candidates for the presidential election and we’re going to have a vote on board. There will be a ballot box and we’ll count the votes this evening. We discussed it at great lengths this morning !

Pierrick Garenne / Mer & Media Agency

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