KEY DATA DAY 22 0710 GMT: 18 hours 4 minutes ahead of Joyon
OMEGA: Official timekeeper for Ellen MacArthur
Lat/Long: 45 50 S / 39 47 E (400 miles W Crozet Is / 1190 miles W Kerguelen Is)
Average Boat speed: 21.74 knots (heading SE)
True Wind speed: 34.0 knots (direction WNW)
Distance sailed so far: 8782 miles
(data communicated by Thrane MiniC via BT Business Broadband)
Update based on data recorded 0710 GMT...check http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly
IN BRIEF:
ROUGH SEA CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT but <<B&Q>> gains time back on the Joyon's record after gybing back on to port late yesterday afternoon to head on a more south-easterly track. It was a painful day yesterday for Ellen as she lost a valuable 8 hours on the clock in less than 3 hours of real time [going for 23 hours ahead in the morning to 15 hours ahead by middle of the afternoon], as she pushed <<B&Q>> eastwards and underpowered [not enough sailing up] waiting for the forecasted strengthening winds to increase. But the reality was, Ellen was sitting just ahead of a cold front going at the same speed... After 'pulling her hair out for 7 hours', Ellen gybed back south and within an hour, after sailing a much better angle towards the cold front, wind speeds were back up to 30 knots and <<B&Q>> was trucking along at 18 knots. This morning B&Q has clawed back some of the lost time to be 18 hours ahead, racing along at over 20 knots in 34 knots of WNW breeze. The exceedingly rough sea state caused by the centre of a depression passing to the south-east of <<B&Q>> is mixing it with the existing north-westerly one creating swells in excess of 25-feet and peaking over 30-foot.
500 MILES WEST OF THE CROZET ISLANDS which <<B&Q>> is expected to pass to the north tomorrow, making the decision to keep away from the rough sea state in the south... [see Jargon Buster below for info on the Crozets] The larger group of the Kerguelen Islands lay a further 700 miles to the east and Ellen will pass these islands towards the end of the week and is nervously anticipating the development of a huge low weather system developing east of the islands. This depression could deliver 50-60 knot winds and Ellen's Christmas on board <<B&Q>> [if there is such a thing on your own in the middle of the Southern Ocean!] is under threat....
LIGHTER WINDS IN THE NORTH, DANGEROUS SEAS IN THE SOUTH will force Ellen to gybe back to starboard later today heading back on an ENE track to avoid the 'boat-breaking' sea state in the south. This will take <<B&Q>> back towards lighter [20-25 knot winds] and flatter seas north of 45 degrees south but the trick will be to stay below the band of high pressure that is sitting north of 43 degrees south. <<B&Q>> will need to try and stay on this one lane motorway in the next few days and as the wind rotates another 20 degrees to the NW this will help her to stay on an easterly heading. Still sailing a more southerly track to Joyon - <<B&Q>> is approximately 370 miles south of Joyon's historical track - Ellen continues to sail less miles on the more direct course so keeping her ahead of IDEC. Joyon continued to stay a northerly track, passing the Kerguelen Islands at around 41 degrees south and finally dropped to 46 south a few days later...
HOW YOU CAN FOLLOW ELLEN THIS CHRISTMAS without your laptop! Daily update mail-outs and website updates will continue throughout the Christmas period but if you are lucky enough not be chained to your laptop, you can still follow <<B&Q's>> progress via daily text messages. See below on how to follow Ellen on your mobile phone... [This service is only available in the UK]
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ANOTHER GREAT OFFER...if you buy a copy of Ellen's 'Taking On The World' - her Vendée Globe story in her own words - you can receive a limited edition information booklet about her solo round the world record attempt and special photo CD... To order a copy, go to http://www.teamellen.com and click on the merchandising icon....
ELLEN'S OC SAILING TEAM MATE UPDATE: Nick Moloney on Skandia, 8th place in the Vendee Globe, will be doing the opposite to Ellen in trying to get south for better breeze as he makes small gains on Virbac. http://www.nickmoloney.com
WEATHER ANALYSIS FROM COMMANDERS' WEATHER 0600 GMT:
Very rough conditions for Ellen early today will gradually improve.
Ellen's strong (25-35kt gust 45kt) westerly breeze early today will be diminishing slowly as high pressure slides eastward north of her along 40s. However very high westerly swells of 15-25 feet with peak swells to 30+ feet will continue. Conditions are even worse further south so Ellen is expected to gybe to port and head ENE later today.
This more northern course will take her to lighter winds (20-25kts) and improving seas around and north of 45s Monday night and Tuesday. The trick will be to stay out of lighter air (10-15kts) closer to the high not to much further north toward 43n during midweek. With some luck she should be able to do that as wind direction should clock to NW direction by Tuesday allowing her to head more eastward. Ellen should pass north of Crozet Island later Tuesday.
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, time is UTC
Mon, Dec 20 - Wind stronger to the S and lighter to the N
09:00 260-280/25-35 some gust to 40+
12:00 270-280/25-35 some gusts to 40 near 46 30s/42 e
18:00 280-290/22-30
0Variable clouds with a few squally showers.
Seas 15-25 ft with peak swells to 30+ feet. Bigger seas likely off to the S and SW of you
Tues, Dec 21 - wind lighter N and stronger S
00:00 280-290/18-25
06:00 280-300/17-22
12:00 300-320/17-22 near 45s/51e
18:00 300-320/18-25
Variable cloudiness. Seas subsiding to 10-20 feet W swell
Wed, Dec 22 - winds lighter N of 44-45s and stronger to the S
00:00 290-310/18-25
06:00 280-300/18-25
12:00 260-280/17-22, near 44 30s/61e - gybe south to stay in better breeze
18:00 260-280/17-22
Partly cloudy
http://www.commandersweather.com
JARGON BUSTER : CROZET ISLANDS
The 20 small mountainous islands of Crozet come under French territory and are uninhabited except for scientific personnel and penguins. Home to seals, King Penguins and other birds, Crozet is designated a national conservation area. The mostly barren island is subject to low temperatures and long winters. The island climate is mitigated somewhat by maritime influences. The inland plateaus are barren and rocky. Steep cliffs drop to sea level on the coasts. First landing was in 1772, with the first settlers, a group of sealers, arriving in 1804.
For further information, please contact Offshore Challenges:
Lou Newlands or Lucy Harwood
T: +44 (0)870 063 0210
E: lou@offshorechallenges.com or lucy@offshorechallenges.com
Click here for further information on Sailing Speed Records http://www.sailspeedrecords.com and here for information on Ellen's campaign http://www.teamellen.com
Article added 21/10/04.
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