Friday, February 8, 2019
Around the World Record - Trophée Jules Verne - 'Spindrift' in Freemantle AUS
Wednesday evening, the 140-Foot-Trimaran 'Spindrift' of Yann Guichard FRA arrived in Fremantle after having retired from the Round-the-Globe record attempt due to a broken stock between the two bearings of the the boat’s starboard rudder. It seems that the damage occurred without collision with flotsam. After much consideration, the team has decided that the quickest and best solution to repatriate 'Spindrift' back to its home port in Brittany, will be by cargo ship.The news.
It's over ! Yesterday on the Indian Ocean, the starboard rudder fixation of the maxi-trimaran 'Spindrift' was damaged, and it was obvious, that repair was not possible. The skipper Yann Guichard FRA decided therefore to cancel the record attempt veering North to the Australian south coast where the multihull will be put in order for a journey back home. 
In a well established Westwind around 30kn, Yann Guichard FRA and his team remained on a fast ride in the past 24hrs, covering over 700nm. However, the advantage on the recordholder 'IDEC' - underway with an average of 36kn (!) two years ago - was again reduced and is now down on 125nm. 
During the past night, Yann Guichard FRA and his team passed the Cape of Good Hope longitude with a 355nm advantage on the existing record of Francis Joyon FRA.
Around 9h a.m. UTC this morning, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede FRA will reach the finish of the 50-Year-Jubilbee Round-the-World Golden Globe Race as winner. On yachts of the 1968 generation without all the technical and electronic features available today, this circumnavigation lasts of course much longer as today's Vendee Globe. Van den Heede was 212 days underway ! The 
Tomorrow Tuesday, the 50-Year-Jubilee Golden Globe Race commemorating the first Nonstop-Solo-Round-the-World-Regatta comes to an end. Jean-Luc Van den Heede FRA, age 72, defended his lead despite of a damaged rig and will arrive at Les Sables d'Olonne FRA around noon tomorrow as winner. 
The Maxi-Trimaran 'Spindrift' has accelerated again down in the Roaring 40ies and sailing in fresh winds around 30kn, the multihull is speeding direction Cape of Good Hope longitude at top speeds. Yann Guichard FRA and his team - advantage on the existing record up this morning UTC on 394nm - will pass the virtual waypoint today.
With 272nm to go this morning UTC, the ETA for Jean Luc Van Den Heede FRA is still 1000hr next Tuesday 29th January, but his situation with the damaged rig is far from safe. Making 5.7kn in 8-10mtr seas and winds gusting to 50kts or more, it is tough, hazardous sailing. Mark Slats NED is 319nm behind in fantastic 25kt sailing conditions and moderate seas, beam reaching in 25th winds at 6.6kts direct to the finish and slowly closing the gap. 
Yann Guichard FRA on his Maxi-Trimaran 'Spindrift' had to reach far down South to avoid the St-Helena anticyclone. Already in the Roaring Forties, his position is quite below the Cape of Good Hope latitude. However, the advantage on the existing record is still 180nm.
Presumably on Monday, Jean-Luc Van den Heede FRA will finish the 50-Year-Jubilee Golden Globe Race as winner. Inspite of a damaged rig, he has been defending his first position against Mark Slats NED who reduced his backlog considerably. For tomorrow Sunday, a 45-55kn gale-force wind has been announced over the Bay of Biscay, i.e. another stress test for boats and skippers. 
The lulls of the St-Helena anticyclone decelerated Yann Guichard FRA and his 'Spindrift' team more than expected, and they even had to gybe back West to avoid a critical slowdown. The advantage over the existing record has melted on 221nm and the average speed is only 21kn.
Yesterday, 'Spindrift' slightly veered on a more easterly course to shorten the distance to the Cape of Good Hope as much as possible avoiding the lulls of the prevailing St-Helena anticyclone over the South Atlantic. However, the Maxi Multihull has lost some speed and with a 23kn average, the advantage on the record was reduced to 497nm this morning UTC.
Yann Guichard FRA and his team proceed South along the Brazilian Coast at high speeds, and the advantage on the existing record has grown to 525nm. The optimal deviation around the St-Helena anticyclone over the South Atlantic is now the major challenge for the navigator to keep or better extend the advance on the record holder 'IDEC'. 
