last news

It will take us four or five days more than usual to get to the equator

by admin on January 18th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Hello

Whilst yesterday this route looked like the best and that I had chosen a good option according to the last reports, it is not looking so good any more. And what’s more, the situation with the low pressure system that will soon form to the North West is going to favour those who have chosen a more inside route.

It is difficult to change things at this stage but we will have to watch carefully how it evolves. In the next few days the whole meteorological situation in this area is going to be a real chaos right up until Salvador de Bahía. It will take us four or five days more than usual to get to the equator if it continues like this….

Greetings to everyone

Bubi

I’m now in the Santa Helena anti-cyclone

by admin on January 17th, 2013 at 9:03 am
Hi!

Well, I’m now in the Santa Helena anti-cyclone, sailing upwind on a port tack and with 400 miles ahead of me before tacking for the first of many times; which I will have to do before being able to directly cross the equator.

I’m happy with where I’m positioned and also to finally be 7th overall which of course can be improved, but it won’t be an easy task…

I really don’t know how it will go for the other boats that are further inside, but it could well be that their tactical move works out for them, and they overtake me when we are further north. Everything is possible, although right now I would not change my position.

Yet you just never know…. although in about three days time we should. I hope this side turns out to be the good one.

BUBI

My option to continue more eastwards is now looking good

by admin on January 15th, 2013 at 11:05 am
Hello everyone

We are finally going to know our results when we have Cabo Frio to one side of us (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). There are now all different tactics and strategies to get to the north in whatever way we choose, especially in the next three days that are showing variable winds and areas of calm all along this area on the way up to Cabo Frio…

My option to continue more eastwards is now looking good and I hope that it is indeed the case, but it might not be so in five days time and those on the inside can then make a quick recovery. I have preferred to go for the outside option: the option to go further in to the coast might be good, like it worked for Alex, but I think this generally works just 1 in 10 times. ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

I’m gaining miles real fast

by admin on January 14th, 2013 at 5:15 pm
I’m glad Mike thinks we can close the distance, it’d be a good thing! We’re sailing quite fast now, so everything is possible, but Mike is way ahead of us.

I chose an option that’s taking me very much east, and I think the conditions are going to get better and better. The wind is with me right now, both in terms of strength and direction.

I’m gaining miles real fast and the other guys are having a little less wind, so let’s see what happens, nothing is impossible. But my main objective remains to pass Jean and Mike before the finish, it would be a very big achievement, definitely a “mission accomplished”. Reaching that goal would be awesome!

I have had to take a heading towards the east

by admin on January 13th, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Hello everyone from ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered

I have had to take a heading towards the east to avoid getting caught up in an area of light wind that would have left me close to the land, so I prefer to sail further out. I also gybed just after the position report which gave me time to do so before Akena realized.

I think I have done the right thing and the last few reports are showing it, so I am going to go for more miles again in the next few reports. At least I am sailing with more wind for a few more hours yet.

It is clear that on a starboard tack with the broken rudder in the water, the boat is losing almost 30% speed. I had been making some good miles since Cape Horn; when I was on a port tack.

Last night I had to gybe because of the weather, and I tried to sail fast but with 28-32 knots of wind I could only withstand the solent with one reef, which meant losing quite a few miles. As well as the fact that I was doing a really bad VMG (velocity made good) for the whole of the route eastwards.

I tried with the gennaker but it gave me two good wipeouts, leaving the boat shaking for a good while afterwards, so I have decided to take it more calmly and not break anything. It is frustrating, but it is something that happened, and I have to sail with this problem. I can stand anything up to 17-18 knots, but then the rudder just responds too late and goes into a broach.

This is actually the last area where we might find really strong downwind conditions, and up to Les Sables de’Olonne we will be sailing much closer to the wind.

Bubi

There are such chaotic weather conditions ahead

by admin on January 12th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Hello everyone,

Right now I’m having to do a lot of sail manoeuvres to keep the boat speed 100% and so there is a lot of work on board.

I don’t know if the option that I have chosen is the best, but it is the most normal one for my position. There are such chaotic weather conditions ahead (about 600 miles), that it is extremely hard to make a good job of it – and I will be really happy not to make a bad job of it!!

Every weather report I download shows different routing options (sometimes completely opposite) so we will have to see how everything evolves a little before taking any drastic decisions. Absolutely anything might happen. Right now it is essential to make miles to the north-east at top speed because in 24 hours it will all change quite a lot.

Yesterday I had one of the coldest nights with just 8 degrees in the cabin, and now the sun has come out I have been enjoying one of the warmest moments in the last month, with 16 degrees!

Best wishes from ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered

Message from ACCIONA Sailing Team: Dreams and reality

by admin on January 12th, 2013 at 9:01 am
Every idea turns into a dream which awaits its chance to become reality. Bubi was dreaming about the Vendée Globe for a very long time before his first participation in the 2000-2001 edition of the race; a long time ago, and he probably no longer remembers when he actually had the idea, nor when that idea became a dream in his life. He shared it with everyone who took the time to listen to him, until he found someone who like him, had the same concerns and were able to make the idea of the very first Eco-powered racing boat into a reality: ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered. ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

I want to thank Acciona

by admin on January 11th, 2013 at 10:44 am
Hi everyone

I want to thank Acciona and the whole team who have made it possible for me to round the three southern capes. I think we can all be really proud of having made an excellent boat that is a true pioneer in its class.

I still think it is quite incredible that this project has gone from something on a PowerPoint spreadsheet to reality and that now we are 6000 miles from Les Sables. Having rounded the three southern capes we have made history; nobody has ever managed to do this before by using just eco-efficient energies non-stop, and as we might say – quickly!

This has been possible with the great effort of a team that have never wasted a second in dedicating their full energy and time to the project – there were many Saturdays and Sundays involved, long working days that have meant that this moment now is possible.

I am really happy – there is still a long race ahead; it is a long way from being over but having rounded Cape Horn is very significant.

This morning I overtook Akena and I now have him a few miles behind me. I hope he stays right there as he is….ahead of us we are getting closer to Mirabaud and moving away from Gamesa who has made some fabulous tactical moves both before and after Cape Horn.

But there is still a lot of racing to go. The weather is sometimes a little finicky in this part of the planet….

Best wishes to everyone from ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered

Bubi

I am thrilled to have rounded Cape Horn

by admin on January 10th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Greetings and a big hug for everyone who is following us; my boat and I. Thank you all so much for being there. I have been sent emails from people showing their true encouragement and affection and it is really a huge help and great for morale.

I am feeling really good and also it is sunny today. I am thrilled to have rounded Cape Horn and although it has been a long way here, it is different now. I am out of the Southern Ocean.

I have caught Arnaud (Boissières, AKENA Vérandas), he is going inside Le Maire strait and I am going outside.

ACCIONA 100% ECOPOWERED ROUNDS CAPE HORN: A TOUGH BUT SUCCESSFUL BATTLE FOR JAVIER SANSO

by admin on January 10th, 2013 at 10:18 am
The Mallorca-born skipper of ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered, Javier Sansó, rounds Cape Horn and marks a historical milestone for Spanish solo round-the-world sailing along with Basque sailor José Luis de Ugarte

After 60 days and a gruelling test of survival Javier Sansó rounds the most southerly of the three capes on the planet in hostile conditions.

At 00:52UTC on the 10th of January and in 9º position, Javier “Bubi” Sansó and his IMOCA 60 ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered, rounded the most legendary of the capes for any sailor – Cape Horn (Tierra Del Fuego, Chile) and a vital part of his objective to sail around the planet. ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

I am now less than 100 miles from Cape Horn

by admin on January 9th, 2013 at 7:01 pm
Hi everyone!

I am now less than 100 miles from Cape Horn, and really looking forward to rounding it and leaving it astern. Acciona 100% EcoPowered is about to make offshore sailing history. I am really proud of being part of this fabulous team.

I have had a few minor problems that have meant I haven’t been able to fully attack Akena but on the way up through the Atlantic I will be back to 100%.

The boat is going well and I am fine. There isn’t any reason that with a little luck we can’t move up another position before Les Sables d’Olonne, but we’ll have to be patient and try and find the right opportunity.

The weather prediction is looking good and fast for the next four days and this I hope will get us out of the south quite fast and into the nicer warm conditions which I am now more than ready for.

Bubi

Yesterday I could see Akena!

by admin on January 7th, 2013 at 9:37 am
Hello everyone

Yesterday I could see Akena briefly on my bow; the first thing I have seen in two months other than whales, water and birds.

It was good to meet up with someone at these latitudes. On Sunday I let Cali past me so he could take a photo of Acciona astern as I knew it would make him happy (it’s a joke!). He overtook me because he has had ten days with good weather conditions, he has made good tactical decisions and because I have had a few issues on board…but I’mnot making excuses.

Yesterday we spoke on the VHF and had a bit of a laugh. I congratulated him on his progress but I hope he has stopped now and it will be my turn to go into the lead….

The weather up to Cape Horn doesn’t look too drastic where a lot of wind is concerned but a little slow with westerly winds which will mean we have togybe a number of times. This is the reason I am going south, to get a better and more direct heading when I have to gybe. I hope it works and I can cut the distance to those ahead of me and get away from Cali.

After Cape Horn it doesn’t look too bad, right now we can at least get to the Falkland Islands quite quickly which is in itself a reason for celebration….. and then the lottery begins…