Tomorrow is going to be a great day

by admin on December 21st, 2012 at 9:56 am
Another day of running eastwards like greyhounds, and each of us are trying to get into the position that we think is the best for us, or where the software is saying we should be….and so that is where we are going .

It is going to be interesting to see which side is the best to get through this small wind-less transition ahead of us, before we get onto the back of a growing squall which will take us directly down south and into the Pacific….but well….

It is honestly quite difficult to know what is going to happen, since sometimes the calms will appear more to the south or more to the north, and in these cases it is usually more beneficial for those coming up from behind since those in front come to a standstill. But sometimes those who get there first will get through to the other side before the others. In 40 hours or so we will see what happens.

Meanwhile on board I have done a little maintenance work and some routine checks – changing the filter of the water-maker with a sewing thread…..and another little fiddly thing or two…

Tomorrow is going to be a great day – I am finally going to open food bag number 4 with my chocolate and cookies !!!!

13 DAYS AND 13 NIGHTS BETWEEN BOTH CAPES

by admin on December 20th, 2012 at 4:55 pm


At 06.30 UTC (European time) ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin (Australia)

It has taken the Mallorca-born skipper Javier Sansó 13 days, one hour and 23 minutes to cross the distance between the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) and Cape Leeuwin (Australia). Still in 9th position Sansó has made up important miles to his two closest rivals Swiss skipper Dominique Wavre and British sailor Mike Golding, who are now all in the midst of an intense battle.

After 40 days of sailing from the start of the Vendée Globe (solo non-stop round the world race) ACCIONA 1OO% EcoPowered continues to show great performance both on a sporting and level and with its innovative energy systems.

NOTES:
PAST THE FIRST GREAT CAPE, THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 05:07 UTC. 07/12/2012

PAST THE SECOND GREAT CAPE, CAPE LEEUWIN: 06:30 UTC 20/12/2012

Today it is almost sunny and the humidity has dropped from 85 to 55% inside the boat

by admin on December 20th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Good day to all!

It is my turn to have less wind than those ahead of me, and they are getting away from me a little right now, although in the next few hours we will all have the same wind again.

What I am most worried about though, is how I am going to deal with the low pressure area that is forming right in our path to the south of Tasmania – it doesn’t look too good – and I think I will have quite an intense Christmas Eve.

The southern option is not going to be possible because of all the calm areas and shifty winds, and actually up here at (47º) it’s not bad at all….14 degrees and almost some sunshine with the wind looking like it might hang in there a few more days. In fact the Indian Ocean is not going to make it easy for us to leave…

Today it is almost sunny and the humidity has dropped from 85 to 55% inside the boat which I am extremely grateful for, because at 85% everything is full of condensation and the sensation of cold is much greater. But I have to admit that it isn’t really cold yet, and by that I mean temperatures under 10º. Right now its 16º and that is fine.

I have turron and jamon, that will be a very special Christmas meal

by admin on December 19th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
I’m facing pretty solid wind, between 25 and 30 knots, I’m taking advantage of that momentum, it’s very good but I think it won’t last for more than another 5 or 6 hours. After that, it’s going to be tricky to sail to the next gate, yes, definitely very tricky in the next 2 to 4 days because of the wind.

My computer is going crazy, or maybe it’s the weather that’s going crazy! Sailing south of the gate is not an option, there’s no wind there, so I’ll probably have to go closer to Tasmania. But there’s a depression building up in the south of Australia so I have to keep an eye on that, too, it could get nasty.

My plans for Christmas are quite simple: I’ll eat sweets! I need some sweets! But I also have turron and jamon, that will be a very special Christmas meal, especially with the presents my family gave me.

Javier Sanso’s cookies

by admin on December 18th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Hello everyone,

It looks like I am well positioned for the time being and that I am making up miles to those ahead who will have to wait a few hours before they get the same wind as I am having.

Then up to the gate in New Zealand it is a little tricky with high pressure areas along the way and a cold front at the end. I will have to be very careful not to get caught up in any of it. I’m looking forward to leaving this gate behind me and starting to make my way to the next one.

Life on board is quite normal, with the same maintenance and especially checking the areas that are suffering the most – like the reefing areas, the Jib Top tack and the code 2 and it’s all going well. It’s been almost 40 days of sailing and the materials are starting to feel it.

I’m looking forward to opening food bag number 4 on Saturday which lasts me for the next two weeks. Yesterday I ate my last cookie from bag number three and it was really difficult to keep myself from opening number 4 knowing that there is ‘turrón’ (Spanish sweet nougat and more cookies inside! I’m trying to substitute the sweet things with dried fruit but it’s just not the same! But I will resist the temptation until Saturday!!

Best wishes to you all!