Gitana 13

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Life on Gitana 13 - Sailing Blog

Posted April 2nd, 2008 by Nicolas Raynaud

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In the throes of a passing front

31/03/2008

Clearly, any action has happened under cover of darkness since our departure. Like yesterday, here we are again with 30 knots of breeze in our sails, or what’s left of them at least: 2 reefs and ORC. However, this time the seas aren’t as big, which means less water on deck. To compensate for this and keep us occupied, the rain has joined in on the act, in a dense curtain of driving rain. It lashes at your face more solidly than the waves… It has to be said that we’re in the process of negotiating the warm front of the low and, in a few hours time, we'll have to negotiate the cold front. It is 1300 hours UT and in these uncomfortable conditions, sailing close to the wind with a change of tack on the cards, we’ll be kept busy for the rest of the day.

Gitana 13 Fortunately yesterday enabled us to get back on our feet. The galley was going flat out and everyone settled back into the route, or discovered it in the case of the five newcomers. Although the first night was a bit difficult then, this second ink black night couldn't have gone better, despite the rotten weather. At the end of this little lot, the promise of tradewinds is certainly a big incentive. What has been most pleasing of all though is knowing that time is on our side and that the chaotic course we're currently adopting will only serve to increase our lead over the previous record. A few little waves on the nose and the taking in of the odd reef are certainly proving to be worthwhile.

Until tomorrow

Nicolas Raynaud

30/03/2008 - 17:29 - Pitch black and far from gentle...

Gitana 13 Our foulies are streaming with the spray and the big waves; already they’re completely soaked. The first night was full on, which is the nice thing about record attempts since you have the freedom to choose the right weather conditions in which to sail the first three/five days. … If you want a gentle introduction with a bit of finesse, you can always come back another day.

As soon as the Golden Gate Bridge was crossed and the stopwatch started, Gitana 13 reared up and got a handle on the speed, which she had not yet experienced in the Pacific. It was bordering on the wild side and then, as night fell without a moon and without stars, inked with an intense black, we got gusts of over 33 knots, which is something Gitana 13 hadn’t seen since her passage around Cape Horn.

Beam on to 4 to 6 metre hollow waves, we really got shaken about onboard and vigilance was paramount on the sheets and at the helm. Most surprising of all though was the cold: a biting, very wet cold which went right through you. An initial bracing night then, a complete contrast to the way we cast off, which was gentle and calm.
After a final ‘healthy’ meal (hamburger/chips/coke, the works!) relished aboard a former US Navy aircraft carrier in the bay and now transformed into a museum, we cast off as planned at 1400 hours local time and then put in a few tacks at the foot of San Francisco to join up with the infamous red bridge. Though there were only a few people on our quay, lost at the end of the bay, the harbour itself was teeming with sails on Saturday afternoon. Amidst foghorns and waves, we were given a fantastic send off. Next stop Japan.

Nicolas Raynaud

01/04/2008 - 18:00 - Flat out on a reach

It is the third night at sea in over 30 knots of wind, the anemometer even witnessing peaks at 35/38 knots. It is the third ink black night where the water is constantly drenching both the deck and the crew. The rewards are good for the speedo though, the latter never seeming to drop below 20/22 knots, despite the big, messy seas and a trajectory as straight as a die, which is saving us miles with each hour that passes. This trajectory was a daring option, others wouldn’t have attempted it. We could have made do with a tradewind glide towards Hawaii, but Captain Lionel, still fabulously supported by Sylvain Mondon of Météo France, chose this course which is a shade lively to say the least. Since the start, we have been making a series of “reaching de la mort” manoeuvres. So what exactly is this?

Gitana13 Every sport, every job has its jargon and in this one we have the word 'reaching', from the verb 'to reach'. It designates a point of sail where the boat can reach its goal by adopting a direct course, without having to put in some tack changes. This point of sail is the fastest point of sail for a yacht, which is logical given that it only covers useful miles towards the goal in this instance. However, it is also highly uncomfortable at times, as is the case for us at the moment. Beam on to the wind, beam on to the waves, we hit the sea at full bore, with all the power the 25 tonne Gitana 13 has to offer; the sea as a result explodes into a thousand shards of luminosity as we power through it. As our maxi-catamaran was considerably overhauled during the stopover and after 43 days spent at sea during the previous record we fully understand the boat's capability, so we're willingly driving our steed onwards.

Until tomorrow

Nicolas Raynaud

Gitana 13

Photos: Gitana 13 at sea in the Pacific by Gitana S.A.

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Sailing Gitana 13 - Awaiting the waves

On April 2nd, 2008 Nicolas Raynaud says:

And the fourth night was the right night! The heaven was filled with stars and the men on watch on deck were finally able to chat amongst ourselves naturally, without having to bellow to make ourselves heard… The collars of our foulies are open now as we no longer have to do battle with the spray or the cold. The ambient temperature has utterly changed, as has the seawater, which is now 23°C, as opposed to 10 at the start. This changes the tone and this ‘truce’ comes as a welcome relief. Gitana 13 is dry again, the two hulls having been sponged down from top to bottom. The crew meantime has had a good rest for the first time, with the resulting deep sleep a real joy for the person in charge of waking everyone up. Each time the person being woken is a long, long way from this Pacific crossing record attempt and takes several seconds to climb aboard once more.

Gitana 13 So here we are, under the stars on flat seas with all the sail aloft. We’re slipping along on calmer seas, still beam on to the breeze. The sheets are in our hands; there’s a reef to be taken in as the wind fills in, albeit it temporarily… quickly followed by shaking out the reef again. Cups of tea or coffee once more circulate about the deck, where paradise reigns, but it won't last. In the next few hours we're expecting the wind to fill in again. We're maintaining the same angle in relation to it so as to set off again with the best possible 'heading/speed' compromise, comfort having absolutely no part in the equation as you've doubtless grasped. However, Captain Lionel's smile has everyone taking their medicine when, beaming broadly, he announces that in two days time we are likely to have covered half the course. “Five days to get halfway across the Pacific, not bad eh?” Go on then, I won’t mind getting dumped on by another wave after all!