Sodeb'O Sailing Blind at Breakneck Speeds
Thomas Coville and his maxi-trimaran Sodeb'O have now covered more than 1,140 miles on the Atlantic at an average speed of 23.3 knots! At this pace, Coville's current lead over Francis Joyon’s sailing record from Ambrose Light in the U.S. to Lizard Point in the U.K. stands at 326 miles (603 km). But the going hasn't been easy. A thick fog is sitting off Newfoundland, and the would-be record-breaker can't even see his bows. Thomas spent last night dodging fishing boats and growlers (submerged chunks of ice) from two huge icebergs in the vicinity.
With no sleep, and with only time to eat and down some energy drinks, Thomas may be through the worst of it. It's now a clear shot to Lizard Point, and the fog should be lifting for Sodeb'O this afternoon. In order to take the record, Sodeb'O will need to clear Cornwall before Tuesday, July 15th at 1547 GMT (UT). Though hurricane Bertha is still sitting off the US coast (it looks as though it will track East of Bermuda, and continue to slow), it's far enough away to not pose a concern. However the counterclockwise tropical wind pattern is disrupting the usual Atlantic clockwise winds farther South.
Thomas Commented this morning: "At the moment, the most important thing is to escape this treacle as quickly as possible." The "treacle" being the sticky fog.
- YC for YachtPals
Read more about Thomas Coville, and see a video of the trimaran Sodeb'O: World Record Attempt - Sodeb’O Sailing across the Atlantic
Submitted By YachtPals on 11 Jul
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
.jpg)
Boating and Sailing Magazine Feed
Sodeb'O sailing for a new world record
After more than three days of sailing against the clock, the finish is already shaping up for Thomas Coville's arrival in the UK on the trimaran Sodeb'O this coming Tuesday. Thomas admits that tackling the single-handed North Atlantic record is much more exhausting than it appeared from land, saying: "it is an extended sprint over such a short space of time that any mistakes are out of the question," adding "The one that wins is the one who doesn’t sleep." Thomas reported that he has only had four 20 minute cat-naps in the last three days.
This solo sailor has been pushing his trimaran along at an average of 23.3 knots since sailing out of New York. Hoisting the large gennaker, lowering it again, unfurling the solent, furling it in again to hoist the gennaker, taking a reef, each manoeuvre is demanding. "When you play with the sail areas, your timing has to be spot on so as not to put yourself in danger" explained Thomas.
This afternoon, Thomas Coville sailed Sodeb'O at a top speed of 28 knots in 20 knots of winds with choppy seas. "Strangely, the weather is still just as messy. Even though the visibility is a little better than at the Nantucket Banks of Newfoundland, it’s been three whole days that I’ve been sailing in the fog. Fortunately it’s beginning to get a little warmer now at around 15°C. One very positive aspect of this is that the maxi-Sodeb'O can string together nearly 600 mile days, in conditions which aren’t exceptional for a record. That said the boat’s potential has been lightened by nearly a ton this year."
Thomas reported from Sodeb'O at 1330 this Saturday, with a theoretical lead of 370 miles over the record held by Francis Joyon since 2005. The single-handed sailor has about 1,270 miles to go until he crosses the finish line at Lizard Point.
Post new comment