Kito de Pavant: "On board, it's war!"

Those of the IMOCA monohulls continuing this long and particularly wet and unpleasant port tack to the north of the Azores are waging war on all fronts. They're being battered and they're wet. In addition they have to find the energy to face the surge above deck and to continually adapt the sails. On the chessboard, it is also a fine tactical battle between the seven boats in the north, led by Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), who has moved slightly north. Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air), second, and Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), third, are a little further South, while instead Vincent Riou is attacking by the north in fourth position and Marc Guillemot (Safran-5th), Christopher Pratt (DCNS 1000-6th) and Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel-7th) remain in the middle.

Well south of the Azores, Franck Cammas (Groupama 3), Francis Joyon (Idec) and Yann Guichard (Gitana 11) are still surfing downwind, on board their large multihulls which are dashing along in the sun and a more practicable sea than in the north. This is also the case of Michel Desjoyeaux and Arnaud Boissières, the only two IMOCAs to have swung down at Cape Finisterre. However, if you listen to what the skipper of Groupe Bel has to say about their position, the only thing he is envious of is the temperature. ??

Weather-wise, a distinct front is expected in the next few hours and it should hit the northern racers first with a clear wind change from south to north-northeast; enough to open up the mainsails and charge towards the West Indies. However, both in the North and South, the same observation can be made: the long term situation will not promise energetic gliding in an established trade wind. Quite the reverse, it is thundery and unsettled towards the Antilles Arc, so friends if you feel like making a bet, now is the time to do so!

Radio contact with Kito on board Groupe Bel at 11:30 this Thursday 4th November

As hard as she will go! “We’re making progress at 17 knots, our windspeed is 25 knots and the sea is rough. We’re being tossed about, the ballasts are full, everything is stacked up as much as possible and the deck is constantly submerged in water. It really is very wet. We are still manoeuvring a lot, with sail changes and reefing. I am managing to eat regularly, but between the work on deck, cogitating on strategy and the infernal racket in the boat, I haven‘t slept a wink. It’s war on board and it’s the same for everyone.”

They are making progress up ahead: “It annoys me a little to see that the wind is coming in up front and that Bilou (Roland Jourdain) and Armel are running along, but the route is long and it’s far from finished. In the south, Michel (Desjoyeaux) and Cali (A.Boissières) are in the sun and gliding along. Although I envy the weather conditions they have at the moment, they are still a good distance behind us and with what is forecast, nothing looks simple either for them or for us.”

Soon to be gliding along, but for how long? “We’re expecting a front to pass early in the night which will bring us a fairly strong north-northeast wind, which is good for heading down. Although the next four or five days look fairly clear, a depression will then come up from the South towards the West Indies, cancelling out the effect of the trade wind until it gets there. Optimistic yesterday, the forecast data is pessimistic this morning and it's looking very complicated for us to get to Guadeloupe. We will not beat the Bilou record, that’s for sure!”

IMOCA Ranking Monday at 12:00 (French time GMT+1):
1- Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain 2,268 miles from the finish
2 - Armel Le Cléac'h - Brit Air at 32.7 miles
3 - Jean-Pierre Dick - Virbac-Paprec 3 at 40.2 miles
4 - Vincent Riou - PRB at 43.4 miles
...6 - Kito de Pavant - Groupe Bel at 80.2 miles
Full ranking: click here

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