"Sweaty hands and feet"

The long hours of surfing, clinging to the steering wheel, are over. It is now time for strategy at the chart table, with eyes riveted to the weather data! If the doldrums has gone without a hitch so far for Kito and Seb, this does not mean that what is to follow is simple. All the same, the sailors were able to rest a little during the night on a much calmer sea. It has to be said, the two men have driven Groupe Bel hard to reduce the gap between her and the head of the fleet. These efforts have been rewarded since Groupe Bel is only 80 miles from the third step of the podium. This is a derisory figure on the scale of a 21,800 round-the-world, i.e. more than 40,000 km from the finish, but just enough to keep our two friends motivated after thirteen days of racing. What is to come? There is the passing of the equator towards the end of the day, which the two sailors have passed dozens of times between them, before tackling the Saint-Helena anticyclone. The latter is located very far south, so it is difficult to establish a real strategy for the moment. Groupe Bel has set a course for the south, but the situation would seem to indicate that there will be some serious thinking done in the next few hours!

Official radio contact with Kito de Pavant this Thursday at 11:00:

“I don’t know if we’re out of the doldrums yet, because I don’t even know if we ever went in! We had a first sign: a heavy squall 5° North and a fairly strong wind, but that’s all. We weren’t really slowed down, since we’ve been progressing at an average of 12 to 13 knots all night. What is incredible is that the wind has not changed. We still have a 10 to 15 knots northeasterly wind with a big swell. Ahead, there are a few large clouds approaching, so were not necessarily out of the woods yet. We are sailing under “Code Zero” (downwind sail between the Gennaker and Solent jib) and full mainsail. The yacht is making good headway and we should pass the equator before the sun sets. However, in these places, you never know how things will turn out; things can take a turn for the worse! It’s very hot, very humid and clammy. It’s a “sweaty hands and feet” kind of weather. When we will be close hauled in a few hours, the atmosphere will be fresher and more pleasant.”

“It is difficult to anticipate the days to come since the anticyclone is very far south. The two weather models do not agree at all on the 8 day forecast and with the new route marker at Gough Island (to leave to starboard)*, it is really difficult to plan anything at all. We will know a little more every day. In the meanwhile, our course is set straight for the South! We are also going to take advantage now to check up on the yacht a little, particularly the rigging. A little visit to the masthead is necessary, but up till now everything has gone well, on and below Groupe Bel’s decks.”

* See detail on the race website

RANKING THURSDAY 13 JANUARY AT 15:00 HOURS (UTC +1):
1 - Virbac-Paprec 3 / Jean-Pierre Dick & Loick Peyron, 21 647 miles distance to finish
2 - Foncia / Michel Desjoyeaux & François Gabart, 60 miles distance to leaders
3 - Estrella Damm / Alex Pella & Pepe Ribes, 99 miles distance
4 - Mirabaud / Dominique Wavre & Michèle Parret, 151 miles distance
5 - Mapfre / Iker Martinez & Xabi Fernandez, 161 miles distance
6 - Groupe Bel / Kito de Pavant & Seb Audigane, 176 miles distance