Saturday, March 19, 2011

CONTEST 44 CLASSIC

Boat: CONTEST 44 CLASSIC

Builder: Contest Yachts - Conyplex

Designer: Dick Zaal

More: CONTEST 44 CLASSIC Specifications

News:

The Race - Breath of the Trade Winds


Author: The Race Media

"We didn't have a single call to race HQ last night", Denis Horeau, Race Director, told us. "Passing the Canaries last night has allowed the boats in The Race to pick up the trade winds (winds from the North-east). The crews on deck must be on the ball to gybe at the best moment when the wind shifts from the NW to the NE." At last no more beating upwind and the competitors are all smiles again!

The 3 leading boats are moving on fast, an average of 350 miles covered during the last 24 hours.

This Saturday morning, it's Loпck Peyron again on Innovation Explorer who is calling the tune.

After having passed between Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, Loпck is now sailing close to the Mauritanian coast (about 80 miles off) in a force 4 (15 knot) trade wind while Team Adventure, located well to the West of the Canaries, is sailing at a better angle to a stronger wind (20 knots), which should allow them to sail slightly faster. However, this morning Team Adventure was 140 miles behind the race leader.

Club Med is between the two boats and last night was slaloming between Palma Gomera and Hierro. Grant Dalton was in the lead last night at 2100 GMT.

300 miles from the Canaries, PlayStation has overtaken Polpharma-Warta, length obliges, and both boats are tracking South with a nice wind abeam blowing 25 knots, but falling.

PlayStation is a long way behind the leaders, 422 miles at the 0500 GMT standings and the gap could unfortunately widen a little more in the next few hours. Indeed the presence of a ridge of high pressure will be generating very light winds in the zone where Steve Fossett's maxi-catamaran should be crossing during the day.

The Polish cat is 530 miles behind the leader.

Team Legato is in Gibraltar where she docked at 1425 GMT yesterday Friday 5th January to repair the broken mainsail headboard. Like PlayStation, she must also sit out her 48 hour penalty until Sunday 1425 GMT.

Weather forecast:

For the first 3, the anticyclonic conditions are filling more and more North of the Canaries, which is generating a well established North-easterly flow force 5 to 6, with a North-westerly swell 2 to 3 metres.

For the followers, wind from the North force 5 to 6, then NNE force 4 to 5.

More Information:

  • YachtsandYachting.com The Race Information Page

See also: CONTEST 43 for sale