Designer: David Thomas
More: DELTA 25 Specifications
News:
EDS Atlantic Challenge - Leg 2 Day Two
Radio Interview Extracts:
Ellen MacArthur, Kingfisher. "There is a lot of shipping in the area, which is a worry, although it's quite incredible to watch their sunlit bows ride through this steep and confused sea. We are presently sailing with two reefs and small Solent jib."
Helena Darvelid, Alphagraphics. "There is water everywhere below. One of the ballast tanks has been leaking and our forepeak is full of water."
Mike Golding, Ecover. "Beef stew is on the menu for tonight."
Loic Pochet, La Rage de Vivre. "The wind has been hard on our stomach's. We are still learning about our boat."
Stefano Pelizza, Fila. "All is fine on board. Other than losing our wind instruments we have not broken anything. We are pushing hard, but trying to not break the boat."
More Information:
- YachtsandYachting.com EDS Atlantic Challenge Page
EMAIL UPDATE FROM ELLEN THIS MORNING
Well all OK this mornning - though fairly breezy and a tough night. The motion is tough going, making the simple task of dialling a phone number take twice as long as normal...
The sky is now a beautiful blue - though the gretest of the cloud cover was last night. As the sun set - the front came through - giving us 40 knot gustsd - which then seemed like alot. Right now though 40 knots gusts seem commonplace.
We had a small drama in getting the small solent down - i was hanging off it on the foredeck - only just managing to ease it down as it rattled wildly on it's stay...
There is a lot of shipping in the area, which is a worry, though quite incredible to watch their sun-lit bows ride through this steep and confused sea... Soon the tide will turn - and we know however bad now - things will get even worse..
Kingfisher is being fantastic.. She's riding the waves as well as ever. Balasted up, shes a sturdy ship - we are all lucky to have her beneath us.. On wards - in a few hours the dover straits...
Ellen
ECOVER CHASING HARD
Over night Mike Golding and his crew on ECOVER have risen a place to 5th after dropping to 6th earlier in the day. The decision to go out to the west has so far failed to pay off in the way Golding had hoped.
Last night Golding said "We've drawn a line under the decision. Two sources of forecast both suggested that going further offshore.would give slightly fresher winds. We know we cant match Sill upwind and have to work hard to hold Kingfisher, so we were looking for an edge, something a little different".
This morning's 0744 GMT position gives ECOVER a 24 hour run of 209 miles, currently doing 9 knots with 156 miles to the finish in Portsmouth, UK
This report from Miranda Merron on board ECOVER is just in:-
"The temptation right now is to work out what our ETA would be if we were going downwind. Best not to think about that scenario since the reality is an extremely bumpy, at times airborne ride through the North Sea. We are down to three reefs and the storm jib, but the sky is quite clear and the barometer is rising, at least temporarily. After a fun-packed night of dodging gas rigs and ships, we are on our way to everyone's favourite playground, the Dover Straits. It is likely to be wind against tide just to add to the challenge.
"Other than the filthy conditions, life on board ECOVER is much the same as usual. We had some pretty tasty freeze-dried chicken stew for dinner last night, saving the slightly easier couscous for tonight as we anticipate worse conditions. Hot drinks are plentiful, though it can be difficult to get the liquid from cup to mouth. Gringo has just shouted the warning BIG WAVE from the helm, and spray from it has reached the nav station! It is rather hard to type since nothing will stay put, including the key board and mouse. Time to get some rest up in the sail bin before going for another total soaking on deck in the next watch. It's tiring slamming upwind like this. Will we ever get downwind sailing, or are we doomed to sail upwind forever, something like the Flying Dutchman?"
Miranda Merron, ECOVER
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