Vendée Globe 2012-2013 - Day 52
by Vendée Globe Media 31 Dec 2012 07:29 GMT
31 December 2012
New Year, no change?
Leaders at Cape Horn tomorrow night
2013 may well start with the status quo intact. There seems little chance of any immediate change in the ranking order on the Vendée Globe even if Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) and Javier Sanso (Acciona 100% Eco Powered) are each on a charge, sailing the biggest distances over the 24 hours to build a growing threat to the skippers immediately in front of them. Otherwise the order is very settled. Even between the two leaders, François Gabart (Macif) ahead of Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) again, there are 9.5 miles. With 650 miles to go to Cape Horn the top duo are anticipated there tomorrow evening. Meantime Italy's Alessandro di Benedetto can pass into the Pacific before the leaders leave.
With 300 miles to go to enter the Pacific Ocean, making between nine and 10 knots, Italy's Alessandro di Benedetto, on his 1998 Finot Conq designed Team Plastique, has a fighting chance of passing in to the world's most expansive ocean at its western entrance just before the two leaders depart in the east, at Cape Horn. Oceanic adventurer Di Benedetto passed the East Australia gate last night, just over 5000 miles behind race leader François Gabart who is back at the head of the Vendée Globe fleet.
The two leaders are racing with courses only 7 miles apart in modest 13-17kts NW'ly winds as they reach towards Cape Horn where it seems increasingly likely that it will be the more friendly, benign face of the feared mariners' landmark that the 29 year old Vendée Globe first timer Gabart will encounter Tuesday evening. In third place Jean-Pierre Dick's margin to the leaders remains relatively static as he keeps pace with them, some 318 miles behind.
The biggest distances sailed in the 24 hours up to 0500hrs UTC this morning were made by Bernard Stamm (440 miles) and Javier Sanso (425 Miles). Stamm has been cutting distance to Arnaud Boissières virtually since he rejoined the race course three days ago after his technical stop, and this morning was just 49 miles behind the Frenchman's Akena Vérandas. Sanso, chasing down Dominique Wavre (Mirabaud) is now at 100 miles behind and has averaged more than 3 knots quicker over the last 24 hours. The Spanish skipper from Palma, Majorca's desire is to be back with Wave and Mike Golding (Gamesa) by Cape Horn. Golding was 300 miles from the Pacific West gate this morning.
Four hundred miles ahead of Golding Jean Le Cam (SynerCiel) has completeted that Pacific West Gate and enjoys relative isolation in a solid fifth place as he has Alex Thomson 1000 miles ahead on Hugo Boss. The British skipper has still 1530 miles to make to Cape Horn but will be delighted to finally complete a solo passage of the infamous point. As for the two leaders they are still more than two days ahead of the race record and might still break 80 days.
Leaderboard at 4am: (UTC, top five)
1 - François Gabart [MACIF] at 7 684.8 miles from the finish
2 - Armel Le Cléac'h [Banque Populaire] at 9.5 miles from leader
3 - Jean-Pierre Dick [Virbac Paprec 3] at 318.6 miles from leader
4 - Alex Thomson [Hugo Boss] at 907.6 miles from leader
5 - Jean Le Cam [SynerCiel] at 1,993.5 miles from leader
Full rankings can be found here
Update from Mike Golding, Gamesa:
Mike Golding is less than 300 miles from the Pacific West Gate and making solid speeds this morning, though has been struggling to find the ideal sail combination for the variable wind angles.
"It's been a bit of a pain because I have ended up between sails and so have been a bit compromised. With the A3 up then the boat is just overpressed quickly and the pilot struggles. But it is what it is.
"I had to make a quick decision because of that yesterday night when I had to bring the bow up a bit quicker and head more directly for the gate. It is always hard because the VMG falls and it is so tempting to carry on.
"It has closed in now, it is foggy, drizzly, rainy and unpleasant. And it is cold. Inside the boat everything is damp."
Golding is looking forward to 2013's arrival. "In 2013 I have promised to renovate the house which we bought last year. And at the moment I am hoping I get invited back to race in the Caribbean. I definitely need some sun on my bones in 2013!"
Mike has been invited to appear live on the BBC News Channel at approximately 1900 this evening. More details will be made available via Twitter and on the Mike Golding Yacht Racing Facebook page.