Radio session with Thomas Coville on SodebO

Thomas Coville (Sodeb’O) – Solo round the world record attempt on a multihull

"I’m going to do a tour of the parish"

Contacted by telephone this morning by his team, the skipper of Sodeb'O recounts the complicated weather scenario as he approaches the Saint Helena High. Like the competitors in the Vendée Globe, which he is picking off one after the other (Arnaud Boissières and Dee Caffari today), Thomas Coville is waiting for the right moment to finally hang a left and gain ground to the east, bound for the Cape of Good Hope.

Sailing close-hauled for the past five days in a 15 to 20 knot SE’ly tradewind, the maxi trimaran is making some great average speeds of around 20 knots and is covering between 450 and 490 miles a day. Unlike the solo sailors in the Vendée Globle who are racing in a fleet, Thomas is battling against the clock and the trajectory of Francis Joyon who, last year, forked off to the east very early on, level with 20 degrees south.

During his first attempt in the winter of 2007-2008, the skipper of Sodeb’O was forced to drop below 45 degrees south, which put him at a disadvantage on rounding the Cape of Good Hope. This time around the sailor from La Trinité sur Mer in Brittany has glimpsed a way out in around two days, thanks largely to a welcome unsettled patch at around 35 degrees south. In the meantime Thomas will have to work the boat as hard as he can and the skipper is currently spending all his time on deck, trimming the sails and watching the still numerous squalls surrounding Sodeb’O.

Radio session with Thomas Coville on this 10th day at sea:

What are the sailing conditions like?: “It’s been five days since Cape Verde and I’ve been surrounded by squalls the whole time. It’s everything you hate about solo configuration in a multihull. Under pilot, whilst your boat is positioned on a constant heading and the wind switches direction dramatically, you can capsize. You gradually become immune to it though; you adapt and you get a better sense of whether the squall will be really nasty or not.”

Your opinion about your performance?: “I have to deal with the situation I have as best I can and I reckon we’re racking up an acceptable mileage with a fairly good course.”

What’s the weather situation?: “We were within a couple of days of having the perfect weather sequence with this low across Uruguay which, in the end, is shifting across too slowly. As a result I’m going to do a tour of the parish (around the Saint Helena High) like the competitors in the Vendée Globe. In this same place, Francis Joyon was devilishly lucky and was able to cut through the middle of the anticyclone, thanks to weather system which had taken root across his course. He covered 600 fewer miles.”

What strategy are you following?: “The faster the boat goes, the more interest you have in using this speed to get round what is hassling you, as is the case here with Saint Helena. As a result I’ve still got two more rather laborious days of battling against the wind and the sea before I can finally head east.”

What do you think about your boat?: “Sodeb’O is going faster than last year. It is very pleasant striking a balance with her. The work on the sails has borne fruit. I’m getting more out of her too. I’m pushing her a lot more and you can see that in the speeds, which are higher than those of last year.”

And you, how are you?: “I managed to sleep for three hour-long sessions last night and I’m managing to eat well, even though there’s not really a rhythm. Each squall is like someone climbing aboard so you have to be prepared.”

What’s your view on what the Vendée Globe fleet are experiencing?: “I’m closing on the head of the fleet, where those who’ve opted to traverse the zone of high pressure are partially ensnared. There is a general bunching and then some sailors, like Mich (Desjoyeaux) and Marc (Guillemot), have opted to follow their own course. Jojo (Josse) followed them initially and then changed his mind. Between those who are attempting to pass through the centre and, at worst will get going again with the low shifting over from Uruguay, and those who skirt round the outside, there may not be much of a deficit on the other side. It’s very different from the course which I’ve chosen and I’m assuming on my own. In fleet racing you are reassured or worried by what the others are doing.”

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