SodebO still in with a chance of playing for the record

In a visioconference this Thursday morning, Thomas spent three quarters of an hour answering questions from internet users and journalists; despite the fatigue of a night spent in the violent squalls of the Doldrums.

The Maxi Trimaran crossed the equator for the second time in her journey around the world yesterday, Wednesday 7th January, at 1933 UT, after 50 days, 5 hours and 39 minutes of racing against the clock. Thomas crossed this final passage mark with a deficit of 2 days, 3 hours and 18 minutes on Francis Joyon’s time and has made up two and half days on the reference time since rounding Cape Horn.

Further and faster than Francis

Faster than his adversary since the start – a 19.60 knot average for IDEC compared with 19.97 for Sodeb'O), Thomas has had to cover 1,450 more miles in order to get round weather obstacles such as the Saint Helena High (Francis was able to cut through the middle) as well as the immense ice zone in the Pacific. These figures perfectly demonstrate the true quality of the boat Sodeb'O which, aside from a few signs of fatigue, is still racking up the miles at full bore. This detailed breakdown also pays tribute to the crazy amount of effort Thomas has put into this race against the clock for the past few weeks, ignoring his own needs in order to focus on the boat and speed. However, there is naturally a certain amount of frustration about the time ticking away and this 588 mile deficit less than a week from the finish.

The right time at the Azores?

Since last night, Thomas has been traversing the Doldrums and its familiar squalls and exhausting manœuvres. The Maxi Trimaran is set to link up with the NE’ly tradewinds shortly, which have stabilised at between 18 and 22 knots and should hence enable her to make rapid headway to the north. At that point it will be time for Thomas to focus on one of his last charts. A low moving across from the United States is shifting across to the Azores. If Sodeb'O manages to climb aboard the train at the right moment, this air flow could carry him as far as Brest, with the chance of getting within a few hours of the record time...

Extracts from the radio session recorded with Thomas Coville today:

Catching onto the low at the Azores...

"I am surrounded by some very active squalls. We forecast a less active Doldrums, but it was reactivated overnight with squalls of over 30 knots. (...) It’s very complicated for your nerves and on a physical level as you can capsize in places like these or break a lot of gear. (...) I have to continue to go fast and keep pedalling as we’re on the home straight now and I’ve got very little time and very few opportunities to get ahead of Francis Joyon. If we manage to catch hold of the depression which is passing through the Azores in four days’ time, we may get a few hours inside the time. If we don’t manage to catch onto this front which would take us as far as Brest, we’ll miss out on the record by a couple of hours. It’ll be a close run thing but after chasing after it all the way around the world, I can’t give up (...) For the time being the focus is on the gear. I’m at the boat’s service and I haven’t loosened my grip for a single minute (...)"

More distance covered than Francis Joyon

“I’ve been flat out since the start. Right now it all depends on what happens at the Azores. I’ve got to ensure I’m at the right place at the right time. When you realise how much the weather fluctuates in this zone of high pressure, I have no idea how the record is going to pan out. (...) We’ve covered a lot more miles than Francis Joyon due to the ice and the weather, which just goes to show how hard I’ve been pushing. I’m frustrated about being the weather’s plaything. That’s the nature of records (...). Francis came out with a great line on his arrival, he said: “nature let me through”. That really sums up the situation. You have to play with the weather, respect her and remain humble. Either she’ll let you through or you’ll suffer her.”

Permanent concentration

"You have to bear in mind that sailing in a multihull requires permanent attention and concentration due to the constant speed or the rapid acceleration. The slightest minute of inattention may prove fatal. You have to be on top of things at every instant and that’s what exhausts you mentally and physically as you’re at 100% the whole time (...). I haven’t had time to get away from it. I brought two books along which I haven’t even touched. (...) I must have listened to music just two or three times though I love music. I miss music but I can’t cut myself off from the boat; it’s just not allowed if you want to maintain your speed as well as ensure your safety.”

Pushing back the limits

"The more time you’ve spent on the water, the more sensations you have. You feel every wave as if it’s an extension of yourself. These are the sensations of a sailor, of someone who has spent a lot of time on the water and who has switched to another world (...). I didn’t think I could push myself so far, either in terms of my nerves or psychologically. On a physical level I didn’t think I could push the boat or myself so far either. In the end it remains an enigma: where is the limit? I believe I’ve approached it several times (...)”