Sam Davies in the Trophée BPE - Day 19

SKANDIA has made a 10 mile gain overnight on leading boat CREDIT MARITIME-ZEROTWO who is just 38.4nm ahead. Sam has also narrowed the gap between SKANDIA and 2nd place BOSTIK to 17nm. This morning, SKANDIA was averaging 8.9 knots, and sailing at least 2 knots faster than two leadings boats. CERCLE VERT remains in 4th, 48nm behind Sam & BANQUE POPULAIRE is now 5th, 90nm behind.

The fleet spent the night sailing under spinnaker in steady conditions and Sam used this opportunity to catch up on some sleep in preparation for the next few days. “I’m trying to get more rest, and I’m consciously putting the pilot on more. I‘ve done a lot of things to take care of me so I’m on top form for the last 600miles."

As forecasted, the leading boats have hit lighter winds and conditions are expected to stay like this for the next 5 days. This is frustrating for them as the boats behind are gaining, sailing faster until they too hit the wall of lighter wind. The next week of racing for the skippers is almost a completely different style of racing compared to the past 18 days. The transatlantic race is effectively over and now they have a gruelling coastal section to sail - back in a more traditional 'Figaro' mode until the end of the race, but a lot more fatigued than they would normally be. In addition to this, they will need to keep an eye out for passing ships, fishing vessels, cruising boats and possibly pirates. This is the first time the skippers have raced to Cuba so it unknown territory for everyone. The last 200nm of the course in particular is littered with dangerous reefs, and underwater sea-mounts which could provide interesting sea conditions.

"The whole thing about a transatlantic race is to get first across the Atlantic but that’s one of the characters of this race - there is a coastal finish and anything could happen."

Going in to the next stage of this race, the boats behind will be able to benefit from knowing which route the boats in front have taken and use that to their advantage, "If you’re behind, you can see the other people sail in to light winds or stop, and sail round them. Having two people in front could be a nice indication for me when I’m choosing which way to go, and working out how to get through the light spots. There is definitely no disadvantage in being just behind those two…”

The boat that has sailed the longest course so far, at the south of the fleet ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM, is now at the same latitude as race leader Eric Drouglazet, but 150nm behind. ATAO was the fastest in the fleet overnight, averaging 11 knots while the rest of the fleet were attaining no more than 9 knots.

EMAIL FROM SAM (0700HRS)

Good morning!

I am gybing downwind in towards the Turks and Caicos Islands, where we will pass through into the Caribbean. I have just passed a really weird ship, that was pretty big, but when I got closer it seemed to have masts and sails! Either it is Jonny Depp and his Pirates, or it is the beginning of the luxury cruising liners that we see here! I think it was probably the latter, as I am sure that Jonny Depp would not have nav lights!

It seems like the beginning of the final stage of this race, as things become more tactical, and less straight line sailing. I can feel it is going to be tiring!

I had a nasty thought earlier. I was reminiscing about my last orange (that I ate yesterday!) and I remembered the other "fresh" food I have on board - my CHEESE!! Oh dear! I had forgotten about my cheese, since I confined it to the gas locker (outside in cockpit) about 4 or 5 days ago! And even then it was beginning to make signs that it would be able to climb out alone! I wonder what it will be like now. I am going to have to go in tomorrow and check, which is a job I am not looking forward to!

The wind is dropping now too, tomorrow will be hot, and so will the next 5 days as not much wind is forecast. I am going to get some rest now, whilst the wind is steady!

Speak soon

Sam x

EXTRACT OF AUDIO WITH SAM (1000HRS)

If you were Eric Drouglazet, in the lead now, what would you do?
“The same as what I’m doing now. You can’t protect your lead. The position reports we have are too far apart and it’s difficult to cover anyone - for 8 hours you don’t see them and they could go off in a completely different direction. I think it’s important to sail your own race, go with the shifts, follow your instincts and do what your weather forecast tells you to do. I don’t think it’s any different if you’re first or last. If you’re behind, you can see the other people sail in to light winds, you can see people stop and sail round them, so it could be an advantage in that way to have two people like that just in front. It could be a nice indication for me when I’m choosing which way to go, and working out how to get through the light spots. There is definitely no disadvantage in being just behind those two…”

Are you feeling nervous as you approach the last, coastal section of this race?
“Yeah for sure. The other day I was thinking I wish it wasn’t this close because it could all turn upside down. The whole thing about a transatlantic race is to get first across the Atlantic. If I was Droug (Eric Drouglazet) I’d be really nervous and wishing there was a finish at this first waypoint, but that’s one of the characters of this race. There is a coastal finish and anything could happen. It could be really frustrating sailing all that way and making all those gains and then losing everything in 6 hours by getting stuck under a cliff - but that’s life! For me I’m really chuffed I’ve got across the Atlantic in 3rd place. It’s good to have a bit of a cushion behind me so if I do get stuck under a cliff for 6 hours I might still get away with it!”

Have you managed to sleep in preparation for this next stage?
“I’m trying to get more rest, and I’m consciously putting the pilot on more. I know it’ s going to get really hot now the wind is dying down, so I’ve got to be careful to drink enough and not get sunstroke. It’s been quite a cool and not too heat-stressful race so far. I‘ve done a lot of things to take care of me in the past few days so I’m on top form for the last 600miles. It’s tricky because the nearer we get, the more shipping there is. I’ve been trying to sleep and every time I have the wind steady and I don’t need to gybe or trim, the active echo starts beeping!”

Communications thanks to BT Broadband

LATEST POSITIONS 1000 BST 21/4/05 (boat name / average boat speed /distance to leader)

1. CREDIT MARITIME - ZEROTWO / 5.4kts / 800.4nm to finish
2. BOSTIK / 6.3kts / +21.2nm
3. SKANDIA / 8.9kts / +38.4nm
4. CERCLE VERT / 8.8kts / +86.9nm
5. BANQUE POPULAIRE / 9.4kts / +127.3nm
6. GEDIMAT / 7.9kts / +137.5m
7. COUTOT ROEHRIG / 7.2kts / +140.2nm
8. AQUARELLE.COM / 9.5kts / +159.6nm
9. ATAO AUDIO SYSTEM / 9.2kts / +220.5nm
10. TOTAL / 8.8kts / +173.2nm
11. ENTREPRENDRE AU PAYS DE LORIENT / 9.9kts / 238.8nm
12. LITTLE BLACK SHARK / 7.9kts / +397.4nm