Sea, Sail & Surf newsJules Verne Record
MacArthur and crew leave Lorient on Monday for possible start on Wednesday
dimanche 26 janvier 2003 –
The weather forecast for Tuesday is for strong 25-30 knot winds from the north west - which is exactly the direction KINGFISHER2 needs to sail in to reach the start area - combined with a 7-8 metre swell making the passage from Lorient Lorient L’actualité du port de Lorient et de sa région. extremely difficult in conditions that could potentially damage the boat and tire the crew.
"It is a really tough call and things could change," said MacArthur. "But we know that trying to get from Lorient Lorient L’actualité du port de Lorient et de sa région. to the start area on Tuesday would be a nightmare so we decided to go early and leave Lorient on Monday afternoon. Equally we can see there is an opportunity to cross the start line on Wednesday as the wind moves back to the north and, perhaps more importantly, the sea state also decrease. It is usually the sea state that stops us sailing these boats at their full potential not the wind - so it is not smart to start when we can’t sail at our maximum."
The 14 crew will be arriving back in Lorient tonight to prepare for their departure tomorrow. The final decision to depart will be reviewed in the morning but all being well KINGFISHER2 will be on her way.
As KINGFISHER2 faces the prospect of departure on her record Record #sailingrecord attempt - Olivier de Kersauson and his crew on board ’Geronimo’ are entering the Southern Ocean on day 16 of their Jules Verne record Record #sailingrecord attempt and still ahead of the existing record set by Bruno Peyron on ’Orange’ of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes, 24 seconds.
Information Kingfisher Challenges
Dans la même rubrique
Trophée Jules Verne : Fourteen men with Ellen MacArthur around the world
The Race : The Race 2 will start from Marseilles on February 29th 2004
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Photos Rivacom
No Limit : Geronimo back on the record trail soon
