Race Start review :

Les Sables d’Olonne to Lanzarote ( film drop off)

A light start.

After the start from Les Sables D’Olonne one could have expected some serious wind in the Gulf of Biscay and around Cape Finisterre. Two course are possible for the Gulf of Biscay: option one is direct to Cape Finisterre, with the risk of swells and waves. The second option is inshore, with the risk of light winds and more wind shifts.
The first days were all but rough winds and seas : the Gulf has been very kind to the fleet with easy winds, almost to nothing.

Image 1 (under the post) – 2nd of July: A the fleet is diverging a little bit, but still all heading the same course.

This changes in 24 hours, as seen in Image 2, to a true spaghetti with some competitors heading for the inshore option, other going for the straight line. The sailors do not receive any other weather forecasts than over the HF and with the help of a barometer : they need to rely on their own insights and interpretations, hence the big differences in strategies.

Image 2 (under the post) – 3st of July: the fleet scatters around with some heading inshore, some following the direct route.

The competitors opting for a more direct route are tacking upwind and making the most progress, as the inshore option has more light wind. This results in a group of 4 (Mark Slats #68, Philippe Peche #85, Jean Luc van Den Heede #8 and Uku Randmaa #2) leading the pack around the Cape Finisterre as they also enter light winds.

Image 3 (under the post) – 4st of July: the leaders following the direct route experience more wind than the inshore group.

Across Cape Finisterre

Mark Slats (#68) puts his possibility to row across light airs into practice and rounds Cape Finisterre first.
As soon as the group has rounded Cape Finisterre the are sailing downwinds with about 12-16 knots of windspeed. With kites and gennakers up the boats report via satellite text’s nice sailing at reaching courses.

At this point three groups begin to become visible:
the forefront with Mark Slats (#68), Philippe ( #85) and Jean Luc ( #8).
A middle group with Susie (#73); Uku (#2); Are (#7); Igor (#11); Tapio (#6); Loic ( #56); Gregor (#22) and Abhilash (#5).

The back of the fleet shows Nabil (#67); Mark Sinclair ( #88); Antoine (#1); Kevin (#13) and Istvan (#37).
The back of the fleet shows some of the boats reporting technical issues, for example issues with the selfsteering devices (Antoine Cousot #1, Kevin Farebrother #13).
When sailing singlehanded the self-steering device is the most important device to keep going while taking a nap or adjusting the sails. Mark Sinclair (#88) on the other hand reports he hasn’t touched the tiller since the start.

Image 3 (under the post) – July 10: three groups start to emerge from the fleet.

Unfortunately Ertan (#94) retired on July the 5th and went into a harbour due to personal reasons.
As from the 9th of July the rest of the fleet experience more wind and cloudy sky. For days in a row using the sextant, so the fleet sails for days without a confirmed position. Without a position from the sun they need to rely on tracking their position by logging speed, distance and course. As they are approaching the mandatory scoring gate at the Rubicon Marine in Lanzarote this leads to skippers worrying they will miss the island.
With winds around 12-16 knots all the sailors are reporting good speeds towards Lanzerote.

Arrivals for mandatory gate.

At the south side of Lanzarote, near the Rubicon marina, is gate which has to be passed before heading further south. This is also a drop off for letters, film rolls (Video8) and memory cards from the camera’s.
As the clouds are gone when the first boats are approaching Lanzarote they have a chance to get a good position report. Philippe Peche (#85) has built up a good 4 hours lead, but only to find out he misses the south side of Lanzerote and has to revert towards the Marina Rubicon. The chasing Mark Slats (#68) and Jean Luc (#8) are using this chance to cats up.

Image 4 (under the post) – July 10: Philippe Peche misses the island and has to revert.

Most of the fleet passes the gate without any issues, some report minor concerns: Uku (#2) forgot his coffee and tea, Igor (#11) reports sleeping a lot after preparing for the start and can’t finds a lot of stuff onboard because a lot of people helped packing.
To fix the issues with the wind vane steering device Antoine (#1) has docked in the Marina Rubicon. He will continue the challenge in the Chichester Class: this class (named after Sir Francis Chichester) means Antoine will not be part of the race results, but will remain in the adventure and shown on the tracker and in all reports.
Kevin Farebrother (#13), the mountaineer also docked into the harbour and retires from the race. He reports sleeping very little and not wanting to sleep below deck.

Image 5 (under the post) – July 15: The fleet already continues the journey as Antoine ( #1) and Kevin (#13) make it into port.

The next step:
The next part is passing the canaries into the famous doldrums.

20180716 text by J. Slaakweg – all images from the Golden Globe Race Tracker and Windy; all information based on the reports from Race Organisation and published messages from the sailors.

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And then there were 12

Péché Leads through the Doldrums

Cousot restarts in the Chichester Class

Kopar heads for the Cape Verde Islands to replace self steering

Nabil Amra retires to Tenerife

Day 18 – Dateline: Rubicon Marina, Lanzarote Canaries. 18. July 2018

As the leading trio of Philippe Péché, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede and Mark Slats position themselves to cross the Doldrums, the dramas continue at the back of the Golden Globe Race fleet. Nabil Amra, the US based Palestinian sailing the Biscay 36 Liberty II formally announced his retirement from the race today after reaching Tenerife overnight. Fellow American Istvan Kopar has also announced that he intends to stop in the Cape Verde Islands to replace the self-steering system on his Tradewind 35 Puffin and join Frenchman Antoine Cousot in the Chichester Class for those who are forced to make one stop during their solo circumnavigation.

Cousot stopped in Lanzarote on Sunday complaining that his WindPilot wind vane steering could not control his Biscay 36 Métier Intérim, but after two days in port it became clear as he left Marina Rubicon on yesterday that his decision to drop down to the Chichester Class, was as much mental as mechanical.

In a candid interview with Race Organisers, Cousot said: I needed the break just to relieve the pressure. It was important for me mentally to make sure that everything is working…And it was good to have a hamburger and a beer!
This is a personal challenge – a huge adventure. You have no idea, even reading Moitessier’s book and those of other singlehanders, about what it is like being alone. They talk about the sea and the environment, but they don’t talk about what is going on inside.”

As Métier Intérim set out to sea again late yesterday, Race Director Don McIntyre observed. “At the end of the day, the wind vane issue was important, but Antoine had all the parts onboard and simply replaced a couple of bolts that had fallen out. No extra parts were brought onboard during his stay. There were also a few electrical issues, but this was more a decision by Antoine to stop, regroup and think about what is going on.”

Cousot had planned to restart yesterday morning, but then lunch got in the way followed by an afternoon siesta, and he finally relinquished his ties to dry land at 17:00.

Istvan Kopar reported similar issues with his WindPilot self steering as he passed through the Marina Rubicon gate on Sunday but elected to continue south. Yesterday however, he messaged. “A lot of manual steering & cursing rough seas.” Later, he informed Race HQ that he had decided to head to the Cape Verde Islands and replace his self-steering system for another brand, a stop that will drop him down to the Chichester Class, leaving just 12 of the original 17 starters competing in the Golden Globe Race.

Nabil Amra, who reported on Monday that a weld had broken on his Beaufort wind vane self steering, has made the decision not to continue. As he battled his way across 35knot winds en-route to Tenerife, the Palestinian messaged: “Wind and waves in the teeth…Sailing is better with friends.” This was followed by: “Violently ill now..No sleep for 4 days.” It is clear that he has had enough…for now.

Back at the front of the fleet, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede has moved up to 2nd place and reduced fellow Frenchman Philippe Péché’s lead to 24 miles as they and Dutchman Mark Slats position themselves to cross the Doldrums, the area of calms that divide the North East and South East trade winds. Péché’s Rustler 36 PRB is nearest to the Senegal coast, Slats (Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick) who caught a tasty tuna today – his first fresh meat since the start – is enjoying stronger winds close to the Cape Verde Islands and Van Den Heede (Rustler 36 Matmut) is running a median course between them.

The remainder of the GGR fleet is now spread 500 miles astern but a close fight is developing mid fleet with just 47 miles dividing Susie Goodall (Rustler 36 DHL Starlight) now back up to 5th and 9th placed Uku Randmaa (Rustler 36 One and All)

Positions at 06:00 18 July 2018

1. Philippe Péché (FRA) Rustler 36 PRB
2. Jean- Luc VDH (FRA)Rustler 36 Matmut
3. Mark Slats (NED)Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick
4. Are Wiig (NOR) OE 32 Olleanna
5. Susie Goodall (GBR) Rustler 36 DHL Starlight
6. Gregor McGuckin (IRE) Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance
7. Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) Gaia 36 Asteria
8. Igor Zaretskiy (RUS) Endurance 35 Esmeralda
9. Uku Randmaa (EST) Rustler 36 One and All
10. Abhilash Tomy (IND) Suhaili replica Thuriya
11. Loïc Lepage (FRA) Nicholson 32 Laaland
12. Mark Sinclair (Aus) Lello 34 Coconut
13. Istvan Kopar (USA) Tradewind 35 Puffin

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Péché and Slats slug it out at the front

Failing self-steering systems hamper Cousot, Amra and Kopar

Farebrother pulls out of the Race

Day 16 – Dateline: Rubicon Marina, Lanzarote Canaries. 16. July 2018

French leader Philippe Péché and his Rustler 36 PRB is being pushed hard by Dutch rival Mark Slats (Ophen Maverick) as the Golden Globe Race fleet enjoy glorious trade wind conditions on the run south towards the Cape Verde Islands. They and 3rd placed French veteran Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, 30 miles astern of the leading pair, and all racing identical Rustler yachts, have been touching speeds of 8knots at times under spinnakers overnight.

Are Wiig, is also doing extremely well considering that the Norwegian is sailing one of the smallest of these traditional yachts, the OE 32 double-ender Olleanne. He has now pulled 32 miles ahead of Britain’s Susie Goodall in another Rustler DHL Starlight, though both have reported problems: Wiig has blown out a spinnaker, while Goodall has found that the solar panels on her British yacht are not working and took a following wave onboard today which has flooded the cabin.

One of the biggest winners during this second week at sea since leaving Les Sables d’Olonne on July 1st, is Irishman Gregor McGuckin and his Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance. He has moved up from 10th to 5th place in recent days and is clearly making most from the extra sail area that his ketch rigged boat can carry in these steady down-wind conditions.

The losers are Australian mountaineer and adventurer Kevin Farebrother who pulled out of the Race on Sunday, disillusioned by solo sailing and lack of sleep, Antoine Cousot, Istvan Koparand Nabil Amra who have been struggling with faulty wind vane self steering equipment.

For Cousot, the problems had become so overwhelming that he decided to pull in to Marina Rubicon to make repairs, sacrificing his place in the Golden Globe Race. As a result, the Frenchman is the first to be demoted to the Chichester Class for those who make one stop during this solo circumnavigation. He hopes to have his Biscay 36 Métier Intérim back at sea by tonight.

Kopar, the USA/Hungarian sailing the Tradewind 35 Puffin who is using the same WindPilot system as Cousot, told Race organisers yesterday. “It is very frustrating. “I can’t even go down below to use the heads [toilet] without the boat going out of control. I have been hand steering since the start and have no energy for anything else. This is the big issue and the biggest challenge will be trying to control the boat in the Southern Ocean. That is really scary. I’m sure I’ll be knocked down several times. If it wasn’t for my sponsors, I would give up.”

One consoling thought is that Sir Robin Knox-Johnston suffered similar problems 50 years ago and was forced to hand steer for two-thirds of his solo non-stop circumnavigation in his yacht Suhaili. “Robin did it, so I will give it a go too” He said stoically as he sailed through the Marina Rubicon gate in last place to chase after the fleet.

Nabil Amra, the US/Palestinian entrant sailing the Biscay 36 Liberty II has even worse problems. A weld on his French made Beaufort self-steering failed early this morning and is now faced with either putting in to an African port or sailing back upwind to the Canaries to affect repairs and join Cousot in the Chichester class.

Kevin Farebrother, a former Paratrooper who has made three successful assents up Mt Everest, conceded on Sunday “I’m not cut out for solo sailing.” He told race organisers that he could not contemplate sleeping below decks. “For me it is like getting into the back seat of a moving car to sleep when no-one is at the wheel. As a result, I’ve had very little sleep over the past two weeks…My boat is now for sale!”

GGR Leader board: 13:30 UTC 16.07.18

1. Philippe Péché (FRA) Rustler 36 PRB 23061 miles to the finish
2. Mark Slats (FRA) – Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick + 17 miles
3. Jean-Luc Van den Heede (FRA) Rustler 36 Matmut + 46 miles
4. Are Wiig (NOR) OE32 Olleanna + 134 milles
5. Gregor McGuckin (IRE) Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance + 166 miles

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DRAMA: Philippe Péché sacrifices a 4 hour lead with navigation mistake at first Gate of Lanzarote

Mark Slats closes gap to 9 miles

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede is third

Dateline Rubicon Marina, Lanzarote 12 July 2018

He is still in first place, but French Golden Globe Race leader Philippe Péché threw away a hard-fought 3½ hour lead at the first gate in this 30,000 mile solo non-stop round the world race today after mistaking the lighthouse marking the southern end of Lanzarote today.

It was not until his Rustler 36 PRB had reached the northern tip of Fuerteventura in the Canaries that the Frenchman realised his mistake and had to turn back into the wind and beat the 7 miles Marina Rubicon at the southern end of Lanzarote,

Why he missed the lighthouse’s distinctive pattern of flashes in the early dawn is not fully explained. If he had done so, Péché would have rounded the the mandatory turning mark at 06:30. Instead, it was 10:30 before he had passed across his film and letters to waiting organisers and had set off again.

This time wasting closed the gap between himself and second placed Mark Slats and his Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick to little more than 9 miles. The Dutchman was delighted. “I’m very happy and feeling strong. I rowed for 6 hours when the winds got very light around Cape Finisterre” he told organisers and after he too had handed across his film, and set off enthusiastically to chase down his rival.

Third placedv Frenchman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, sailing the Rustler 36, Matmut a further 6 miles behind was equally delighted with the news. The 73 year-old, who has five previous circumnavigations under his belt, said, “I’m very comfortable with my position. This is a long race, and to win,you first have to finish.”

Fourth placed Norwegian Are Wiig sailing his OE 32 Olleanna, one of the smallest in the fleet of 16 yachts, was 75 miles behind the leader holding a 20 mile lead on 5th place British sailor Susie Goodall (Rustler 36 DHL Starlight) are expected to round the Marina Rubicon mark during the night with the remaining fleet following on Friday and Saturday

The next compulsory turning gate is off Hobart Tasmania

GGR Leader board: 15:30 UTC 12.07.18

1. Philippe Péché (FRA) Rustler 36 PRB 23 600 miles to the finish
2. Mark Slats (FRA) – Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick + 9 miles
3. Jean-Luc Van den Heede (FRA) Rustler 36 Matmut + 15 miles
4. Are Wiig (NOR) OE32 Olleanna + 75 milles
5. Susie Goodall (GBR) Rustler 36 DHL Starlight + 95 miles

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Philippe Péché strengthens lead over top four GGR sailors

Susie Goodall pulls up to 5th
Ertan Beskardes pulls out of race

Dateline Les Sables d’Olonne, 9 July 2018

Day 9: French skipper Philippe Péché and his Rustler 36 PRB have opened up a 45 mile lead over fellow Frenchman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (Rustler 36 Matmut) over the weekend after enjoying a fast run down the Portuguese coast. At 06:00 UTC today, Péché was closest to the Moroccan coast among the 16 remaining GGR sailors and on a rhumb line course for Rubicon Marina Lanzarote, the first gate in this 30,000 mile solo non-stop circumnavigation.

Those taking a more traditional westerly route led by Dutchman Mark Slats (Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick) and Estonian Uku Randmaa (Rustler 36 One and All) 150 miles offshore, have not enjoyed quite the same boisterous NNE wind-stream and have fallen 64 and 84 miles behind respectively.

Two other winners in this game of snakes and ladders have been Britain’s Susie Goodall (DHL Starlight) who has moved up from 9th to 5th over the weekend and is now level pegging with Norwegian Are Wiig (OE 32 Olleanna), and Australian Mark Sinclair (Lello 34 Coconut) who has recovered from last place to now stand 13th overall. Today, Goodall highlighted a problem most are facing: Low cloud cover is restricting their ability to get a sun sight. “I’m worried about finding the Canaries.” She reported.

Ertan Beskardes withdraws from the Race

Ertan Beskardes, the Turkish-born British skipper from Bournemouth informed Race HQ by satellite late on Friday July 6 that he was pulling out of the Race for personal reasons. Later, he informed followers on Facebook: “Not talking to my family regularly to share the daily experiences has sadly taken the joy and happiness from this experience. These feelings gradually got worse until nothing else mattered except to talk to them. This wasn’t an experience I was prepared for and this decision was the hardest I’ve ever had to make in my life. I love solo sailing but felt very lonely with no contact.”

Ertan has pulled into La Corunna where his wife joined him yesterday. Another factor that may have swayed his decision was the fact that his HF radio was not working, which would have left him at a disadvantage communicating with the outside world and receiving weather forecasts from a worldwide network of Ham radio enthusiasts.

Others are facing practical as well as emotional issues. Both Frenchman Antoine Cousot sailing the Biscay 36 Métier Intérim, and his US/Hungarian rival Istvan Kopar (Tradewind 35 Puffin) are experiencing continued problems with their wind vane self steering systems – essential gear when they reach the Southern ocean – and for the moment are spending long hours steering by hand. Cousot has indicated that he intends to pull in at Lanzarote to make repairs but not yet declared whether he intends to gain outside assistance. Entrants are allowed to seek shelter to make repairs at any time without effecting their solo non-stop status, but face being relegated to the Chichester Class if they enter port or seek assistance.

Another to report problems today is Race leader Philippe Péché who, like Beskardes, is experiencing problems with his HF Radio. His current course is likely to carry PRB straight into an area of light airs blocking the fleet en-route to the Canaries.

If Péché can maintain his current 6knot average, the Frenchman could complete the 520 miles to the buoy off Marina Rubicon early Thursday morning, but a period of light airs forecast over the next 24 hours could extend that ETA to Thursday night/Friday morning – and shake up the standings. It is all to play for!

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