Hello to everyone from ACCIONA 100%EcoPowered:
Everything on board is fantastic with the new Southern routine– hot drinks and more careful manoeuvres. This morning, I had to wake myself up fast with two gybes. I started to come out of the wind and had to gybe south and almost didn’t make the ice gate so I had to gybe a second time. I am now back on route and in a few hours' time, when the wind shifts, I will gybe again to head south and position myself better for the next gate and avoid the high pressure area.
Let’s see how it goes. The weather models were showing me quite far south to get around the calm area, but this morning it wasn’t routing it as far south. I will have to sail 300 miles for sure, and it will be 300 miles with a very low VMG (Velocity Made Good)…but that’s the way it is.
It’s a shame because it was looking like I would have enough to sail south of the Kerguelen, but it’s not going to be possible since, according to the satellite images, the area is full of icebergs.
Theice gates are really necessary and actually quite essential. What shouldn’t happen is that the gates intended to keep us away from the ice actually lead us directly into the ice area because of a weather system (high pressure area) over the gate. I don’t think bringing the gates higher when ice appears is the most suitable idea. I think it would be better to use exclusion areas for the ice like those used in other races. However, this is what we have now and both Alex and Bernard are going straight into the ice area to be able to eventually reach the gate – the one that is actually supposed to avoid the ice.
However I am really happy with the energy systems on board and every day I have the batteries charged at 100%. What surprises me the most is that it continues to charge even with cloudy skies – although admittedly the clouds are high.
I still haven’t had to use the hydro-generators. The nights are very short, and they will gradually get shorter but the clouds will also be lower so the configuration of charging is going to change.
Best wishes to everyone
Bubi
