The fleet is split into three ‘clans’ this Monday: at the head, the eight leaders are already on the outskirts of the inter-tropical convergence zone at 4° North; in the middle, a quartet of sailors who crossed the equator at the start of the afternoon; and at the tail of the fleet; an Anglo-Saxon trio. Already, the deficits are such (between 140 and 290 miles) that the three ‘tribes’ are no longer benefiting from the same weather conditions. Of note is the fact that whilst the majority of the solo sailors have adopted a similar trajectory since the start in Salvador de Bahia last Thursday, the American Rich Wilson (Great American III) has made a bold move out to the left in a bid to make the 'big loop', that's to say distancing himself from the direct course in order to pick his way due North. Though he'll extend his course, he should be less hassled by the doldrums and hit the depressions in the West Indies quicker... But will the detour be worth it?

The possible improbable

The leading group has fanned out considerably since the weekend, since it now spreads across 90 miles in longitude. The top eight monohulls are now very close to each other in terms of distance to the goal however and 90 miles is nothing in the grand scheme of things, particularly as regards the weather situation! Will this separation count for something in the doldrums however with Marc Guillemot (Safran) furthest to the West, Yann Eliès (Generali) in the centre and Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) the furthest East? Possible but not probable... In any case, it would certainly seem that the doldrums is very unstable, which means that it may last longer than a day and it is far from clear whether the shortest distance across the zone has the fewest obstacles.

However, in these conditions, it may be that one boat can be stuck for several hours under a rain squall, whilst another, just a few miles away, touches a nice breeze, which propels him along at over twelve knots towards the exit. There may well be over fifty miles separation between the racers by the time they reach more appetizing skies. This could easily be transformed into an extra few hundred miles if the frontrunner positions himself upwind of the fleet. This is likely to the be the choice of Michel Desjoyeaux, who has opted for a bold E'ly separation, while Marc Guillemot is also hammering out his convictions with his W’ly option to try to avoid a windless zone due overnight. The rest of the group, led by Yann Eliès is favouring the adage: "if in doubt, go as quick as you can and as close as you can to the direct route..."

VMG….VMG...

The leader can’t deny it: "The wind is down and I can feel the approach of the doldrums, which means 48 hours of vigilance and battling. Currently I am sailing under cloudy, Bretonlike skies and I'm all alone for the first time since the start. I have taken a central route since the conditions are so uncertain that it's difficult to find a favourable way through this little lot. In such an instance it's better to concentrate on your VMG and covering as much ground as possible in the right direction and just cross your fingers. It may well be that there will be some big gaps between us all when we come out the other side” specified Yann Eliès. Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) was also preparing for a hectic night: "This evening we'll be right in the thick of it. Right now we've still got pressure with 15 knots of breeze compared with 20 earlier but I'm trying to concentrate on sleeping rather than trimming in preparation for the doldrums. What's left of the moon comes up late though so we're not going to see much... Fortunately everyone will be in the same boat though, figuratively speaking."

For Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty), the doldrums were proving less puzzling: "I had a wash at the bow this morning and I'm waiting for a shower to have a rinse! There are some big drops here when it rains. I've passed the doldrums eight times and it's never the same twice: there is no exact science here. The only thing for sure is that we'll have to be on top of things and that will be the case for at least 24 hours!"

As for Samantha Davies (Roxy) who had freed herself of her pursuers (Akena Vérandas, Maisonneuve), she was still having to endure the intense equatorial heat: "It's a bit hot. The boat is going well and I'm happy with my boatspeed and the fact that I've managed to open up a bit of a lead on those who are behind me. I've gone into overdrive (laughs). The wind has dropped off since this morning and I’ve now got 10 to 11 knots as opposed to 16 earlier. Since yesterday evening I’ve been trying to sleep as much as possible as the doldrums look to be very active with some enormous clouds.!" Rendez-vous Tuesday morning… when the lid of the Pot au Noir, (as the French refer to the doldrums) closes on the fleet!

Quotes from the Boats

Dee Caffari (Aviva) this Monday morning: “This is definitely the most challenging thing I have ever done but I am hanging on and getting better at it. I’ve been very demoralized but am feeling alright. I’m not settling in naturally. The boat is pretty uncomfortable, she always feels on the edge and I haven’t set up a comfortable routine yet. It’s weird and I am struggling with it. Being at the back at the fleet is really winding me up. The boat is noisy and wet. It is hard but no one said it would be easy. I have just read Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s book ‘Force of Nature’ and that made me cry too so things have been pretty emotional. I feel like I’m letting the team down because they have worked really hard to get me here. My biggest thing is proving to the team in New Zealand who are building the new boat that I deserve it. I know I’m adding pressures but there are still 3,000 miles to go so who knows. Mentally I’m getting stronger every day. I have closed the gap on the back runners in the fleet and that is giving me a bit more confidence.”

Sam Davies (Roxy) lunchtime radio session: "This zone was hard enough when sailing single-handed with Jeanne (Gregoire) so I'm feeling a bit anxious about doing it on my own. I've been preparing by getting as much weather info as possible, sleeping as much as I can and eating a lot too. I've never crossed the equator from South to North before so it's going to be interesting!"

 

Yann Elies (Generali) lunchtime radio session: “The wind is down and I can feel the approach of the doldrums, which means 48 hours of vigilance and battling. Currently I am sailing under cloudy, Breton skies and I'm all alone for the first time since the start. I have taken a central route since the conditions are so uncertain that it's difficult to find a favourable way through this little lot. In such an instance it's better to concentrate on your VMG and covering as much ground as possible in the right direction and just cross your fingers. It may well be that there will be some big gaps between us all when we come out the other side.”

 

Marc Guillemot (Safran) lunchtime: “I should be in the doldrums in 2 to 2.5 hours time. Right now there's just a wall of grey ahead and the skies have been cloudy for 2 hours.”

 

Loick Peyron (Gitana Eighty) lunchtime: “I'm making the most of the sun whilst it lasts as well as getting some sleep. This really is the border between the two hemispheres and it sure looks ugly ahead. I've got about 14/15 knots of breeze and am hoping to benefit from a shower to have a wash, though the drops were incredibly big last time. Rain and squalls lie ahead and we've had very cloudy skies for the past two hours. For now I've still got established winds but they are set to drop in 5/ 6 hours time. This is my 6th or 7th crossing of them and they're never the same twice. You really have to be right on top of things."

 

Armel Le Cleac’h (Brit Air) lunchtime: “It’s grey and the sun has disappeared, so there is the air of the doldrums. Given the satellite charts etc conditions correspond with the beginning of this zone. I've still got 15 knots of breeze at the moment though and am trying to rest up a bit in preparation for tonight's squalls."

 

Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) lunchtime: “It’s clouding over little by little. The wind is dropping and there's been no sun since this morning. We're making good averages, the leaders making 300 miles a day, which is nice going when sailing single-handed."

 

No other Anglo-Saxons could be contacted at the afternoon radio session sadly.

Translation Kate Jennings