8:40 AM Thu 8 Oct 2009 GMT
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'THE CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA TRANSAT 6.50'
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The protagonists of The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 have entered in a strong system of North-East trade wind that has since yesterday, required skills with surfs and jibes under spinnaker and inpressure. The boat speedsare amazing, with averages of over 11 knots for some.
At the latitude of Cape Blanc - the land that marks the boundary between Western Sahara and Mauritania - the sailors must make the decision to remain as long as possible in the right pressure with speed, jibe at the right time to get closest to the archipelago of Cape Verde.
St?phane Le Diraison (Cultisol - Marins Sans Fronti?res) is one who is going closer to the Archipelago. His lead this morning is severely threatened by Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre Durablement) who after completing a long starboard tack towards the African coast, has opened an angle to the wind that has brought him and his plan Manuard closer to a direct route. The winner of the first stage should be feeling the likes of HP Schipman (Maisons de l'avenir Urbatys), Fabien Despr?s (Soitec) and Thomas Ruyant (Faber France), as well as Pierre Brasseur (Region Nord Pas de Calais - Ripolin) who is more west, Nicolas Boidevezi (Defi GDE) who is under the Saharan coast, Oliivier Avram, Franck Colin, and Matt Trautman.
The leading Series sailor Charlie Dalin (cherche sponsor - charliedalin.com) is facing a more complicated situation, he is not yet in the trade wind zone and is in low wind. His lead yesterday of nearly 50 miles, changed to 28 miles ahead of Fabien Sellier (Surfrider Foundation). The danger is everywhere on the water, with the formidable Fabien obviously, the Italian Luca Tosi (Golden Apple of the Sun) and Ricardo Appoloni (Ma vie pour Mapei), the French Henri Meyniel (Beveac consulting) and S?bastien Rogues (Eole generation - GDF SUEZ). There is an open and exciting fight in the series category, with the return of a sailor isolated in the far East, the Portuguese Francisco Lobato (ROFF TMN).
Far behind the leaders, the departure from La Palma of Maxence Desfeux (Matmut) and Caroline Vieille (Fondation J?r?me Lejeune) is noted. And Simone Gesi's (Dagada) trajectory is suggesting there is something wrong onboard his yacht.
Ranking at 5 am:
Prototypes :
1. St?phane Le Diraison (Cultisol-Marins sans fronti?res) : 2409,05 miles from the finish
2. Bertrand Delesne (Entreprendre durablement) : 2,81 miles from the leader
3. HP Schipman (Maisons de l'avenir Urbatys) : 6,99 miles from the leader
Serie :
1. Charlie Dalin (Cherche Sponsor-charliedalin.com) : 2469,26 miles from the finish
2. Fabien Sellier (Surfrider Foundation) : 27,88 miles from the leader
3. Ricardo Appoloni : 31,17 miles from the leader
Headline
Andrew Wood retires.
Stopped for several hours in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Andrew Wood cannot return to sea because of autopilot problems. He has decided to retire from The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 2009.
Solochallenges.com will not sail off again... Andrew Wood retired from this edition because he cannot finish the repair on time (Ed., 72 hours). After Xavier Haize retired yesterday, they are 81 sailors still competing in the race.
by Veronique Largeau
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Troughton Island, WA
