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After her losses yesterday, a time when, seeking to stay at optimum power, she worked through her sail inventory and her reserves of stamina Sam Davies is back pacing Marc Guillemot for the meantime, accelerator pedal pressed hard on the ‘pink rocket’ as she referred to Roxy, the double Vendée Globe winning former PRB.
Davies should pass through the Azores tonight and has a 107 miles deficit on Guillemot, who admitted that the stress and tiredness is taking a toll on him at the moment and he is just trying to sail sensibly and safely, not pushing too hard.
Digital Yacht have launched a new range of marine instrumentation capable of displaying almost any onboard navigation or engine information.
The series is called Intellect and there are two types of instrument available.
The ID100 is dedicated to monitoring traditional depth, speed, heading, GPS and wind information plus also engine data available through a NMEA 2000 (N2K) data network and the ED100 is designed to monitor J1939 engine data such as fuel flow, pressure, temperature, alternator current/voltage, RPM and so on – a format normally utilised by diesel inboard manufacturers.
Breton race rookie Armel Le Cléac'h crossed the finishing line of the Vendée Globe this morning (Saturday 7th February) at 08H41’35”GMT, after a net race time of 89 days 9 hours and 39 minutes 35 seconds of racing, taking into account the 11 hours redress given by the International Jury for his participation in the rescue of Jean Le Cam.
Brit Air completed the famous non stop solo round the world without assistance race in a 17-22-knot breeze cheered home by a spectator fleet out on the water enjoying the winter sunshine and braving the chill of the early morning.
"I’ll be crossing the line before lunchtime on Saturday," the skipper of Brit Air promised on today’s radio session. Finally crossing the line will be big relief for Armel Le Cléac'h, who has been suffering since the Azores from the effects of a low-pressure system, which he has been battling with after he went east round the Azores high pressure system
It would be an understatement to say that he had another challenging night in the Bay of Biscay. But the sailor from Morlaix in Brittany, who has second place within his grasp is not one to gripe and complain, even if the conditions were hellish. He lost the protective cover on Brit Air, which slides over the cockpit was swept away in the night by a violent wave and the mainsail car was ripped off its track.
The National Twelve Owners' Association (NTOA) and Gill are delighted to announce an extension to Gill's sponsorship of the Nationwide Gill Series, continuing a relationship which stretches back more than 30 years.
Commenting on the relationship with Gill, Dare Barry, Chairman of the NTOA said "National 12 sailing is about innovation and development which are two key attributes shared by Gill and the National 12 Class. We are pleased to maintain such a prestigious partnership with Gill"
In 2005 the winning margin was 6 hours. In 2009 Michel Desjoyeaux’s incredible winning margin will be closer to six days.
Breton Armel Le Cléac’h looks to be set to finish his first Vendée Globe in second place with less than 260 miles to complete this morning, heading directly at the Les Sables d’Olonne finish line. In 25-30 knots of NNW’ly winds he is making between 12 and 14 knots this morning on Brit Air and should be due to cross the finish line before breakfast Saturday morning. Le Cléac’h had a good penultimate night at sea and covered 115 miles between 1900hrs GMT and this morning’s 0400hrs ranking.
Digital Yacht is proud to announce their new inboard autopilot system, the Digital Pilot GS50. This is a four part control system comprising compact control unit, central processor, rudder angle transducer and combination gyro-fluxgate compass sensor.
A wide range of hydraulic, mechanical and linear drive units are also available to suit just about every possible steering situation.
The Digital Pilot GS50 uses just one design of central processor, which is capable of handling a wide range of different drives with power capabilities of up to 30A (12 and 24v).
Sunderland’s RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat was scrambled into action shortly after eight o’clock this morning [Thursday, February 05th] after a fisherman on the end of Roker Pier reported the sighting of a body drifting out to sea.
Coastguard Officers based at Humber Coastguard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre contacted the Sunderland RNLI Operations Manager to request the immediate launch of their Atlantic 85 lifeboat, ‘Wolseley’.
A separate request was also made to Sunderland MCA Coastguard Team to attend the incident.
Armel Le Cléac’h is into more favourable breeze this morning making direct course to pass Cape Finisterre late this evening, on track for second place.
But while the Brit Air skipper will be counting down the miles now to the finish, he will be keeping an eye on the buffer he has to Marc Guillemot, even after the finish gun as sounded in Les Sables d’Olonne.
Compared to Le Cléac’h Guillemot has a net 71 hours of redress – compensation for time lost when he stood by the injured Yann Eliès – and so Le Cléach needs to see Safran a safe 1300 miles behind when he crosses the finish to be sure.
A forty-year association between Barrus and the Scientific Exploration Society was marked during the recent visit of expedition leader, Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE, to Barrus’s headquarters in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Colonel John Blashford-Snell’s visit took in the latest Barrus innovations including a demonstration of the multi-fuel 50hp outboard engine which has been designed and developed for the UK MoD and is capable of running on four different NATO fuels. During his visit the Colonel took the opportunity to present Robert Glen, managing director, E. P. Barrus Ltd, with a plaque to recognise the product and training support provided by Barrus for the many worldwide expeditions organised by the Scientific Exploration Society over the past forty-years.