Golden Globe Race Ushers In July

[Photoboy]

http://goldengloberace.com/livetracker/

The Signs of the proximity of the great south multiply within the grh 2018, even at the back of the fleet where Antoine Cousot (Chichester Category with Philippe fishing) notes the loss of 10°C in one week! He is still off Brazil... 2000 miles ahead, approaching the 40th roaring, Jean-Luc van den heede continues his dive at speed grand v (Nearly 8 KNOTS ON THE 4 Last hours) to one of the most inhospitable regions of the globe, on the back of a depression that makes the wave bigger.

"my point of yesterday got me into the antarctic map" reports the Dean and leader of the race. An objective data that takes the measure of what is waiting for the brave skippers of this world tour without a stop, without assistance and without electronic means. After 50 days of race, the first are just about to pass the first grand course of a journey that counts three, more mythical than the others.

This entry into the great south promises to give a new breath to the race and represents a radical change of atmosphere, after a relatively lenient Atlantic descent that propelled the first very early to these wild latitudes, two weeks ahead of the table From suhaili years ago... in two days, the wave promises to grow again off Cape Town, in this area where waves are often described as the most terrifying of this long journey. The rise of the funds combined with the presence of strong currents sets vertical blades with which the first sailors of the grh 2018 will have to compose...

More West, are wiig and gregor mcguckin continue their beautiful descent south and are now placed under mark slats, in a very interesting attack position 200 miles from the Dutch Giant. They slide two knots faster this morning and will benefit from stronger winds and longer...

Behind it is much more complicated... uku randmaa, Susie Goodall, Tapio Lehtinen, Igor Zaretskiy, loic lepage and abhilash tomy fight either with face winds, a trained sea that prevents them from firing (Susie, Igor... ) or a high pressure zone (Abhilash). This could create a significant split within the fleet in the next few days...

In Fleet Tail, itsván and and Mark Sinclair continue their descent to the wind of travers but should see the situation become more complex in the medium term... anyway, the coming week is very intense!

Christophe

http://goldengloberace.com


Mark Slats: reports 4 meter swells, some sun, light wind. Put up gennaker last night, temps 5-10 degrees. South African weather guys are really good, tells you where highs and lows will be next 3 days. Headed to south but not to far south. Busy with boat maintenance. Still no gloves. Slept with hot water bottle after night time sail change in skivvies.

Mark Sinclair: Recovering from birthday celebration, hidden presents including a "Wilson" volleyball. 3 ships to chat with during night after two weeks of no ships. Systems all good including alarms.
Robin should be worried about me breaking his records.Tiller and rudder are very good. Should cross 30 degrees tonite, planning on crossing close to South Africa, that's the plan anyways. A lot of preparation over last two years is paying off and boat is holding up well.

Philippe Peche: Boats okay except broken tiller and windvane. (Spends lots of time discussing emergency call other than race HQ) RC tries to convince him to move to Chitchester Class so he can stay in Golden Globe with 18 hour penalty.

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede: Receives warning of defined current eddy ahead. Everything is fine. More discusses upcoming upcoming weather, things going to get interesting. Saw 1st big ship yesterday.

Uku Randmaa: Have southerly winds at moment. Had small leak at chart table near electronics but no damage. Getting cold. English speaking forecasts more understandable.

Susie Goodall: Just tacked in horrible seas. Headed North at moment. things should change in next couple days, Winds 10-15 up to 30 then drops again. Annoying. Boat, two chainplates have lifted a couple inches. Loads of water coming over the deck . Some leaking. Been at sea over month now. Solar panels a bit weak with little sun, conserving power. Living on coffee at moment not feeling like cooking. Appetite comes and goes in waves!

[Buzz Light Beer]

Listened to the Susie Goodall interview, moving chain-plates cant be good.

I would stop in Capetown and have it looked at.

But that's just me.

[Single Hander]

She does sound a bit nervous.

[Carl Spackler]

Hope she makes the right call.

[Photoboy]

Lead Boats Commited



TRACKER

(another poorly robo translated write up from christophe favreau)



"it is surprising that strong sea while there are only 30 knots of wind maxi". this comment in appearance measured takes a particular resonance in the mouth of a man as experienced as Jean-LUC VAN DEN HEEDE... The leader of the race that sails this morning 250 miles south of Cape Town must have spent a complicated night in the abrupt (and surely tidal) wave that raises a powerful current that opposes the sense of the wind. Reported to competitors by the organization of the 2018 (see post of last night), this risk zone does not really seem to slow down the Dean of the race who saw others!

It is still 500 miles ahead of Mark Slats who signed the best progress of the last 24 hours (145 miles), in front of Gregor Mc Guckin, vdh and are wiig. Passed under an area of high pressure several days ago, they have been slipping from a great pace, which is unfortunately not the case of Susie Goodall, Igor Zaretskiy, Tapio Lehtinen, loic lepage and to a lesser extent uku randmaa. All of them backs with a very wide area of low winds that drive them south, prevents them from joining the great south depression train.

Fortunately, this bubble should be eliminated tomorrow with the arrival of a slightly north depression that will bring wind to everyone, except maybe igor and tapio. More South, Abhilash Tomy is already enjoying it but higher, itsván and and Mark Sinclair must not hang out because they may be at the edge of the system and could see him escape.

In The Chichester Category, Antoine cousot injured his shoulder and again met with the problems of a regulator. It is progressing carefully towards the south and should stop to repair under the island of Trinidad while Philippe fishing continues to draw the best of his rustler 36 despite the break of his free bar and his regulator. He's hoping to join cape town before this weekend. And Francesco Cappelletti (Category Carrozzo) is only a few hours away from Ecuador!

Christophe

[Photoboy]

TRACKER


FRENCH LANGUAGE REPORT 24/08/2018 #GGR2018

The wind is back for most of the competitors of the 2018 this morning. Only Igor Zaretskiy is not really ok, always stuck (0,4 knot...) on the edge of a band without wind that will fortunately get off in the day and allow him to finally descend to the tip of South Africa.

In Front, it always goes good and the great news of this August 24 is that the leader of the race, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, has passed the course of good hope today. This symbolic stage marks the end of the Atlantic and the beginning of the Indian Ocean. This part of the world is surely one of the most uncomfortable for who adventure to sail around the globe and it is clearly the beginning of a muscular progression for the fleet of the golden globe race 2018.

If the Dean of the race (73 years) has already had to compose with a difficult sea last night, his pursuers will soon be struck by bad weather. Mark Slats, ALWAYS 2th 500 miles behind. More South, 300 miles from the Dutch Giant, are wiig and gregor mcguckin run on the edge of a depression that will go back on them and make the swell grow again... which should be approaching 10 meters tomorrow!

This seems to be well suited to the young Irish, full of enthusiasm and enthusiasm, determined to become the first representative of this proud people to close a world tour without a stop. He traveled almost 160 miles yesterday to nearly 7 knots of average...

Behind, uku randmaa, Susie Goodall, Abhilash Tomy and loic lepage have all found wind and conditions will grow rapidly. Itsván and and Mark Sinclair obviously escaped the weak band of winds that threatened them. A little lagged in the west, Captain Coconut, however, may soon have to fight against face winds while his direct American-Hungarian competitor should benefit from a better angle...

The most to complain this morning is probably tapio lethinen, who has lost a lot in the last few days. Busy solving his many energy problems, he also had to fight with a small band of wind that he just started out. In The Chichester Category, Philippe fishing continued his road to Cape Town at reduced speed, and Antoine Cousot left his shelter under trindade island. The Repair of his speed regulator is done, but the skipper is still injured...

Christophe

[Photoboy]

TRACKER


Jean-Luc Van Den Heede first to round Cape of Good Hope
Philippe Péché and Antoine Cousot to retire from the Race
Navigation warning posted heralds first Southern Ocean storm
Dateline: 00:00 24-08-18 Les Sables D’Olonne:

Race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede sailing his Rustler 36 yacht Matmut rounded the Cape of Good Hope at 20:00 UTC yesterday, the first of three major milestones in this 30,000 mile solo non-stop round the world race.

The 73-year old yachtsman, who already holds the record for the fastest West-East solo circumnavigation against the prevailing winds, got an early reminder on Wednesday of what to expect now that he is entering the Roaring Forty latitudes after sailing straight across the Agulhas Current on Wednesday. Reporting 7m high waves, he texted Race HQ: SURPRISINGLY STRONG SEA WHEN THERE IS ONLY 30KT (WINDS) MAX!

Norwegian Are Wiig (OE 32 Olleanna) and Ireland’s Gregor McGuckin (Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance) trailing some 830 miles behind Matmut in 3rd and 4th place within the fleet will experience the full force of the next low pressure system this morning and the 50knot + westerly winds are predicted to overtake 2nd placed Mark Slats (Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick) later today and drop snow on Cape Town over the weekend.

Van Den Heede’s performance to-date has been quite remarkable. He has rounded this, the first of three capes (the other major headlands are Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia and Cape Horn) some 34 days ahead of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s record aboard his ketch-rigged yacht Suhaili 50 years ago. In a satellite call to Race HQ this week, Jean-Luc was asked when he expected to reach Hobart, the second photo drop point in the Race. “My mind is not on that, but the finish back in Les Sables d’Olonne. I predict a return early in February.” That would make a circumnavigation time of between 210 – 217 days against Suhaili’s time of 312 days. Based on this, Race organisers are predicting the first arrival off Hobart in mid October

Meanwhile, two other French sailors, Antoine Cousot (Biscay 36 Métier Intérim) and Philippe Péché (Rustler 36 PRB) will be forced to pull out of the Race on arrival in port. Both had already been demoted to the Chichester Class for those who make one stop or seek outside assistance.

Cousot, who made a stop in Lanzarote, announced on Wednesday that he was headed for the Island of Trinidade to rest shoulder and ankle injuries and make further repairs to his wind vane self steering system, before heading on to Rio de Janerio, Brazil.

Don McIntyre, the GGR Race Chairman said today. “We are sorry to see Philippe and Antoine out of the Race. Philippe has been very competitive since day 1 when he led the fleet away from Les Sables d’Olonne so we share his disappointment. Antoine has been struggling from the outset, first with self-steering problems that have continued to plague him, and now with injuries. Both will have learned valuable lessons and we hope they consider this as unfinished business and enter the next race in 2022.”

Péché, who led the race down the Atlantic, also suffered damage to his steering, but it was a call to his partner via the satellite phone reserved solely for communication with GGR HQ, that demoted him to the Chichester Class. He was warned via text message on 13th August not to use the satellite phone again, and later offered an 18-hour time penalty and remain in the GGR class because the call to his partner did not provide any real outside assistance. That could have allowed Péché to continue in the Chichester Class once he had stopped for repairs in Cape Town where outside assistance is required.

However, later investigations show that Philippe continued to use the Satellite phone. A log of his calls and messages show 40 incoming and outgoing calls and SMS messages, which he now says were required to organize his pit stop and repairs

In an exchange of text messages yesterday Péché wrote: “THAT IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN ORGANISE MY STOP IN CAPE TOWN”, followed by “IMPOSSIBLE TO ORGANIZE WITH SSB. STEERING 15H/D. U CAN DISQUALIFY ME.”

Race HQ responded: NOT DISQUALIFIED.WE CANNOT GIVE 18HR PENALTY AS 40 COMMS. WHEN U STOP AS A CHICHESTER U R OUT. YOU CAN CONTINUE IN CAROZZO CLASS ONLY, WITH GGR SUPPORT. ALL THE BEST…GOOD LUCK

The rules for this retro race marking the 50th anniversary of the first Sunday Times Golden Globe Race are clear. Competitors can only use equipment that was available to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and other competitors in 1968/9 to navigate and contact the outside world. That means using SSB and Ham radios for long-range communications, and VHF for short range (up to 30 miles)

The official ruling reads:
On Thursday 9th August Philippe’s Beaufort wind vane became inoperable with a break that was impossible to repair onboard. On Friday 10th August the yacht’s tiller onboard broke approx. 20cm from the rudder. Conditions had been 40-50kts winds from behind. Philippe decided to call GGR HQ via the Race Sat Phone to report the damage and notify that he would lay a hull for the night and attempt to make repairs in the morning. He then stated that he would call his partner on the same sat phone, saying… ‘I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES’

GGR declared this was NOT a CODE ORANGE under the Crisis Management Planning, so notice was NOT passed onto any of the Marine Rescue Coordination Centres. Instead, GGR management passed information to next of kin and continued to monitor the situation closely. The weather moderated quickly. The yacht’s rudder, hull and rig were sound with all safety gear intact and all satellite comms. operational. The following morning Philippe made a jury repair to the tiller from parts onboard, declared he was bound for Cape Town and continued sailing, making good speed.

RULES APPLICABLE in NOR.
3.1.4: A skipper may only contact the GGR Control by GGR Sat Phone or YB3 Texting during the voyage and may NOT use these to contact any other party except in an Emergency.
3.1.12: Failure to comply with any one of these rules, will lead to the skipper having to abandon the Race.

FINDINGS
Philippe Péché called GGR HQ to report temporary loss of control of his yacht. He did not ask for assistance and confirmed that he was OK and would make repairs in the morning. This was NOT a DISTRESS or a PAN PAN situation. Philippe wanted to notify GGR of his situation and change in satellite tracking, and to alert GGR of the challenges ahead. He did NOT declare an emergency.

All Entrants have been advised in documents and briefings that the GGR Sat Phone can be used ONLY in an emergency to call any rescue authorities for assistance. Philippe’s assertion that it was an emergency and therefore he could call his partner is not supported by the GGR on two levels.
1. This incident was NOT declared an emergency by GGR and No assistance was requested or given. Philippe did not declare an emergency and had not called any Rescue Authorities.
2. The intent of Rule 3.1.4 relates specifically to emergency situations and refers to calling anyone who can assist in such an emergency. It does not refer to secondary calls to family or managers while under racing rules. The fact that Philippe stated he was NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES indicates that he knew he should not make the call.

Philippe has clearly breached rule 3.1.4. Rather than apply 3.1.12, his move to Chichester Class was determined.

A time penalty of 18 hours was considered to bring Philippe back into the GGR class, but not approved as subsequent investigations show that Philippe has been using the GGR Sat-Phone since August 10th for regular and frequent incoming and outgoing calls and SMS messages. As a result, his stop in Cape Town will mark a second penalty forcing his retirement from the GGR. END.

Latest positions at 20:00 UTC 23-08-18

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


CHICHESTER CLASS
Philippe Péché (FRA) Rustler 36 PRB


CAROZZO SAILOR
Francesco Cappelletti (ITA) Endurance 35 007


RETIRED
Ertan Beskardes (GBR) Rustler 36 Lazy Otter
Kevin Farebrother (AUS) Tradewind 35 Sagarmatha
Nabil Amra (PAL) Biscay 36 Liberty II
Antoine Cousot (FRA) Biscay 36 Métier Intérim


Gales hit and problems build for some..ARE two knockdowns!! Snow ,Hail and big seas...Reports coming in..Will GO LIVE in 2 Hours with latest tracker and weather update as winds and sea projected to build again in 24hrs.

MARK SLATS………17hrs ago.. GOT GREATPACKAGE DEAL SNOW,HAIL,40+KN,MESSYSEAS AND BIG WAVE…14hrs ago… GUSTING 50+ IN SQUALS BUT AL GOOD JUST STORMJIB ALL FINE

ARE WIIG…15hrs ago… SAFETUBE WINDRDR BRK.HOVETO NOW FOR REP,I BIG SEA.ALL WELL…6hrs ago.. 2X KNOCDOWN TODAY.BOAT AND I OK,JUST SMAL DAMAGES

TOMY….12 hrs ago.. BEEN ON SURVIVALMODE LAST3DAYS.CONSTANTLY REPARING THINGS




LATEST Sat text. Mark Slats reports THREE KNOCKDOWNS in bad weather but all OK...ARE recovering ..GREGOR is fine in BIG sea.....

Wiig: 7 SAFETUBE WINDRDR BRK.HOVETO NOW FOR REP,I BIG SEA.ALL WELL / SAFETUBE SUR WINDVINE BROKE. BESOIN DE RÉPARER, BIG SEA. TOUT VA BIEN

Heede: 8PAS MAL OCCUPE ALA BARRE AUJOURDHUI!JE BARRE A LABRI.SUPER!TVB

Tomy: 5FLOODS IN KERALA? PRAYING4 SAFETY OF EVERYONE / INONDATIONS AU KERALA? PRIER POUR LA SECURITE DE TOUS

Slats: 68 GUSTING 50+ IN SQUALS BUT AL GOOD JUST STORMJIB ALL FINE / GUSTING 50+ IN SQUALS MAIS TOUS BON JUST STORM JIB TOUT FINE

Tomy: 5BEEN ON SURVIVALMODE LAST3DAYS.CONSTANTLY REPARING THINGS / A ÉTÉ EN MODE SURVIE 3 DERNIERS JOURS. RÉPARATION CONSTANTE

Sinclair: 88 COLD ENOUGH FOR TROUSERS, BUT DEVIL TO HAUL ON OVER WELLIES / LE FROID ASSEZ POUR LES PANTALONS, MAIS LE DEVIL DE PASSER SUR LES BIEN-ÊTRE

Kopar:
37GDDAY2UPWINDCRAWLINGWINDONNOSEBIGSEAMAINON2NDREE F&STAYSAILONL /Jour 2: Vent battu, grande mer

Zaretskiy: ESMERALDA OK

Wiig: 7 2X KNOCDOWN TODAY.BOAT AND I OK,JUST SMAL DAMAGES/ 2 KNOCKDOWN AUJOURD'HUI, BATEAU ET JE SUIS OK, JUSTE PETITS DOMMAGES

Cousot: 1 LE SPI SANS CHAUSSETTE C EST COMME LE SKI SANS BATON! / SPI WITHOUT SOCK C IS LIKE SKI WITHOUT STICK!

Heede: 8FRONT FROID COSTO7NUIT 40KT MER DESORDONE MAIS MANIABLE.CAMOLI/ FRONT COLD COSTO 7 NIGHT 40KT SEA DARK BUT HANDY

Wiig: 7 LITLE LIMPING TODAY,BUT FIT AGAIN I AFTERNOON / PETIT LIMPING AUJOURD'HUI, MAIS S'ADAPTE EN APRES-MIDI

Slats: 68 PROPER SHIT WEATHER 3 KNOCKDOWNS BUT EVERYTHING OK J /temps de merde 3 knockdowns mais tout est ok

Tomy: 5 THIS THING OF DAMPNESS / humidité

McGuckin: 22WIND EASING THIS MORNING.STILL V.BIG SEAS BUT BETTER.ALL WELL/ VENT DIMINUANT CE MATIN. TOUJOURS TRES GRANDE MER MAIS MIEUX. TOUT VA BIEN

Sinclair: 88 WIND BACKED N-WARM&SUNNY-WOOLY HAT,SPRAY JACKET&WELLIES,NICE/ vent soutenu maintenant, chaud et ensoleillé, wooly hat, spray veste et bottes, nice





Golden Globe Race stops for Philippe Peche at the CAPE! ( Peter MULLER Photo)

About the damage:?
"I had made a rescue bar with the PRB crews before I left, but I had used some of that bar, the stainless steel tubes, to repair my Windvane for the first time. Then, two days before the damage tiller, I had to make a second repair on my windvane this time with other materials. Everything was very shaky. To be honest, it seemed very complicated to go into the Southern Ocean like that.

Then the tiller broke. There is a break on a place where a weld stopped and began a reinforcement. It opened like a tin can! At no time before this happened, I had not questioned the tiller. This damage has undermined me! I never thought my race could stop like this. When I knew that the organization was declassifying me in Chichester for the call to my companion, I was obviously in disagreement. For me, I was in an emergency situation and in this context, I understood that calls were allowed. After studying all the possibilities, I told myself that I was forced to stop. From there, anyway, for me it was clear, I did not want to continue. So I used my satellite phone to organize my arrival in Cape Town. I spent so many hours at the helm, I had no other choice. It was impossible to use the BLU. "

About his race?:
"I was very happy with my start of the race. I think I have sailed well without making too many strategic mistakes. I was proud to be fighting and pushing the boat. It was exciting and that's what I like doing on a boat. I had a lot of fun. "

About the last 15 days of sailing to Cape Town:?
"I do not want, ever, to relive these last 15 days! It was very hard. I was at the helm and adjusting constantly, about 15 to 18 hours a day. It was totally useless. I managed to make a small handle about one meter long. But it was not very reliable. You had to be careful to balance the boat so as not to pull the tiller too hard. I still managed to hit the road and was very well received in Cape Town. The people at the Yacht Club were amazing and came, with the equivalent of the SNSM ( large rescue escort boat), to welcome me to guide me to the port. We could not see anything. There were 40 knots and a lot of sea when approaching the land. "

On Loneliness?
As long as I was racing, loneliness did not weigh me too much. I was finally super taken by my pace. I did not have time to think about the people I left behind, not had time to be bored. There is still a lot of work, especially to ensure navigation and adjustments. You quickly impose yourself a rhythm. And on board, it worked pretty well. I think I was well settled in the race, confident from the first night when I thought to put at least three days. "

About the lessons learned from these 55 days of racing on the Golden Globe Race:?
I understood one thing quickly ... The old ones, those of the first edition, did not push their boats. When they wanted to fall, they slumped. While there, with Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (VDH) and Mark Slats in particular, we were really racing. We pushed our boats. I have never been under-wired. It is also probably the reason why I damaged my equipment prematurely. Some of our equipment, for example the wind vane, is not made for this purpose. And probably one of my mistakes is not having shipped more hardware to repair. I should have brought anything and everything ... It would have always served me. "

About retiring?
It is inconceivable for me to continue the race (Philippe could join the class Carozzo which brings together the skippers who have already made at least one stopover, ed). Going around the world in "baba cool" is not my project. To leave Cape Town two weeks after VDH, it does not amuse me because I know that I could not beat it. For me, the case ends here. It's very hard because it's been three years that I'm on this project! I'm crying! I left everything in Australia for that. It stops way too fast. I had considered many things but I never thought that this bar was going to break. In any case, hat to the guys who will finish because the boats are not made for that. I was a little credulous about that. Me, what interests me is to advance the boat to its potential! To preserve the boats, it is necessary to walk to 50% of the polar (under-exploit the potential of the boat, note). We talked to each other every day with VDH. We were very close during the race. We decided to do the Indian Ocean together, to go slowly to get together in Tasmania, to get on the same pace. I know that my abandonment has saddened him. I wish him good road and all the competitors! "

Interview with Jean-Jacques Laurent, President of PRB:
"We are disappointed just like Philippe is. He had a great start to the race. We knew he was an excellent sailor and he confirmed it. But we also knew that this Golden Globe Race is very special and very demanding. There were a lot of material risks. Philippe explains it very well. The boats are probably not made to be driven almost twice as fast as the first edition! The sailor is obviously the master of his decision and we respect it. The main thing for us is the integrity of the sailor and Philippe arrived on board. This solitary experience was important to him and we are certain that he will raise other challenges in the future as we will at PRB, very soon on the Route du Rhum with Vincent Riou!

[Photoboy]

Are Wiig Dismasts In Golden Globe Race




Golden Globe Race
Just now ·
Are Wiig has been rolled 360 while hove too in heavy seas and been dismasted.
He has NOT activated his EPIRB and is NOT in distress. He has not asked for any assistance.
Full details in the next hour. #GGR2018





Profile
Name Are Wiig

Born October 2nd 1959

Nationality Norvegian

Country of entry Norway

Are Wiig is a professional seaman, engineer and yacht surveyor from Svelvik near Oslo. He has chosen an Olle Enderlin designed OE32 class double-ender named Olleanna to compete in the Race. Wiig, who has more than five decades of sailing experience, finished 2nd in class in the 1988 OSTAR with his 30ft yacht Granada. He later covered more than 30,000 miles in that boat before building and sailing a 33ft catamaran. In 2000 he bought a sistership to the 56ft multihull Umupro Jardin, winner of the 1984 OSTAR, and won several shorthanded and fully crewed races in his native Norway.

He says of the Race: “The Golden Globe is a dream come true.”





Boat
RACE NO 7
Name Olleanna
Type OE32 masthead cutter
Designer Olle Enderlein
Builder Sundsör’s Ship Yard (SWE)
LOA 32.45ft / 9.89m
LWL 27.89ft / 8.50m
Beam 10.43ft / 3.18m
Draft 4.90′ / 1.50m
Displacement 1373 lbs / 6220 kgs
Sail area 504sq. ft / 46.8sq. m

Are Wiig bought his OE 32 class yacht Olleanna in 2015 and the job of making her compliant with the GGR rules began. This Olle Enderlein designed yacht is modeled on the classic Scandinavian double-ender and was designed in 1971. Olleanna was built in 1973, is fitted with a masthead rig and makes surprisingly good speed, even in light winds.

In October 2017, Wiig completed a 2,600-mile solo voyage from Oslo up into the Arctic Circle to North Cape (71° N) and back. “I experienced steady winds between 10 and 40knots with gusts of 70knots off South Utsire. The boat performed very well, averaging 6knots throughout the voyage.” He says. The voyage also uncovered several leaks around deck fittings and windows, which he fixed during a final refit during the 2017/18 winter ready to be relaunched once the ice melted in the Spring.

[Prince of Whales]

I predict that there will be more of the same in the near future.

[Single Hander]

I'm afraid you might be right.

[Photoboy]

Wiig Dismasting Update

Code Orange alert for Norwegian skipper Are Wiig, dismasted some 400 miles SW of Cape Town
DAY 58: Dateline 18:00 UTC – Les Sables d’Olonne, France
Golden Globe Race skipper Are Wiig made a satellite phone call to Race HQ at 16:30 UTC today to report that his 32ft yacht Olleanna had been rolled through 360° and dismasted some 400 miles south west of Cape Town.

The 58-year old yacht surveyor from Svelvik, Norway is one of 12 sailors competing in this solo non stop race around the Globe, and was below decks at the time with the yacht lying hove-to in 35-45knot winds and 7-8m seas. One cabin porthole was lost, but Are reported that he was not injured and there was no damage to the hull. He quickly cut the mast and rig away from the hull but left the forestay and it is currently hanging from the bow of the boat in the water with the sail attached acting as a sea anchor.

Don McIntyre the GGR Race Chairman who answered the call from Wiig reports “Are sounded confident and very much in control. His windvane self steering system had broken, and before going below, he had been hand-steering since 05:00. Down below is a mess, but he plans to tidy up and monitor the situation and then develop a plan. He has everything onboard to make a jury rig. Are confirmed that he had NOT activated his EPIRB and did NOT require any assistance at this time. All his safety equipment is secure and in good order. His satellite communications are working well and he has full electrical power.”

Race HQ in les Sables d’O’lonne is monitoring the situation and alerted rescue authorities in Cape Town and the fleet of race yachts. The nearest competitor to Are Wiig is Ireland’s Gregor McGuckin sailing the Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance, some 40 miles north east of Wiig’s position, but he too is facing the same strong westerly winds, reporting earlier today: 3RD NIGHT OF GALES,NO SAILS,TOWING WARPS.ALL WELL,JUST TIRED

McIntyre continued: “We have alerted the GGR fleet but since Are has not asked for assistance at this stage we have not called on any yachts to divert from their course.”
Wiig called Race HQ to confirm that the situation onboard was stable. He was preparing to plug the broken porthole and was committed to set up a jury rig as soon as conditions allow and head slowly for Cape Town.

[Panama Red]

Does not sound like fun.

[Photoboy]

Golden Globe Race
4 hrs ·
Are Wiig is now GRAB BAG on the GGR tracker..PURPLE!!! .his previous unit stopped. Latest report .....

AT 0745Hr UTC Are Wiig made a scheduled SAT PHONE call to GGR control. Summary of that call follows...

Rough night with plenty of rocking. He felt it may be easier now to roll over without the mast. Trying to rest but very hard with motion. Eating OK. Woke during the night thinking she was going over again but did not. Sea slowly dropping. Small holes still to repair on deck. YB3i main tracking unit NOT operating. Main YB3 text unit damaged, Grab bag YB3 sat texting now activated. Forward bulkhead damaged and torn from hull, some deck fittings ripped out, hull compression damage on starboard side obviously huge impact dropping off wave. Hull sound and strong for voyage to Cape Town. Still electrical wire holes leaking water into boat. Engine runs but not completed final checks till confirm no ropes in water. His solar charging is damaged but reparable. Parts of mast and sails still connected off bow holding boat head to wind and sea. Wind is dropping but still small seas breaking onto boat. He feels safe. He has located all parts made specially for Jury rig and both spinnaker poles are intact.

[Photoboy]

Are Wiig Limping Towards Cape Town

UPDATE on Are Wiig dismasting
Code Orange alert remains for Norwegian skipper
Loïc Lepage running short of water
Day 59: Dateline 28.8.2018 – Les Sables d’Olonne, France




Further details have emerged today regarding Norwegian skipper Are Wiig following his capsize and dismasting 400 miles SSW of Cape Town on Monday.

Now in regular communication with both Race HQ and home, Wigg‘s team manager John Amtrup gave this update:

“He was repairing the safety pin (of his wind vane self steering) when his yacht capsized and he was thrown out of the companionway and landed in the sprayhood. He got some bruises and ended up in the cockpit, but it is nothing serious. A cut on the ear and a few other places, so there was some blood. The forestay is working as a sea anchor and the boom is saved.

The porthole that broke was over the chart table, so the electrical system got a lot of water on it, but the batteries are probably still fine.

Under deck there is food and oil everywhere. Are thinks it was blowing around 35knots when he capsized, which he didnt think was much having sailed through this storm for the last 3 days. Ironicly, Are had just read the book ‘The voyage of madmen’ and every boat that hove-to didn’t capsize. The race is over for Are and he will not be getting a new rig for now.”

Are Wiig also recorded a telephone message to his many supporters in Norway saying: This is Are, I just have to say I’m sorry. My participation in the Golden Globe Race has suddenly come to an end.
I have experienced some bad weather the last couple of days, and with it, knockdowns. The wind-vane had broken and I was repairing it. I was standing in the companionway and had the parts for the wind-vane in the vice, working on them. And then there was a big sea, and I capsized. When the boat came back up, there was chaos everywhere, the mast was broken, and that means the end of my participation. I’m sorry, I can’t continue, because it was really fun while it lasted. I want to thank everyone who gave me support of any kind. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry…though I’m not sure that ‘I’m sorry’ is the right phrase. This is how the weather is, and you can’t rule over the weather. The seas have been terrible today, and in the end, this was the result. We will have to try another time. Maybe. Thank you.”

Don McIntyre, the GGR Chairman confirmed today that Are Wiig has all the equipment needed to set a jury rig: “All entrants had to prove this during their preparations by sailing a triangular course in the open ccean with their planned jury rig for at least six hours, then submit a comprehensive report as part of their final registration and acceptance into the Race. Wiig completed his jury rig and emergency rudder arrangement off the Norwegian coast last April.”






McIntyre added: “Parts of the mast and sails are still connected off the bow which is holding the boat head to wind and sea. He has located all the parts made specially for the Jury rig and both spinnaker poles are intact. Are reports that he had a rough night with plenty of rocking. He felt it may be easier now to roll over without the mast. He is trying to rest but finding it very hard with all the jerky motion. He woke during the night thinking she was going over again but did not. The seas are slowly dropping.

Hull compression damage on the starboard side suggests huge impact dropping off wave. The forward bulkhead was damaged and torn from hull by the impact and some deck fittings have been ripped out. There are small holes still to be repaired on deck. His YB3i main tracking unit is NOT operating and his main YB3 text unit is damaged so he has activated the spare YB3 sat texting unit stored in the yacht’s emergency grab bag. His solar charging is damaged but reparable and electrical wiring holes are leaking water into boat. Engine runs but Are will not complete final checks until he can confirm that there are no ropes in water. He has approx. 120 ltrs of fuel so about 40 hours motoring at 5 knots = 200 miles. The hull is sound and strong enough for voyage to Cape Town. Wind is dropping but small seas continue to break over the boat. He feels safe.

We feel that Are Wiig is now fully in control of his boat and in good health. He has a good plan to sail to Cape Town under Jury rig. LIVE Tracking has been restored to the GGR tracker iand Sat comms are all working. We will provide him weather reports and maintain CODE ORANGE till he arrives safely in Cape Town.”

Overnight, all other GGR skippers sent supportive messages to Wiig including Ireland’s Gregor McGukin who was 40 miles NE of Wiig‘s position when the upset happened. He texted: SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT ARE. AM CLOSE BY IF ASSISTANCE NEEDED. He had been running under bare poles and streaming warps in the severe conditions yesterday but this morning the Irishman had even more reassuring news: BACK ON TRACK. SEA STATE MUCH BETTER. Latest forecasts predict even calmer conditions over the next couple of days which will make life much easier for Wiig to set his boat up to sail north to Cape Town

In Cape Town, Harbour Master Captain Steven Bentley, has promised his support, just as the harbour authority did for fellow GGR skipper Philippe Péché a week ago. He writes: “We will keep an eye on his progress, and be available to assist him into Cape Town. Should his jury rig course take him into False Bay, between Cape Point, and Cape Agulhas, he should make best course possible to False Bay. I am able to arrange a safe marina berth at False Bay Yacht Club, and In better local weather conditions, he can translocate from FBYC to the Royal Cape Yacht Club with assistance from local club members. I will watch his progress, and aim to get him ashore and his yacht safely berthed, as soon as possible with the least risks.”

Meanwhile, another GGR skipper may well be forced into Cape Town for lack of water. French entrant Loïc Lepage sailing the Nicholson 32 Laaland reports that he has still not caught much rain water and has only enough to get as far as Australia. His SSB radio and YB3 Texting unit are not working and he has had to resort to messaging on his sat phone direct to Race HQ. Lepage is currently 1,000 miles west of The Cape of Good Hope, and without the ability to pick up weather forecasts, may well decide to head for Cape Town to fix these issues before continuing on in the Chichester Class



Latest positions at 14:00 UTC today 28.8.18

Jean- Luc VDH (FRA)Rustler 36 Matmut
Mark Slats (NED)Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick
Gregor McGuckin (IRE) Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance
Uku Randmaa (EST) Rustler 36 One and All
Abhilash Tomy (IND) Suhaili replica Thuriya
Susie Goodall (GBR) Rustler 36 DHL Starlight
Loïc Lepage (FRA) Nicholson 32 Laaland
Igor Zaretskiy (RUS) Endurance 35 Esmeralda
Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) Gaia 36 Asteria
Istvan Kopar (USA) Tradewind 35 Puffin
Mark Sinclair (Aus) Lello 34 Coconut


CAROZZO SAILOR

Francesco Cappelletti (ITA) Endurance 35 007
RETIRED

Ertan Beskardes (GBR) Rustler 36 Lazy Otter
Kevin Farebrother (AUS) Tradewind 35 Sagarmatha
Nabil Amra (PAL) Biscay 36 Liberty II
Antoine Cousot (FRA) Biscay 36 Métier Intérim
Philippe Péché (FRA) Rustler 36 PRB
Are Wiig (NOR) OE 32 Olleanna

[Photoboy]

GGR Update August 30th


TRACKER


FRENCH LANGUAGE REPORT 30/08/2018 #GGR2018

As planned, it's in the front that it's best this morning. At 630 miles in front of Mark Slats, always second, Jean-LUC VAN DEN HEEDE EVEN RELEASED THE SPI! After a very fast night, worn by the current, it is still at a little over 6 knots and opens the March of this golden globe race 2018 with an enthusiasm that nothing seems to have to stop, if not a High pressure zone that develops before it and could generate winds of face...
Fortunately for him, this slowdown will be shared by the entire fleet, with various fortunes. Gregor Mcguckin remains the fastest and continues, in a wind vein (stuck between two quiet areas) to nibble on Mark Slats's rear table. IN THE LAST 4 hours, the Irish was walking around two knots faster.

Behind it, it's not about speed. Away from there! Uku randmaa barely progress in an area of evanescent winds that point him to the west, at 1,4 knots... facing him, Abhilash Tomy is progressing correctly in the right direction. But for how long? The area around him seems really unstable and difficult to tell how the Indian will succeed in getting away with this stagnation.

But the one who suffers most this morning is probably Susie Goodall. 0,1 knot!! and it could last two days if we believe the forecasts... the English is paying very expensive his ascent north initiated on August 18, while she was just sailing Above Gregor Mcguckin, today distant 750 miles...

The end of this south Atlantic is really desired for the last competitors. Loic Lepage, still waiting for a providential rain, progresses once more slowly (2,1 knots) in the middle of a strip without wind. But at least he goes down South-East! This is not the case of Igor Zaretskiy who, if he moves east, seems to have to put a little north on his road.

This is easier for the trio that closes the March of this grh 2018. Istvan and shows the fastest, almost 6 knots. He's been over 130 miles in the last 24 hours. He even doubled tapio lehtinen, close to him in his north. Last, Mark Sinclair slides to nearly 5 knots.

These three boats should not suffer too much in the next few days, even if the wind goes down a little. They will be the first to touch the front ahead of them and will join them on September 1st. This powerful fresh wind zone will then sweep the entire fleet! Finally!

Meanwhile, Francesco Cappelletti continues his beautiful progression, installed in a regular South-East stream. Antoine Cousot is only 280 miles from Rio to 4 knots of average and are wiig 250 miles from Cape Town.

Under makeshift rigging, Norwegian is visibly moving to the engine with more than 4 knots in a zone without wind. He could join the South African port in 3 OR 4 days, see 2 days if he has enough fuel to go all the way!

Christophe