· Estrella Damm still hold the upper hand, leading by around 20 miles, as the two IMOCA Open 60’s fetch towards the next turn on the south west side of the low pressure system they are sailing towards.
· Sailing is fast, bumpy, wet with the boats slamming hard in growing seas.
Barcelona, 13 April 2010.- Strategic options have been limited for the two IMOCA Open 60’s Estrella Damm and W Hotels as they approach a theoretical half way point of the New York Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record Challenge.
And for the foreseeable future, certainly to the entrance to the Mediterranean, it will continue to be hand-to-hand combat for the crews, a straight test of trimming and producing the boats speed.
To that end the two crews are already satisfying one of the key objectives of this unique Transatlantic challenge, to learn and improve under race conditions.
W Hotels has constantly been snapping at the heels of Estrella Damm, and when the two teams took spoke with Barcelona Race Direction HQ this afternoon, they were still just over 20 miles behind as the twosome made excellent progress on a fast, bumpy and wet – again – fetch on a SE’ly heading towards the low pressure system that is generating the 20 knot NNE’ly winds and mounting seas.
There has been no let up in the attack from either team, although the moods were a little more relaxed today, the focus was on regular rest for the off-watch partners, and intensive trimming of the sails, trying to eke out any extra available speed. Another target which has very clearly been met is inspiring and engaging the American duo, one on each boat.
That their passage to date has been relatively straightforward magnifies their enjoyment of the five days of hard racing so far, but Stan Schreyer on Estrella Damm and Peter Becker on W Hotels are long on energy but running short of superlatives. Both cannot get enough ‘helm time’ and clearly this could be the start of an Open 60 love affair which could endure the test of time.
But, equally, the Spanish crews seem very content too. “We are very happy.” Repeated the highly experienced Alex Pella from Estrella Damm, “We are fighting hand to hand with W Hotels.”
In the near future the seas are expected to build thanks to the long Atlantic fetch to the NE and the increase in wind strength, and that may require the two teams to modulate their approach. The strategic options, such as they are, may then come when they start gybing downwind into the Straits and up the home stretch. What price on a match race to the finish?
Quotes:
Alex Pella (ESP) Co-skipper Estrella Damm (ESP): “ We are doing 16-17 knots with a reef and the eased Solent. We are resting well. Now Pepe is in his bunk. I’m half asleep because I just woke up now. Stan is at the helm. We are well balanced and making good speed. Now I was looking at the situation to see which way to go.
“We are quite comfortable, just fine tuning and trimming as we go.”
About the low pressure ahead: “You need to get in a position to run with the wind. This low will hopefully take us from the South of Azores all the way to about 200 miles to Gibraltar. We will probably approach the Straits gybing, spooning downwind.
“ I’m happy with our performance. We are quite comfortable with the boat and speed. First we started on starboard for three days, then we were stopped by the high pressure transition and now we will sail on port almost till the Straits. And we are fighting hand to hand with W. We are very happy.”
Stan Schreyer (USA) co-skipper Estrella Damm (ESP): “We were helming a lot especially when we were downwind in waves which was a couple of days ago now and in the light stuff, but I guess we probably have been on the autopilot now for 30 hours or so. My Spanish crew mates are extraordinary. I don’t think I have seen Pepe go to sleep yet”
“ And these IMOCA Open 60’s are just wonderful to steer, they are so well balanced, I just love it.”
Toño Piris (ESP) co-skipper W Hotels (ESP): “Toño Piris (ESP), co-skipper W Hotels (ESP): “ Pachi and Peter are running the boat now. I’m taking my turn in the bunk. We are slamminga along. As with Estrella Damm, we have a reef in the main and fine tuning and trimming. It’s quite relaxed here for the moment.”
“ We tried to put up the bigger genoa this morning but decided to drop it again.
“We are doing 15 to 16 knots of boatspeed and windspeed is 18-19 knots at 46 degrees, and our course angle is 80.”
“The boat is slamming on the waves. You can hear the water running across the deck all the time. And our heel angle is 22 degrees.”
About the low ahead: “ We will try to make the best angle to get us the closest possible to the Strait. Now both boats are following parallel routes and I hope angles favour us a bit more ahead. There’s no room for many different variations from this route.”
Peter Becker (USA), co-skipper W Hotels (ESP): “I have five wonderful days of sailing and looking forward to more. The mood on board is great. Pachi is a great chef and we are all very motivated. You fall in love with these Open 60 boats in a heartbeat. They are so well balanced on the helm.”
Standings at 1300hrs GMT Tuesday
1 Estrella Damm (ESP), Ribes, Pella, Schreyer: 2012.6 miles to finish
2 W Hotels (ESP), Rivero, Pires, Becker: 2032.5 (+19.9 miles)