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VENDÉE GLOBE

Vendée Globe: Speed king Thomson challenges for third

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British Vendée Globe skipper Alex Thomson continues to mount a serious challenge for third place among the fleet leaders as the straight line speed race continues east towards the Amsterdam ice security gate. In a building breeze today Thomson has been increasingly able to retain the high average speeds that have long been his trademark, twice earning him 24 hour world speed records.

Despite being armed with an older generation design, Hugo Boss’ speed king Thomson has been so far been the fastest in the fleet though the second half of Sunday.

Though the avid sports fan pledged to keep a weather eye on England’s Premiership top-of-the-table derby between Manchester United and Manchester City, the electric pace he was setting this afternoon must surely have precluded even a passing look at the available text feeds.

Over the 750 miles which remain to the third security gate of the course it is unlikely that any new speed records will be set, but the skipper of the silver hulled Farr design went head to head for third today with none other than Virbac-Paprec 3’s Jean-Pierre Dick, who by setting a mark of 502.53 miles on 1st December*, has now twice surpassed 24 hour distance records previously held by Thomson.

Hugo Boss rose from fifth to third today, initially passing a frustrated Bernard Stamm who had spent a period slowed on board his powerful Cheminées Poujoulat to deal with a pressing number of small maintenance issues, including replacing broken battens in his mainsail.

But the Swiss skipper, who like Thomson has yet to finish a Vendée Globe, was back up close to maximum speed during the afternoon making 20kts.

Thomson is widely acknowledged to be a different, more measured and mature racer now than the hot-headed, all or nothing sailor who has struggled to finish key races until now. Marriage and a young son are certainly steadying influences, but a complete re-assessment since he had to retire from the 2008-9 Vendée Globe and then missed out on the last Barcelona World Race for personal reasons, completely revolutionised his approach and that of his team.

Gregarious, personable Thomson does not especially enjoy the solitude of solo sailing and tries to stay in contact with his own outside world:

“I speak to my wife every day and she sends me a little voice recording which is very nice for me and that makes me feel connected to the family. And today it is Man United vs Man City and I’ll be keeping up with that.”
Thomson reported this morning from on board Hugo Boss whilst making 23kts of boat speed.

He is within 107 miles of leader Armel Le Cléac’h and had gained 30 miles on Banque Populaire since this morning. Macif’s François Gabart is second, almost equidistant bewteen Hugo Boss and the leader.

Davies back to Les Sables d’Olonne
Meantime Thomson’s British compatriot Samantha Davies, aboard her jury rigged Savéol enjoyed a warm Sunday afternoon welcome back to Les Sables d’Olonne. It was an emotional final full stop to her Vendée Globe adventure. The popular female skipper was dismasted on 15th November but has sailed back to the race start via Madeira where she and her team set a first jury and then from Cascais by Lisbon, Portugal. She followed Jérémie Béyou on Maitre Coq – who retired with a keel head issue – back into the channel this afternoon.

Davies said “ This is so heart-warming ! I wasn’t expecting so many people, thank you all. And also, thank you for all the messages I’ve received since my dismasting. I’m really impressed with the enthusiasm and solidarity around me. It all started in Madeira, where there was a press boat greeting me when I arrived. It is very touching indeed.”

Sanso’s jangling nerves
There were a particularly nervous few minutes during the afternoon for Spanish skipper Javier Sanso after he believes he felt an unidentified object pass between his keel and rudder. He checked the endoscope on Acciona 100% EcoPowered but could see no obvious problems and has not heard or felt any additional vibration or noise, though he said he plans to investigate further when the conditions are suitable.

09/12/2012 18:30:00 © riproduzione riservata

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