Thomas Coville on SodebO - Update

The maxi-trimaran Sodeb'O is making fast headway along the Argentinean coast pushed by a favourable S/ SW’ly breeze, though both the skipper and the boat are feeling the strain as they sail head on into the swell. However, these sailing conditions should soon improve and should enable Thomas Coville to further reduce his deficit on Francis Joyon. Indeed since Sunday evening and the passage around Cape Horn, Sodeb'O has made up nearly 400 miles on Idec and has a total deficit today 31st December 2008 of 900 miles or two to three days sailing, according to the winds.

Thomas admitted a certain fatigue or even weariness this morning after ten days or so of particularly testing times in a hostile South Pacific “where you are not welcome and where despite the brutal, violent beauty, you’re happy to come out the other side”. Living in another world for the past 43 days, the skipper of Sodeb'O recognised that he hadn’t yet got his head around the fact that he is one of the few sailors to have single-handedly circumnavigated Antarctica in a multihull.

As far as the New Year is concerned, Thomas is all too aware of how lucky he is to be given the chance to make his dreams a reality and to do what he’s decided to do. He hopes to be able to continue in this mindset. For him, 2008 will end with his arrival in Brest. To beat the record, Thomas Coville will have to cross the line before 15th January at 03 hours 27 minutes and 20'' (GMT).

Extracts from the radio session recorded with Thomas Coville today:

"For me 2008 will only draw to a close once I’ve made it to the finish. I don’t think I’ll be able to rest. I may cook myself up a little meal in my saloon, sitting on the floor eating some fresh Sodeb'O bread with a little olive oil and a few slices of cold sausage. At that point I’ll make an assessment of what I’ve achieved this year like everyone else, the good and not so good things alike. I’ll make my own little personal analysis. I think I’ll have a few friends and family on the phone just for a simple chat. However, I’m in a very special atmosphere where for me the year will only end once I get to Brest. It doesn’t really feel like the year has ended. I began something in 2008 and it’s not over for the time being.

After Cape Horn it wasn’t an easy night at all. Right now I’m between two systems and two swell patterns, which are very unsettled and very difficult to negotiate. I’m trying to carry as much sail aloft as possible, so naturally there are some points where it’s very risky and full-on. I’m trying to stay with a S/SW’ly air flow which is carrying us along the coast of Argentina. The seas are choppy and very big, which is throwing the boat round a lot making it hard to get her stable. The weather’s fairly good. The sun’s out and the temperatures have increased considerably over the past couple of days, which is an important point because it means that I’m no longer having to battle against the cold. A few days ago I rounded the Horn and I hadn’t realised that I was in the thick of the action. I only became aware of that 24 hours after passing the famous rock due to sense of deliverance that it represents. I woke up and all of a sudden I realised that I was no longer fearful of the ice, the icebergs and the cold.

The Saint Helena High which caused us so much trouble on the way down is something we’re trying to negotiate in a slightly better configuration. If we manage to hook onto this system, we’ll make it to the equator just behind Francis, which may very well get us back in the saddle for the next stage in the record attempt."

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