No departure for single-handed sailor Thomas Coville today
by Kate Jennings 29 Jul 2009 16:14 BST
A solid depression is currently tracking across the Atlantic from end to end, with forecast winds of 25 to 30 knots. Yesterday, Tuesday, the skipper of Sodeb'O was envisaging a departure, even though the weather conditions weren’t optimal for a solo sailor. Prior to getting back together with his Maxi Trimaran in New York, Thomas and his routing team wanted to wait for the evening grib files before making a final decision.
Last night the weather analysis confirmed violent winds and big seas, particularly in the zone off Newfoundland. Such conditions wouldn’t have favoured speed and failed to correspond with an entirely favourable weather pattern for enabling Sodeb'O to improve on her own solo North Atlantic crossing record of less than 5 days, 19 hours, 25 minutes and 20 seconds.
“This decision wasn’t an easy one to make,” admitted the skipper, who like any competitor is keen to switch into action mode. “Not going proved to be the most reasonable option in light of this particular weather configuration, as it is still too far off the requirements for a single-handed record.” The same configuration is however favourable for the crews of Groupama 3 and Banque Populaire V, who have switched to code green to prepare to cross the start line at the Ambrose Light.
“Though this weather window is a good one for my playmates who are in crewed configuration with a potential average speed of around 30 knots over four days, it isn’t favourable for me as my aim is to sail single-handed at a speed of 22/23 knots over five days” explains the skipper of Sodeb'O. “This low is too fast and its winds are too strong. It would pass right over the top of me and the chance of a new record would be gone.”
In New York the stand-by for Sodeb'O continues until 14th August.