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End Day 57: Heading for the Line - Directissimo

Cheyenne and crew cover 497 miles Saturday (avg 20.7 kts)

Only 500 miles remaining

5-1/2 days+ ahead of Orange I's 2002 RTW pace

Finish line likely tomorrow (Monday) morning around 0900 GMT (approx 58 days 4 hours)

"Directissimo* - Of all the RTW attempts we are sailing the most direct route from Equator to Ouessant. If successful, it will be about 3 days faster than the previous Equator-Ouessant segment record set by Orange at 11 days 3 hours 48 minutes.

The normal strategy is to sail downwind over the top of the central High pressure area known as the Azores High. This is a secure, but lengthy route. We have found and sailed a route taking us between a series of smaller Lows and Highs - which has required very precise routing in order to avoid both light winds and violent conditions.

Ken Campbell at Commanders Weather has directed this strategy and we are sailing it within close tolerances. With only one light air transition to make in the Bay of Biscay, it looks like this strategy will be successful. An excellent application of on-shore weather routing.

Estimated Finish time at Ouessant is now 0900 GMT (1100 French local time) on Monday. Docking at Plymouth approximately 8 hours later at 1800 English local time. ... but figure plus or minus 4 hours from these estimates. - Steve Fossett"

Some of the crew preparing to hoist the "big dog" gennaker.
Dave going forward to check the tack fitting while
Moose, Fraser and Mark attach the halyard to the head.
© Nick Leggatt 2004

Day 56-1/2:

277 miles over past 12 hours (23.1 kts avg speed)

Approx 700 miles to go!

Nearly 6 days ahead of RTW record

Still estimate cross finish line 1200 GMT Monday

"Later today, speed will drop as the blessed wind of the past two days eases and moves aft. Tonight we will be jibing, giving the big genaker, the 'Canis Major', a final chance to prove its worth as we work across Biscay in decreasing winds. But our forecasters, Commander's Weather, assure us that a sprightly westerly is waiting for us as we approach the Iroise, and still look to see us passing Le Stiff lighthouse (Ouessant) mid-morning Monday."

Dave Scully's Saturday April 3rd report

"On a fast beam reach up the Portuguese coast, crossing latitude lines we know like street signs in a familiar neighborhood. Each watch comes down after their trick to ensure that they have reduced the distance to finish by 100 miles. We have about 750 to go.

Later today, speed will drop as the blessed wind of the past two days eases and moves aft. Tonight we will be jibing, giving the big genaker, the 'Canis Major', a final chance to prove its worth as we work across Biscay in decreasing winds. But our forecasters, Commander's Weather, assure us that a sprightly westerly is waiting for us as we approach the Iroise, and still look to see us passing le Stiff lighthouse mid-morning Monday.

Meanwhile, Cheyenne buffets through the moderate swell like a bullet train through a pile of teddy bears. Jacques, captain of this watch, has just called for the main to go to full hoist, so I leave you for a moment.

There, back again, slightly out of breath. Now we are at full rag. Could this be the last time we grind the first reef out, this trip? Already Justin is agitating to get the blast reacher hoisted on it's furler, ready for instant use when the opportunity presents. It has been hooked up and ready to go for 12 hours now.

The puffs are getting weaker as I write, and Cheyenne's bows are starting to tunnel through the backs of the waves, rather than surfing over the crests and down into the troughs. There is definitely a feeling that we are warming up for the sprint to the finish, 'le dernier attaque!' Justin has just made a futile attempt to spin Ado and me off the grinder handles. No lack of energy there! We are not counting our chickens before they are actually in the barn. The plan is still to make best time to a waypoint to weather of the finish, so that if the rig goes over, we will be able to drift across with the forecast westerly.

I have been reading OdK's reports from the southern ocean, and in doing so, realize that I may have let you down, my readers, in the limited degree of misery and melodrama I have included in my reports. Now, those guys are having a rough time! Still, and in spite of suffering thru storms and fending off icebergs, they seem to be doing some nice numbers on their daily runs. The next adventure for us will be seeing how long we get to hang on to our anticipated record."

Fraser Brown's Saturday report

"Closing in:

Well, in reading other peoples reports from the boat the main topic has been that we are just holding together which is actually quite true but we do have other things going on as well.

We are currently sailing with one reef and solent heading straight at our waypoint at 26 knots which isn't all that bad we have gone through the food bags and have made quite sure that we are going to eat well for the next couple of days. Everyone is taking these last few watches one at a time and quite conservatively as a mistake now would haunt us all for the rest of our lives. We have the video camera in action trying to capture the last moments of this non-stop effort around the globe and everyone is trying to stay calm to the finish line which is an incredibly important thing.

We still have a difficult day tomorrow in lighter winds but nothing that hasn't been scrutinized by Commanders and Adrienne to get us through these final few stages in good shape. Now the bribes on chocolate bars have been weaned out for bribes on beer and rum for when we are at the bar. It's amazing how chocolate can hold so much power over us but as you get closer to land and think of all the supermarkets you soon forget about how much of an issue it was down south. We are still using the heater to cook our food as the gas is no longer, the thought of a hot cup of coffee, hot noodles and hot pasta is all a distant memory but it will all flood back soon enough.

We are nearly there the feeling on board is good, quiet and humble we still need to finish but we are going the right way about it.

Fraser Brown
Cheyenne"

End Day 56:

590 mile Day's Run (24.6 kts avg speed)

Less than 1000 miles to go

5+ days ahead of RTW record

Estimate cross finish line 1200 GMT Monday

Steve Fossett wrote this morning:
"The finish is downwind sailing the rest of the way. We will approach Finisterre (the Northwest corner of Spain) then gybe across the Bay of Biscay. Winds for the last day will be excruciatingly light, but at least from the West. - Steve"

Damian's diary days 54-55

"Day 54
483 Miles

Some of the best sailing to date , in stark contrast to the last few days of beating and looking after the boat on every wave. Now beautiful flat seas and reaching at 25kts to the North , we are really having an awesome run up the North Atlantic , and the prediction is now for us hooking into a Low which should take us downwind to the finish in 3-4 Days .

Early this morning ... On Watch , and we spy our first sailing boat in a month. Right on our track , a little 40' Cruising boat , goose-winged out and heading for the Caribbean. I'm on the helm so as the hapless vessel gets bigger , we request the standard 'Permission to do a flyby ?' Naturally it is denied , which of course brings the required response of bearing away to insure max speed and a trajectory that will cross nicely across the bow of our cruiser , ( Nicely being of course a seaman -like distance of 4 Cheyenne boat lengths or 12 Cruiser boat lengths).

Our full crew lines up on deck expecting to see ( or maybe just hoping ) a pair of tanned Swedish girls. Instead the cockpit appears empty , but as we cross their bow ,a volley of shouts gives our poor holiday makers a start from their morning coffee and 2 bemused English blokes stumble into their cockpit as we flash past , smiles and waves all around . Within 15 minutes we are over the horizon and each boat returns to its own little world of water and sail.

Mark consoles us , saying there maybe be some Swedish girls in Plymouth ...

Day 55
28N 34W

We turn the corner as the Southerly fills in and now are downwind , a morning spent up the rig by Justin is well spent and we re-splice the Gennaker halyard and lubricate the main headboard car which is hanging in there ....only 1600 miles to go.

We will leave the Canaries to Stbd tonight and pass through the Azores in 36hrs , our navigation programme is optimistically giving us an ETA of 12Z Monday 5th April , if we manage this it would put us in at 58 Days .

We set ourselves the realistic and conservative goal of breaking 60 Days and not the boat , too many races have been lost in the last few miles and we spend a full standby and watch recounting such stories ; Geronimo-Jules Verne 2003 , 'Bistoc'-Route De Rhum 1990 , De Broc-Vendee Globe 1992 , Catherine-Vendee Globe 2000 , Ravussin-Route de Rhum 2003.... heart rending stories of effort and endurance cheated in the last stretch , we cross our fingers and sail on.

Damian"

Justin Slattery Writes on Saturday morning (Start of Day 57)

"Saturday 3rd of April 2004. Day 57 - Still absolutely flying. Passed Santa Maria Island of the "The Azores" 60 miles off our starboard beam last night just before completing day 56. A very welcome 590 mile day. Blasting along with one reef in our main and solent in 25 - 28 kts of wind at 135 true wind angle 25-30 kts boat speed, moderate seaway and the wind slowly lifting us as forecast. 864 miles to go!

Our midnight to four am. watch last night was just great, I averaged 27 kts over two hours helming in just about perfect conditions. Such a good feeling doing this whilst pointing straight at our finish line - just off Isle d'Ouessant.

One gybe maybe two to survive further down the track as the wind lifts us and clocks in to the southwest- we'll have to shake ourselves up a little and blow any cob-webs off having remained on the same tack starboard all the way from the equator to our present position.

I've just been around the yacht whilst on standby checking everything - part of my daily routine, greasing and oiling bearings looking for signs of weakness, chafe, you name it! - nothing at all surprises me with this yacht - we've become accustomed to expecting the worst over the past two months; seems nothing is impossible breakage wise. I'm due a trip up the mast shortly to have another inspection of our badly damaged head board car and mast track - not sure if I want to see whats going on up there! At this stage my last and only options would be to lash the head of the main to the rig if it looks like it's going to part. Lets hope it doesn't come to this!

Our E.T.A. is still Monday morning/midday at Ouessant, but it "isn't over till the fat lady sings"

A 58 day circumnavigation, 6 days faster than the present record, just seem almost incredible even this close to the finish line. Fingers crossed!

Justin Slattery"

Brian Thopmpson on day 56:

"A great days run of 590 miles has propelled us to within 1000 miles of the finish. There's 960 to go right now, and we averaged 24.6 knots for the last 24 hours, which is not bad for taking it easy on the boat.

Conditions were very good, we started with one reef and the staysail, beam reaching in a fairly bumpy sea, but as the day progressed the wind went more behind us and the seas flattened out. We had the solent and one reef, then full main for the rest of the day. It's fairly certain we will have the blast reacher up in a short time, and then be running downwind for the next couple of days. The wind was 18 - 23 knots throughout most of the day.

We flashed past all of the Azores Islands last night, leaving them to the West of us, and now our next objective is to get past Cape Finisterre without running into any light winds. Across the Bay of Biscay there is forecast to be just over 10 knots of wind, so if that holds good we can finish sometime on Monday.

We are holding our breath, as that would mean we do our global voyage not only in less than 60 days, but less than 59 days as well. That would be more than we could have hoped for at the start, and also at various times during the trip when things were looking bad, with our breakages or bad weather.

Our main target was always to beat the current time of Orange, and to beat 60 days seemed a very distant chance, but now it looks like we can do it barring breakdowns. As we fly along at 25 knots to the mark, the average speed we need for sub 60 days drops lower, giving us more room to deal with the lighter winds to come.

The last few days have gone so fast, I am sure that the next few will as well, especially as we will be in very familiar waters, and busy with navigation, sail trimming, and dealing with the ship traffic we will see after Finisterre.

Everyone is doing well, and starting to talk about what we are going to be doing, and where we will be going after we finish. Some people are even talking about just wanting to keep on sailing after the finish and not stopping, but I predict that the lure of the land will soon entice them towards Plymouth, as soon as we pass that rocky island of Ushant.

Brian"

Day 55-1/2: Fossett and Cheyenne cover 298 miles over past 12 hours (avg speed 24.8 kts)

1273 miles to finish

Almost 5 days ahead of current RTW record pace

Justin Slattery writes on 2 April:

"Friday 2nd of April 2004 Day 56.

Good News, our on board crew computer which has been down since the Equator has miraculously just sprung to life again today - probably the same humidity and dampness that has hampered all our electronic gear during the course of the trip.

More great news - the weather and winds have just been fantastic for the past three days logging just under 500 miles each day - Great mileage for the North Atlantic. The miles are just what I'd call these golden miles, 14-18 kts of wind, beautiful flat water, full main and solent reaching at speeds of 20 - 22 kts. We're just chewing up our distance to the finish line - 1470 miles to go, our ETA is still Monday.

Forecast is great for the coming three days. We're in a lane between an advancing Low pressure to our east and a static High to our west. This Low is compressing the High pressure system which has been giving us stronger winds since last evening when we saw the first signs of the Low pressure clouds advance through the blue skies towards us. We're expecting 28-32 kts of wind from the east clocking south east later tonight. This will turn our current reaching conditions into broad reaching and then running conditions whilst remaining almost directly on course for all of today and some of tomorrow - then the breeze will begin to lift us towards Finnisterre; sometime then we will gybe and head again towards the finish line. Perfect! Assuming all this remains the same.

Our only worry with this will be the bumpier seaway associated with this low pressure but as we advance on our northeasterly course this Low is due to become stationary, leading us towards flatter waters.

And obviously a constant worry of ours - and threat to our breaking the record - is the condition of Cheyenne - Failed forestay! weakened mast track at masthead! first reef! and second reef! - badly damaged head board car! - Mast base turning blocks failing! Bearing between starboard hull and forward beam has failed! Aft end of compression beam junction has failed! Lower Mast stays ripping off mast! And the list goes on and on and on! You'd better wish us luck!

Staring down the barrel of a potential 58 day circumnavigation, a new world record, I feel both nervous and excited about what may happen, we've just got to remain calm and be sensible and just hope that Cheyenne holds together.

Justin Slattery"

Brian Thompson writes on Day 55

"It's just before dawn on Friday morning, and we have 1500 miles to go. Cheyenne is slicing towards Ushant at 25 knots as the low pressure to our SW pushes us home. We have a staysail and one reef in the main, the wind is on the beam, blowing at 20 knots. It's cloudy and a little squally outside as Dave, Whirly, Guillermo and Mark handle the cockpit. Inside I am typing whilst Steve, Nick and Damian are standing by to go on deck in an hour. We have done one sail change in our standby, from the full main to one reef.

Yesterday we had some of the best sailing of the trip so far, with blue skies, flat seas and a wind from 120 TWA, perfect for most boats, but especially good for us, and even though the wind was around 15 knots most of the day we still managed a 489 mile day.

It was also a good chance to check over the boat. Justin went up the rig, and we took down the gennaker halyard and re-spliced the dead end that sits at the top of the mast, this was starting to be damaged. He also lube'd up the main headboard car that was creaking under the strain - for the last month some parts of it have been cracked, so we need to look after it. We also eased the tension in the luff of the gennaker, as the rope inside that usually takes the halyard tension had stretched, allowing more of the tension to go on to the sail.

So that was all very necessary, it took about 3 hours of work, but we lost only a little speed during that time. Now it is too rough to go up the rig, and perhaps that was our last chance to do a rig check without losing speed.

The weather forecast is still looking favourable for a fast finish, there will be some stronger wind tonight and Saturday, but we should be used to 30 knots after a month in the Southern Ocean, at least it will be a lot warmer.

Last night was amazingly clear as we were closer to the High pressure to our east. It was a chance to see all the visible planets at one time. We also got out the Nautical Almanac and re-learnt all the navigation stars, like Bellatrix and Arcturus, that pre GPS, thousands of sailors would have had to know better than their own street at home.

So time to go on deck and keep this boat fast and safe. As they say in the US, we are heading for the barn."

Brian

End Day 55: 489 miles on course covered

Average speed 20.4 kts

1563 miles to go

4-1/2 days ahead of Orange I's 2002 position

Monday at finish line likely

The photo today is Damian in the nav area making those important calls home
to make sure his friends are there to meet him.
Adrienne is in the back ground keeping a close eye on him.
© Nick Leggatt 2004

Day 54-1/2: Heading NorthEast and Aiming For Home

234 miles past 12 hours (avg 19.5 kts)

4-1/2 days ahead of Orange I's 2002 position

Target Arrival - Monday 5 April

"Overnight we have seen the wind change from a signature trade wind ENE to a lifting ESE - which enables us to turn the corner NE and point at the finish. We are lined up now between a low pressure system to our west at 28N 45W and a high pressure located to the our east near 27N 30W.

Our intention once we are into SE winds at the leading edge of the front (which is happening right now) is to turn NE and head toward the finish line."

Brian Thompson - Days 53-54 Flying Fish For Dinner

"A great days sailing out here as the wind continues to veer around towards the east and the seas start to flatten off. We are freed up now to start heading more northwards and picking up speed. We have full main and solent up now, in preference to the one reef and staysail that has propelled us cautiously through the windiest section of the NE Trades.

We are past the Cape Verde Islands now well to our SE, and we are heading far outside the Canaries. The next island group we will pass close by will be the Azores, in 2 or 3 days time.

Over the last few watches Moose has been constructing a pin to fit inside the original hollow pin that is barely holding the front beam to the starboard bow. He has made it out of pieces of batten covered in a carbon tube, which was moulded from the outside of food containers. This morning he successfully fitted it, with help from Fraser and Justin. We now have a fraction more strength in the current set up and a good safety backup in case the original pin does break. Moose's pin should keep the beam on the hull long enough to get the sails down if necessary. Hopefully we will not need it, as the upwind section of the trip should be over now, and this puts the most stress on the pin. Already the wind has shifted to the beam and by tomorrow night we should be sailing downwind. If we are fast and lucky this downwind sailing should continue to the finish. If not, there will be a little more upwind for the last section. Currently the weather forecasts are looking really good; you could not dream of a better set up. If they come true we just need to keep the boat going without any breakages, and we will have a good finish.

Last night was another good night, with the bonus of seeing the pole star, polaris, for the first time. It was almost on the bow, and a great reference to steer by. High above us, the moon was illuminating the boat brilliantly for most of the night, and will guide us in all the way to the finish now, getting bigger night by night. This moonlight did not help the flying fish who must have bad night vision. It was looking like a fish market and at dawn I threw out at least 20 from the leeward cockpit, and apparently the watches before also spent time clearing out the scuppers.

I saved a couple of the biggest ones for Nick to photograph, and on receiving them he proceeded to get out his knife and cut them up. I thought it might be out of scientific curiosity, but when the pressure cooker and tabasco sauce came out, it became clear he had suspicious culinary motives. In fact, I had some of the results, and they were delicious. It made a great change from the freeze dried food of the last 53 days.

Dave's eye patch is still in place but he is up on watch and steering again, in mono this time. Dave is the ship's doctor and he would normally treat any injured, so Steve is looking after him. There is improvement which is good news.

The highlight of the day was passing close to a cruising boat which was sailing steadily downwind towards the Caribbean, mainsail out on one side and genoa poled out on the other. It was about 40 foot in length and we flashed by about 50 metres in front of it, on a perpendicular course. We did not want to go close astern because they might have had fishing lines out, but it was right on our course so we did want to have a good look at it. A fellow sailing yacht is a lot rarer and more interesting sight to us than a cargo ship.

As we got close we could see there was nobody on deck, so Justin shouted over as we passed at 25 knots of boatspeed. Immediately a man flew up from the hatch, grabbed the lifeline and for a second stared in disbelief and surprise. Then he waved, we waved back, and then another man came out of the hatch. Within a minute they were far behind us, rolling gently downwind.

It made our day, and we hope that we gave them a thrill to break the routine of their Atlantic crossing. We hope they have a good trip over, and make up some good recipes for the flying fish that they will be finding over the next 20 mornings, before they reach the Caribbean.

Brian"

Adrienne's short nav update

1 April 2004: Adrienne's Short Navigation Update - or: "Having our a&*&^ kissed by a fairy"

"Now, we have yet to get to the line or even near it as this baby seems to just hang on by a thread. However, regardless of whether we make it or not, the weather gods have done their best to help us out. For all those climatology buffs out there, this is one time when I think we have had our a*%$# kissed by a fairy. Last week when we were in the South Atlantic Commanders, our forecasters, were predicting gloom and doom in the North Atlantic in the form of a high pressure system blocking our path to the English Channel. Imagine our horror when we were informed of this - the prospect of beating for days upwind into the finish line. The trampoline across the hulls would certainly have been declared a 'hard hat' area to protect us from all the fittings flying off the mast as we pounded into the seaway.

Well, good overcame evil and the forecast changed gradually in our favour. If it all comes together we will have been able to sail through the North Atlantic transiting only 2 weather systems. To transit from the trade winds into a mid latitude system at 25N without stopping is really something. Normally the subtropical ridge can stop you for days (as it did for us in the South Atlantic). Overnight we have seen the wind change from a signature trade wind ENE to a lifting ESE which enables us to turn the corner NE and point at the finish. We are lined up now between a low pressure system to our west at 28N 45W and a high pressure located to the our east near 27N 30W.

Our intention once we are into SE winds at the leading edge of the front (which is happening right now) is to turn NE and head toward the finish line, being careful not to 'cut the corner' and by doing so end up in the lighter airs to our east associated with the high pressure system. On the flip side, leaving our turn too late sees us too close to the low pressure system to our west and in an uncomfortable sea state and squall activity. For the last few days we have been heading NNW and then N to sail around the high pressure to our east and set ourselves up north enough to catch the low coming in from the west.

As the low deepens over the weekend we will be sailing a NE course in stronger southerly winds of 25-30kts and may have to put in a few gybes toward the finish line at the English Channel. The timing of the cold front that will pass over us on Sunday Monday will also affect how we approach the finish line. So our main strategy is to hook up with the south winds today and stay in these winds as long as we can. Sounds simple hey?

Finally... by the way, thank you to everyone who sent emails to the boat - replying to them may get lost in cyber space so this is a general 'thank you', they were much appreciated and always gave us a smile because believe me there has been some rather tense moments.

Adrienne."

Steve Fossett writes (1 April) on the precise routing plan for the finish:

"Our strategy is to get on the leading edge of a Low pressure system during the day today. At the leading edge, the sea state is low which means small waves permitting maximum boat speeds. Too close to the Low and there are rain squalls and shifting winds which would really slow our boat speeds. This is a small Low and a narrow band of wind which we must stay within in order to achieve 500 mile days towards the finish.

If we can stay with this Low as it moves Northeast, our estimated finish time is between noon and 6 pm on Monday, April 5. If we fall out of this narrow band, we'll still get there but about a day later.

Steve Fossett
Skipper"

End Day 54:

483 mile run (20 kt avg boat speed)

4-1/2 days ahead of Orange 2002 RTW record position

Crossed Tropic of Cancer

David Scully writes - from Wednesday 31 March:

The Mighty Pinnamoose

"The wind filled, and the skies cleared, and the last squall drew it's curtain of rain from the horizon, and we were at last bucking and slamming upwind in the Northeast Trades. Stars glittered overhead, and the waypoint at Ouessant was a mere 3000 miles away. Still, it all could have ended there, but for Jacques' bowels. Sitting on the head in the middle of the night, he heard an unfamiliar noise, and upon going to investigate, discovered that the huge pin which holds the front beam to the port hull had started to back out of it's hole. The carbon fiber pin had actually ripped in half, and had it been allowed to part company with the boat, it would have been followed shortly by the front beam itself, the forestay, the rig, sails, and possibly the bows as well.

In a bit of panic engineering, we bashed it back in as far as it would go, about 35 mm short of it's designed location, and secured it against further egress with some hastily tapped bolts. Now, the question was, how far could we push the partial repair?

Just to complicate things further, in the course of the excitement, I managed to rub a solution of carbon dust and grease into my eye, and am now sporting a duct tape eyepatch of which a James Bond villain would be proud.

We concluded that we could sail the boat in this configuration, but that the consequences of getting it wrong were unthinkable. We needed a safety factor. Mike Beasley retired into the bow with some cut lengths of spare batten and began work on the Mighty Pinnamoose.

He spent the next day squatting like a samurai over his cloth and glue pots, in an atmosphere that would make a dry cleaner retch, but when he emerged, he bore the most confidence inspiring piece of onboard composite engineering I have ever seen, the Mighty Pin of Moose.

A bundle of solid pultruded glass battens had been bound together with carbon fiber bands, sized to slot exactly into the holes in the existing pin. We attempted a dry fit last night, and after a little precision dusting from his grinder, rammed it home this morning. We are very fortunate to have such a group of talented and determined people on our crew.

Blasting north again under full sail, we expect to rendevous with a low pressure system at sometime tomorrow. This could be the last ticket we have to buy to get us home. Talk turns those ashore, to hotel reservations, and what happens next. I am sure that the remaining 2500 miles could still produce an adventure or two."

I have two pictures today. First one shows Mike Beasley (Auckland, New Zealand) working to construct a shear pin for the front beam bearing, and the second picture shows the result of his work before installation. © Nick Leggatt 2004

Jacques Vincent - Jours 51, 52, 53

"bonjour

Steve me prete son ordi pour un petit rapport des 3 derniers jours

lundi jour 51- 269 miles parcourus
mardi day 52 - 370 miles
mercredi day 53- 430 miles et 4 jours d'avance sur le record

Finalement Cheyenne ne s'est pas eternise dans le pot au noir. une journee,lundi, au plus. etrange atmosphere dans cette zone de transition entre 2 hemispheres. on y perd ses reperes. le ciel est bas, le vent imprevisible et les nuages capricieux. Un grains peut nous propulser a toute vitesse comme il peut nous garder prisonier sans vent pendant des heures. par prudence il vaut mieux les eviter si possible. nous avons fait 2 virements de bord pour s'eloigner de l'un d'eux.donc on s'en sort plutot bien avec en plus le pont rincer a l'eau douce car la pluie ne nous a pas epargne. Ce qui a permis a Brian de prendre sa 1ere douche depuis 50 jours ! ah ces anglais...au fait je ne me souviens plus de mon dernier bain....

Et puis tout d'un coup, mardi matin, comme sorti d'un mauvais reve,une houle de face annonce un changement et le ciel se degage. Nous sommes de l'autre cote dans les alizees du NE. On est content mais le bateau est tres secoue au pres dans une mer courte. Alors que je fais du rodeo sur la lunette des wc j'entends des bruits inquietants qui proviennent de l'avant et je tire sur la sonette d'alarme. L'enorme axe en carbone qui fixe la poutre avant sur l'etrave tribord est casse en deux et la moitie arriere est deja en partie sortie de son logement. Le resultat pourrait etre catastrophique et entrainer le dematage. On arrete alors le bateau et a coup de "massue" on reengage l'axe. Une reparation de fortune est faite pour l'empecher de ressortir...ouf ! On repart et le rodeo continue a 15 noeuds de moyenne.

Mercredi la mer s'est calmee, le vent a adonne et le speedo monte. Il etait temps car nous avons rendez vous avec une depression qui devrait nous ramener a la maison .

Nous profitons de cette belle journee pour verifier le mat et ameliorer la reparation de l'axe de poutre avant. Nick ramasse une vingtaine de poissons volants pris dans notre filet. Ils en fait cuire quelques uns et gagne haut la main le "Trophee Dalia's Cuisine" avec son Poisson Volant a la Provencale !

Cote meteo: toujours dans les alizees en bordure de l'anticyclone. Apres une petite zone de vents faibles une depression devrait venir nous cueillir avec du vent de SSE a l'avant du front associe.

A bientot - jac

mercredi 31 par 22 N et 35 W a 23h."

Justin Slattery's Day 53-54 diary

"Wednesday 31 March 2004: Sailing under full main and solent, 24-26 kts of boatspeed, directly on course. Forecast is looking great right now for the coming 6-7 days. Our ETA is currently 7 days based on this forecast. Distance to the finish is 2,300 miles. We're about 600 miles west of Mauritania, western Africa having passed by the Cape Verde Islands last night. After three days of beating since the Equator we're now reaching at 95 degrees true - great speed and course! Mike completed repairs to the front beam this morning so we're back in well, OK shape for the moment. The sea has flattened which helps immensely. Just hope we can hold Cheyenne together for the next 7 days.
- Justin Slattery"

Day 53-1/2: 'Running for the Barn'

244 nm past 12 Hours

4-1/2 days ahead of Orange 2002 RTW position

Steve Fossett: "58 Day Time is Possible"

Possible Monday Arrival

"The weather outlook is excellent. We hope to hook up with the leading edge of a Low pressure system midday on Thursday and ride it to the finish at Ouessant. If the forecast holds, we hope to score 4 consecutive 500 mile days and arrive on Monday afternoon 5 April.

Our stated goal has been to break the 64 day 8 hour record of Orange, but our secret ambition has been to crack 60 days - which we believe is the potential of these maxi-multihulls. Now we find there is even the prospect of a 58 day time. We have increased confidence in the quality of the shipboard repairs of the forestay, mast and forward beam. We are going to crank up the speeds and go for a strong finish.

Steve Fossett - Skipper"

End Day 53: Flying North

430 miles Tuesday progress in Trades

Nearly 4-1/2 days ahead of Orange 2002 RTW position

Finish targeted for early next week

Today I have a picture of a flying fish.
What we have all been wondering onboard is how far/how high can they fly? Does anybody know?
We have certainly seen them slam into the sail a good 25' above sea level and they seem to fly a couple of hundred feet,
but it is difficult to judge exactly how far.
© Nick Leggatt 2004

Damian Foxall writes on day 52:

Cheyenne
DAY 52
Miles 370

Beating up through the trades , but with a nice cold front forecast to come and sweep us up in 2 days.

We're heading NW as fast as we can to catch it.

Then , when you least expect it ... Jacques , who was quietly sitting on the head , hears a grinding sound from the front beam ; further inspection reveals that the bearing pin connecting the front beam to the hull had not only sheared in half but was backing out of its hole.

Sails down, (The forestay therefore the mast is attached to the front beam) then 2 hours of banging and more drilling and taping as the escapee is re-housed and retaining bolts are set.

Back on the wind , but with heightened wariness as we weigh the miles to go versus the miles left on the good ship Cheyenne.

In the South , Geronimo are really having a hard time with a deep low giving sustained 45kts for their 2nd day as they run under bare poles. Breaking waves have caused some troubles aboard with one of their crew men injured. This same system is blocking their route south to The Horn giving a very difficult situation to overcome.

We are 2653 miles to go , 4 Days ahead of Orange , and on track to set a 60 Day record , it still feels that we have a long way to go.

Damian

Day 52-1/2: Close shave with front beam, but repairs holding

206 miles run past 12 hours

Cheyenne still 4 days ahead of RTW record pace

"We're making 17-20 kts as conditions have improved, the seas are smoothing and the sky is clear. Moose has made a splendid pin of old battens (110mm x 500 mm) and as soon as the glue dries we'll slide it in."

Watch captain brian Thompson on 29 March 2004 - Day 52: A very close shave

"It has been a hugely important day, when the fate of the trip has been hanging by a mere 25mm of broken bearing - we have been very close to losing the front beam and the mast, and to spending the next weeks drifting around near the Cape Verdes. But once again good luck and quick thinking by the team has kept us on track.

This morning we had just come out of the doldrums, the skies were clearing, and we were sailing on a fast upwind course in 18 knots of wind. We had one reef in the main and the staysail up. I was on watch with Steve, Damian and Nick as usual, and Jacques was sleeping below. He woke up to go use the head and heard crunching noises from the forward part of the boat. Although the forward beam pin has been making noises for much of the trip, this was different and Jacques alerted Steve, who with Nick went to investigate. News was not good; the half metre long pin that holds the front beam to the hull had slipped out 25 mm, and was in danger of sliding all the way out.

We rolled the staysail and slowed the boat right down and began to assess the situation. It appeared that the pin, which is about 250mm in diameter and hollow, had cracked in half and although it was attached at the front to the hull with bolts, now it had detached the rear half of the pin was free to slide out rearwards. There was now only about 25mm or one inch of strong material holding the back of beam in place.

We tried every trick to coax the pin back in, stopping the boat, then turning downwind, pulling halyards forward the starboard hull, all the while hitting it with the biggest item we had available, the bottom collar of the redundant solent furling gear, a 30kg cone of aluminium, but no luck.

Moose drilled some holes in the side of the fairing and put in some bolts and threaded rod to secure the bearing from sliding out further. Dave was in contact with Gino Morrelli, the designer from Morrelli and Melvin Yacht Design, who had some good input for the repair.

This operation took over 2 hours and after that we very gingerly got the boat back up to speed, whilst watching the pin every half hour. Now it is about 10 hours after the damage and so far no more movement. We are still being cautious and trying not to launch the boat off any waves. Within 2 days we will be in downwind conditions and we should be able to sail at full speed again.

During the repairs, Dave got a piece of carbon fibre in his eye, this has irritated his eye and he is getting treatment for that. It is getting better slowly but he is walking around tonight with sunglasses with one lens in place, rather like The Terminator.

Apart from all of the above, which are a concern, we have had a good days sailing in the very steady trade wind conditions, almost cloudless sky during the afternoon and many stars at night. The Plough/ Big Dipper is high in the sky to the north, a welcome signpost to this hemisphere. We are looking out for the planets in the sky and think we have spotted them all.

Strangely, tonight we had 2 close encounters with other vessels. Firstly we passed about 5 miles from a fishing boat, and at the last minute, saw a strobe light passing 300 metres past us. This must have been one of the markers for his longline for catching tuna. Apparently the lines can be 40 miles long. Just after we passed the first strobe light, we saw another one - on the opposite side of us, so we had passed right across his line.

Half an hour later a big bulk carrier came over the horizon towards us. It was crossing at an angle, but had we not gone more upwind for 10 minutes, we would have piled into the side of her. As it was, we passed close astern of the ship. It always surprises me how often you do end up on a collision course with ships whilst in the middle of the ocean.

Whilst having dinner, Damian and Steve and I were talking about prior record attempts since Orange set the current time. It turns out that there have been 7 starts since then, 2 last year with Geronimo and Kingfisher and 5 this year with us, Geronimo twice and Orange II twice. So far one finisher, which was Geronimo last year, outside the old record, and 2 attempts still in progress.

So onwards cautiously to the better winds ahead, we have got a healthy lead on the record, we just have to keep the big bird together for another few days.

Brian"

End Day 52: Another close call as front beam suffers partial breakage

Immediate repairs avert mast disaster - again

370 miles in 24 hours (15.42 kts avg)

4 day lead over Orange 2002 position (based on latitude)

"When some crew heard a new creaking noise from the right front corner of the boat Monday morning, Nick Leggatt and I threw on our harnesses and ran up to see the cause. The carbon and steel bushing holding the front beam to the boat had broken in the middle and worked out halfway on one side. Another two hours of this upwind sailing and it would have finished coming out, the beam separated, and the mast fallen over from lack of support. That was a close call.

We slowed and the crew went to work trying to pound it back in to place. It only went part way back in. Then the drilling and bolting was started. The whole operation was completed in four hours. This temporary fix is likely to hold until the finish, but we have to take it easy on the boat. What a shame, because we have an excellent wind pattern into the finish and we would love to pour it on. Instead we are sailing slower and conservatively.

We will be relieved on Wednesday when we are done with this pounding from sailing upwind in the Tradewinds."

Today's picture shows a group on the forward trampoline discussing the problem of the front beam bearing.
Steve, Brian and Dave discuss possible solutions while Moose inspects the damage.
© Nick Leggatt 2004

Fraser Brown - on C - Tech Sailbattens:

"Sail battens for the mainsail on this yacht have always been a huge issue since the boat was first sailing in 1999. In the past this boat has broken a complete set of battens in one jibe. Breaking sail battens is a huge time penalty and can often be the end of a record attempt. I would estimate that a repair job for just one broken batten would be up to 2 hours, so breaking the top 5 battens in one jibe is a complete disaster for the sailing programme.

However, for this current round the world record attempt, Cheyenne is now using C-Tech Carbon Sailbattens which are manufactured in New Zealand. The C-Tech battens we have on board are in the top half of the sail (where the boat has had so many problems in the past). Through a jibe, the huge roach of the main falls to leeward before snapping to weather to complete the manoeuvre. For the first time we have found a product that has performed extremely reliably - resulting in greater confidence in being able to jibe and reef without the problems of the past. We have completed 31 jibes in a range of wind speeds from 5 to 35 knots and have reefed the main 52 times resulting in over 100 hoists and drops - mostly downwind - where we have no choice but to grind the sail up and down with it draped around the lazy jacks.

We have sailed downwind through the North and South Atlantic, the Indian, the Southern Ocean around Cape Horn and now on the wind back up the Atlantic on this 125 foot catamaran - without any problems with the C-Tech sailbattens. I am proud to be a partner with C-Tech and to be helping in our bid to be the fastest sailboat around the world.

Fraser Brown - C-Tech Sailbattens, Europe - Cheyenne - www.sailbattens.com"

Thanks for the e-mails - but responses now harder to make

A note to friends and fans - Adrienne writes on behalf of the crew:

"As we have been writing over the past several days, the crew e-mail computer has rested its weary head for good.

This means e-mailing can now only be done from the navigation computers. The boys have asked to put this little note on the website for them to say thanks for all the e-mails we have had - and that they are still gratefully received as it is no problem to read them. However, replies to these mails will be difficult as crew e-mails are now limited to mainly urgent or press. - Thanks, Adrienne"

Day 51-1/2: Steady NE trades take Cheyenne N/NW Through Monday

177miles past 12 hours (avg 14.75 kts)

Ahead of Orange 2002 by 3 days

"They'll stay on this N/NW heading as the wind holds steady for the next 36-48 hours. Then as it begins to clock towards the East by Wednesday they should be able to steer North. The Low pressure system moving towards the central Atlantic will then pick them up and escort them Northeast Thursday through Saturday."

End Day 51 Still fighting Doldrums

269 nm run (avg 11.2 kts)

Less than 3000 miles to finish line

3 days ahead of Orange 2002

"We were shocked to hear that we set a segment record from Cape Horn to Equator. We thought we were unlucky with the weather because we were brought down to minimal speeds five times by lack of wind. Perhaps the South Atlantic is always difficult and all of the other fast boats have had comparable problems."

Jacques helming in the tradewinds.
© Nick Leggatt 2004

Brian Thompson's report - Day 51:

Today we crossed the equator again, a great feeling

"Today we crossed the equator again, a great feeling as it is another milestone in our passage. It almost feels like we have now circumnavigated the globe, from the equator and back again (in 42 days!). We were all very happy, but none more so than Mark, who really enjoyed this moment. He is now a seasoned sailor who has been through the Southern Ocean and around the Horn, and having met Neptune before, he had no fears of another bizarre initiation ceremony.

So we have done the passage from the start to 0 degrees in just 50 days and 3 hours, and from the Horn we took 10 days and 6 hours, This part of the trip through the South Atlantic felt agonisingly slow at times, but we still managed to do the fastest ever time, just better than Club Med. We have gained miles on Orange with our 2 fast days to now be 1700 ahead.

Up ahead we are looking at good wind conditions for our trip home. If the weather forecasts do hold good we should be able to keep moving the whole way.

Crossing the doldrums has taken about 30 hours, and been more typical than the almost perfect trip we had on the way south. The entire day it has been pouring with rain. Squalls have been passing through constantly so we have been doing plenty of sail changes as the wind has oscillated between 2 and 25 knots. The standby watches have kept busy as we play the squalls. Dress has been full foul weather gear, and at times the helmsman needed a helmet to see forward in the driving rain.

We are now at 3 degrees N and the air is starting to feel a little drier and the rain has petered off to only the occasional shower. The wind has also shifted towards the North, a good sign we have left the SE trades for the NE trades. We are most of the way through the doldrums and we are hoping that the worst of the squalls are behind us now. By the morning we may even see glimpses of blue sky.

During Jacques' watch the guys saw a spectacular dolphin show; according to Fraser there were over 50 dolphins jumping and spinning 360 somersaults around the boat.

I have to admit today I have had my first proper shower in 50 days. Standing under the mainsail as the rain cascaded off the 600 square metres of sail, the cleanest and warmest waterfall you could find. It felt good and was a big improvement on using wet wipes to wash with.

The only bad part of the day was that the crew computer has died and emails from the boat are henceforth going to be severely curtailed, so as not to get in the way of the navigation work.

Brian"

Day 50-1/2: Northward through the Doldrums

153 miles past 12 hours (avg 12.75 kts)

Probably another 12 hours of inconsistent breeze

3 Days ahead of record pace

Steve driving in a rain squall near the Equator.
© Nick Leggatt / Marathon Racing 2004 - Free for news use

Press Release 1110 GMT - Sunday 28 March 2004:

American Skipper Steve Fossett & Team On Track for Round The World Sailing Record

Equator crossed Sunday morning as skipper and crew drive for home

543 mile daily run takes Cheyenne to 1645 mile (3 day+) lead on current RTW record pace

© Claire Bailey 2004

"This would cap my sailing career. The Round the World record is the most important of all. And to be the first American to hold this record in almost 20 years would be another bonus."

Brian Thompsaon (www.brianthompsonsailing.com) Day 50 - short update

Saturday March 27th: "All good here, we are just entering the edge of the doldrums, still making good speed, though there are a few more squalls around now. In about 100 miles the wind will start to drop to about 10 knots as we enter the centre of the doldrums.

So a busy night ahead, we will have to remain alert to the squalls.

Earlier this afternoon Whirly noticed a small tear in the mainsail where a seam was starting to come apart. We dropped the main and went ahead and hand sewed the 1 metre area up with needle and thick spectra thread. It looks good enough for another 3500 miles!

Brian"