Transat Jacques Vabre update, MOD70 Oman Air has finished in Itajai

From the following article on the Transat Jacques Vabre website:

http://www.transat-jacques-vabre.com/en/oman-air-musandam-second-itajai

Sidney Gavignet (FRA) and Damian Foxall (IRL) on the MOD70 Oman Air – Musandam crossed the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre finish line off Itajai, Brasil at 20h 04m 09 sec local time (22h 04m 09 secs) 5 hrs and 15 seconds after the winner Edmond de Rothschild (Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier). The duo took 11 days 10 hours 04mins and 09 seconds to complete the 5,450 miles (theoretical course) between Le Havre and Itajaí, at an average speed of 19.71 kts. They actually sailed 5968 miles at an average of 21.77 kts.

This transatlantic race for the MOD70s was characterised by a fast, relatively testing exit of the English Channel followed after the Bay of Biscay by a difficult passage of Cape Finisterre in big seas and building winds – which skipper Gavignet later described as the worst he had seen on a MOD70 – before escaping into the Portuguese Trade Winds allowed an initial break by Edmond de Rothschild.

The two MOD70s closed up after the Doldrums and Oman Air – Musandam were less than 30 miles behind on Saturday night before they dropped off the back of the cold front there.

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Transat Jacques Vabre update, Oman Air-Musandam make some tactical decisions to close gap on leading MOD70 Edmond de Rothschild

From the following article on bymnews.com

 

http://bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=125301

 

As Sidney Gavignet, Oman Air-Musandam’s French skipper and Damian Foxall, his co skipper from Ireland, reach the Doldrums and the halfway mark of this epic 5,450nm race after just six days at sea; they face some big decisions.

Sitting just 70nm behind the other MOD70, Edmond de Rothschild, the pair is dedicated to maintaining boat speed and making up the distance. They are taking turns on the helm to keep the boat ‘flying’ as Sidney describes: “We don’t have capsize concerns at the moment, nor much adrenaline, the current conditions mean we are completely engaged in the pursuit of speed, we need to keep the boat flying at all times and to keep the centre hull out of the water to reduce drag and increase speed. It takes a lot of concentration,” he described via an email sent overnight.

When we spoke to Damian Foxall at dawn, the boat speed was high at 25 knots in 20-25 knots of wind and the pair had 200nm to go until the Doldrums.

 

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Transat Jacques Vabre, MOD70 Oman Air-Musandam step up the pace in Transat match race

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Oman Sail:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Transat-Jacques-Vabre---Oman-Air-Musandam-changes-to-a-faster-mode/116568

At the front of the Transat Jacques Vabre fleet, the two MOD70s continue their match race as they pass Madeira and approach the Canary Islands on a southwesterly heading. The duo onboard Oman Air-Musandam are better rested and have changed the configuration of the boat to a faster mode.

Damian Foxall (IRL) answered the phone onboard Oman Air-Musandam this morning while French skipper Sidney Gavignet was up on deck in 30 knots doing 24 knots of boat speed.

'We changed the configuration on the boat in the last six hours and are in a slightly faster mode now,' said Damian.

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Transat Jacques Vabre, MOD70 crews prepare to go head to head across the Atlantic

From the following article on bymnews:

 

http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=124728

 

Two identical MOD70’s go head to head across the Atlantic in what promises to be a mouth watering match race on this Transat Jacques Vabre. The two duos, Sidney Gavignet and Damian Foxall on Oman Air-Musandam and Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier are all long-time friends, some former crewmates together on different ocean races, occasional sparring and training partners, but from the start gun of this Transat Jacques Vabre, no quarter will be given, they are hard bitten rivals all with the same drive and desire to get to Itajaí first. For the MOD70’s, this time, there is no second place.

The biggest challenge: to sail double handed on the MOD70
The two teams have worked with each other to make small technical changes to make the identical racing machines, which are designed for crewed racing, suitable for double handed racing. These changes include autopilots, anti capsize systems which release the sheets at a certain heel angle and rear ballast tanks. But the teams know only too well that two MOD70’s have already capsized this season on relatively inshore waters, and indeed three of the four skippers have experienced their own flavour of disappointment and disaster on this often cruel Transatlantic race, and so their determined drive will be tempered with ample caution at times.

 

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