{"id":116088,"date":"2020-01-29T13:57:55","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T12:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idecsport.com\/the-cape-of-good-hope-in-less-than-15-days\/"},"modified":"2020-01-29T13:57:55","modified_gmt":"2020-01-29T12:57:55","slug":"the-cape-of-good-hope-in-less-than-15-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.idecsport.com\/en\/the-cape-of-good-hope-in-less-than-15-days\/","title":{"rendered":"THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE IN LESS THAN 15 DAYS?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a lead this morning of more than 770 miles over the Tea Route record holder, Francis Joyon can hope to round the symbolic mark of the Cape of Good Hope in four days time, so just under 15 days after leaving Hong Kong. In some particularly tricky weather conditions, with the transitions between weather systems making it tough for his crew of four, Francis Joyon has traced a good trajectory across the deserted Southern Indian Ocean. The Atlantic is calling with the promise of some downwind sailing, which should be ideal to step up the pace and increase the lead over the record pace.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re sailing the other way from the systems\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The damage and cyclones are now behind them. IDEC SPORT has emerged from a very tough 48 hours with a substantial lead over her virtual rival, the holder of the Tea Route record. \u201cWe took advantage of a calm at dawn on the day before yesterday to change our mainsail halyard,\u201d explained Joyon. \u201cAntoine Blouet climbed to the top of the mast and 30 minutes later, we hoisted the mainsail and got back on track.\u201d Behind two active areas of low pressure, the maxi trimaran has moved from one system moving rapidly eastwards to another. \u201cWe are sailing the other way from the systems,\u201d smiled Francis. \u201cWe crossed a trough of low pressure last night with northerly winds followed by an area of calms, then very rapidly the very cold Southerly wind from the Antarctic strengthened with some strong gusts. The boat rose right up on some nasty seas. At the moment we are approaching the centre of the high. We only have twelve knots of wind and we are getting ready to change tack to head back down south on the starboard tack. We are being kept busy, as each time we change systems, it takes a lot of manoeuvres\u2026\u201d With another low ahead of them tonight, approaching the southern tip of the continent of Africa is as tactical as ever. \u201cWe are having to do a lot of thinking aboard the boat,\u201d said Francis. \u201cThe whole of the crew is involved in analysing our route with the support of Christian Dumard, who is very clear in his forecasts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four very tactical days before the Cape of Good Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sailing into a heavy westerly swell caused by the lastest low pressure system, IDEC SPORT is slamming and at times has been forced to slow down. But Francis, Christophe (Houdet), Antoine (Blouet), Bertrand (Delesne) and Corentin (Joyon) have a clear vision of their route to the Cape of Good Hope. They are going to have to continue to adapt to the weather systems that lie ahead. They can hardly wait to get back into the Atlantic. \u201cWe\u2019re getting a bit fed up with sailing with the wind on the beam or upwind. We are looking forward to sailing downwind and speeding along in the South Atlantic,\u201d admitted Corentin, the youngest crewman. \u201cWe were hoping for the trade winds in the Indian, but we didn\u2019t get them, so have had to adapt,\u201d stressed Francis Joyon remaining as positive as ever.<\/p>\n