Ultim Tri Macif round the world in solo

Another 24h with more than 800 NM, conditions are optimal for high speed (long period swell in the route direction), Cap Horn expected tomorrow but too South to see it, Francois Gabart second crossing after the Vendée Globe one in 2012 (Thomas Coville did it 10th times !!!).

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

Today crossing of Cape Horn longitude (but too South to see it), much emotion for Francois Gabart, about 10 albatros around the boat, he hears a VHF message from a boat not far, the first contact since 3 weeks. The lighter wind (a paradox here) allowed him to shake out the reef 1 in the mainsail, and Macif is now with full mainsail and J2. He must remain attentive however, despite these favorable conditions : in the audio attached, at 4:58, you can hear the alarm for heel over 17° and he has to ease the sheet. Forecasts are favorable for the next 2-3 days : good to strong winds up to Buenos Aires latitude, average speed will depend of the sea state.
The audio (if you can understand french) : [Audio] Un passage du Cap Horn rempli d'émotions - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/audio-passage-cap-horn-rempli-demotions/

The video résumé of the last week : [Vidéo] Le bilan de la 4è semaine en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-bilan-de-4e-semaine-images/

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie/

 

Nothing to report, current favorable conditions allow an average 28 knots VMG during the last 24h, that consolidates the 2-3 days margin on Thomas Coville record before the more uncertain wind conditions offshore Brazil.
Video of the day : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 31è jour en images ! - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-31e-jour-images/

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

Fast but tricky sailing during the last 24 h (average 30 Knots VMG) with strong winds especially during the last night (40-45 Knots with gust peaks 50), and a strong and harsh sea (shorter than in the Pacific) which shakes a lot the boat. Moreover Francois Gabart seems to have again a problem with the J2, he could not furl it in these conditions, obliged to do with .... But conditions are now a bit more manageable (speed 35,5 knots presently), the next challenge is to negociate the transition offshore Cabo Frio to catch the South-East trade winds.

Video of the day (inc. the check of yesterday in accelerate video, but you can fixed the video to see some technical details) : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 32è jour en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-32e-jour-images/

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

"We go from too much winds to too light ones, the challenge is to avoid wind of < 6 Knots for which the speed of an Ultim like Macif dramatically drop, with the risk of being stuck" said JY Bernot in the introduction of the video, " the next 24 h is in this anticyclonic complex zone".
Video : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 33è jour en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-33e-jour-images/

Cartography (presently at 20 Knots in 10 knots Wind) : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

A last effort to be done to catch the SE trade winds, with the same priority : to avoid the loss of speed in the light winds. Complementary works on the J2 swivel "galette", now really repaired. Otherwise, the boat is said fully operational as for the first day.
Video : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 34è jour en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-34e-jour-images/

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

PS : "Galette bretonne" with egg and ham http://static.cuisineaz.com/610x610/i82132-galettes-bretonnes-au-jambon-et-a-l-oeuf.jpg

 

Francois Gabart : "A lot of manoeuvers during the last 24 h to take advantage of the variable winds of this transition zone towards the trade winds, and so little to no sleeping time, fatigue. Two days ago, strong winds with gusts up to 50 knots with the J2 that I could not furl, it was not cool" JY Bernot : "Macif now installed in the trade winds for 2 days more easy and sunny"
Video of the day : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 35è jour en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-35e-jour-images/

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie/

 

Ideal sailing conditions in trade winds, easy sea, average speed 27 knots, objective is to restore sleeping time after the demanding transition zones.

Video : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 36è jour en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-36e-jour-images/

Carto : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

8 hours of sleeping time during the last 24 h, at average 27 knots !

 

Your updates are much appreciated, Dolfiman!!

 

Dear Doug, thanks for your kind message, Francois Gabart is doing a great performance, it's really worth to devote few minutes every day to share the news of the day in English.

Today's video was taken when Macif had just cross the Equator line, looks like a summer holidays sailing, but at 27 Knots. Francois mentioned the next steps : the doldrums "seems not very active", the North-East trade winds, Azores and the final run "Meteo is not sure yet for this final leg". "I remain concentrated, it is not finished".... And even the final day can be highly active, here we are in winter and

our North-West coasts h​

ave just suffered a severe gale, with wind gusts up to 127 km/h (~ 70 Knots) at Brest, a car-ferry ran aground without damage in Calais harbour.
Video : [Vidéo] Pot au noir en approche pour le trimaran MACIF - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-pot-noir-approche-trimaran-macif/

Cartography : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

It looks like he will have the slowly "south moving high" to follow around in the clockwise direction. I would estimate that he will be able to make a similar course as Colville did, but much closer to the Azores.

 

Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie
2017-12-11 13:00:00 FR
Number of winch column turns in the last 24 hours = 0
That's a first, an error or real?
And maintaining 27.5 knots average speed while not adjusting sails during 24 hour period crossing the doldrums (what doldrums?)
It's getting totally unbelievable.

 

Condensed info from Macif web site, audio and video :
" Macif is less than 2,600 miles from the finish line. The crossing of the doldrums was only a formality at an average 26 Knots. JY Bernot : « "The doldrums is traditionally not very active at this time of the year, as we saw during its crossing by Actual / Yves Le Blévec a few days ago” . François Gabart goes up in a well-established trade wind which guarantees him excellent conditions for the next two days approximately, bring it to the latitude of the archipelago Azores and its laziness High to its west : "We'll have to knit a bit to get around it," explains J-Y Bernot. "The last part of this world tour is not yet clearly legible : to pass without a hitch, or to have a slowdown just before arrival ? "

For the time being, François Gabart remains focused on each mile that runs at a high rate. " I am presently with 22 to 26-27 knots of wind, sea state becomes a bit stronger with some breaking waves, speed is 28 to 35-36 Knots with J3 and mainsail with one reef ". The sea is covered with small algae, but this is not a disadvantage given the speed of the boat. During the last two days very few manoeuvers and I have granted myself with long sleeping times, welcome to preserve myself in view of the announced complicated end. I am really very happy with the boat, speed, safe and reliable. She has still a margin of progression, we can improve it, we have some interesting ideas for that."

Note that Francois never mentioned its ama foils ? Know-how to preserve ... ?

Audio (in french) : [Audio] François Gabart : « Le trimaran MACIF est capable d'aller très vite » - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/audio-francois-gabart-bateau-capable-daller-tres-vite/

Video : [Vidéo] Le récap' du 38è jour en images - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/actus/video-recap-38e-jour-images/

Carto : Cartographie - Macif Course au Large https://www.macifcourseaularge.com/cartographie

 

Dolfiman, what do you mean by this: "Note that Francois never mentioned its ama foils ? Know-how to preserve ... ?"
Thanks again for your terrific effort!!