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2008/01/31 - 09h20
All in a week
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| Jules Verne Trophy |
| After the passage of the equator, the tradewinds are in evidence, even though they remain moderate at around fifteen knots.
Groupama 3 can now pick her way due South around the edge of the Saint Helena High...
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Though the Doldrums were fairly spread out on Wednesday and didn't facilitate their descent towards the equator, the situation
is already a lot different this Thursday morning with around fifteen knots of breeze, which has backed from the SE to the
E, enabling Groupama 3 to ease the sheets a little and therefore accelerate to an average of over 23 knots since midnight.
This eighth day at sea therefore promises to be fairly stable with the boat able to make steady progress off the
Brazilian coast, in a wind which is set to increase as the hours go by.
A day at over 550 miles and above all a
lead over Orange II, which is likely to extend still further (423 miles at 0630 GMT) as Bruno Peyron was barely at the equator
at this same time and still suffering the effects of the Doldrums...
At this pace, the crew will be able to regain
their strength prior to the roaring 40's, as there will be little if any manoeuvres to be made over the next two days. The
upshot of this is that the giant trimaran will be at the latitude of Rio de Janeiro from tomorrow morning, Friday!
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