The Transat Jacques Vabre crews are at last enjoying a lull in the weather that has pounded them since the start – they will be making the most of it to get some sleep and to dry off.
After a week of storms, the weather has gone from one extreme to the other and has eased to such an extent that the leaders are virtually becalmed. Macif, Groupe Bel, Safran and Banque Populaire are making three knots, while to the north Virbac Paprec and Hugo Boss are sailing a west north-westerly heading to stay in the breeze.
Meanwhile, Dominique Wavre and Michele Paret are making the most of the situation to catch up with the fleet, this morning they were the fastest boat, doing 6knots.
When we spoke to the Mirabaud duo we asked whether they were busy tidying up during this lull in the weather. “No, not at all,” replied Dominique. “Our boat is always tidy, even in the midst of a storm. You cannot allow yourself to be untidy, everything gets put away immediately.”
The boat may be shipshape, but there are still a few repairs to be done. “Our mast head unit broke in the end, I think it was damaged when we were knocked down and the tip of the mast touched the water. We were so lucky! I was thrown across the boat down below and was very lucky not to injure myself. We replaced the unit this morning, so all is well in that department. I just hope that this one will see us to Costa Rica.”
Dominique has weathered many storms at sea during his career, but he admits that he shan’t forget this one in a hurry. “I have experienced bigger storms, but in the Southern Ocean they come from behind, whereas the ones that we have just battled through were right on the nose. It’s always tricky when you are sailing into big seas.”
