Orange II is already dodging ice in the Southern Ocean. Their pace around the global track is simply unbelievable, and it’s even possible to imagine the prospect–given perfect luck with the weather–of a sub-50 day circumnavigation. It’s not likely, but it’s also not entirely ridiculous, which tells you something about the potential of this cat. Peyron’s maxi-beast is clearly capable of putting up daily averages in the high 20s, and she has hit speeds in the high 30s (during her recent Mediterranean record her top speed was, gulp, 42.7 knots). Peyron missed the Ushant-Equator record, but he just pocketed the Ushant-Cape Of Good Hope record (14 days, 8h and 19 mins, which beats the old record held by Geronimo by 2 days, 06 h 16 mins) and the Equator-Cape Of Good Hope record (7 days 5h and 22mins, which smashes Cheyenne’s old time by 2 days, 11 h 05 mins). Orange II is 1860 miles ahead of Cheyenne at this point (details here), and there is a new video up–“Two records and a small incident” (the incident was a wave smashing to pieces the windscreen in front of helmsman Lionel Lemonchoix)–on the video page of the Orange II website. It’s all going so well, it’s making me nervous…
Meanwhile, much further north in the Indian Ocean, Orange II’s maxi-multi cousins (Geronimo, Doha 2006 and Cheyenne) are duking it out in the Oryx Quest. Cheyenne is off on a flyer to the east. But Doha 2006 and Geronimo are locked in an epic battle for the lead. We knew there would be some close racing, but who knew it would be this close. Here’s Doha 2006‘s Paul Larsen with the call:
“As the sun rises once more for the second half of day 4 GMT… There she is again. Ruining, for us, at least what would be a perfect sunrise. For over 24 hours now we have been locked in battle with the big trimaran Geronimo. Yesterday saw us commit an act most foul in the world of multihulls. We gradually reeled in Geronimo and overtook her in light upwind conditions. By all accounts this should be her forte. It was a beautiful moment for all on board and no doubt one that will start many a heated discussion in various yacht club bars. There is a whole host of reasons that De Kersauson would not have enjoyed about this scenario. The sailing was in very light, almost glassy conditions and both boats were snaking along trying to move in sync with the oscillating puffs. As soon as we drew abeam, Geronimo tacked off to windward and then came back on our hip. So the sun rose on Geronimo and in the evening it set on her as well. The sunset was a magic moment which included the legendary ‘green flash’. The sea was so calm that it reflected the sky perfectly in places and you could no longer see where the two merged. The two giant multihulls glided along as if joined by a big rubber band a mile long. The night was incredible. I have always been a big fan of full moon sailing and still will be when you are trying to see the waves, but when it’s dead flat, well you can’t beat the stars of a moonless night. The boat had zero motion but was still maintaining 5-7 knots under full mainsail and Code ‘0’.
We were trying to cross a high pressure ridge that was blocking our passage into the trade winds and which will carry us down towards the equator. As we headed south on starboard tack we gradually got headed towards the east before choosing our moment to tack across and continue our southing. Once this manouever was completed we watched Geronimos navigation lights slip across our transom going from her green bow light to her white stern light…. and then back to her green bow light as she also tacked across and sat on our hip once more. The seas now reflected the stars which now included the lovely Southern Cross which is always a warming sight to yours truly as well as four other members of the team. So as we glided along barely breaking the water, there were long moments of silence and calm on board. It really felt like we could have been floating through space. It truly was surreal.
The wind continued to back around which put Geronimo in a strong position as she was now inside us and as the first shimmer of daylight broke our trip across the galaxy, there she was again, ruining our perfect sunrise shot.So on the morning of the 9th of Feb, Doha 2006 is to be found peeling between Code ‘0’, ‘yankee’ and medium gennaker as we follow Geronimo who is now around 1 mile directly ahead. Its not all 30-40 knots and huge seas on these big multihulls. They do other tricks as well. The wind is back and we are through the ridge and heading for the trades. This could be good fight.”
Incredible. Match racing these monsters can not be easy on the crew. Just wait until Cheyenne gets back into the frame. Hope they all have their rule books on board…
Dueling Doha 2006: “Sorry, guys. De Kersauson has tacked again, so let’s go too. I think I see his strategy now. He’s, err, trying to kill us…”
The Earthist Chronicles 