Christian Chalandre - Olbia

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H – 2
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A big tugboat, a sailboat, and... land
The vast universe that I was starting to think infinite is not, in fact.
Till later
Chris

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H – 6
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I just jibed and changed kites to be able to luff for arrival.
Before, as I entered the bay, I was presented with a whale ballet.
Really well organized! At first, I luffed to get closer and try to
film them, but one of them was flapping the water with so much energy
that I said to myself it was Spring, and that it mght not be the right
moment to tickle it. Wouldn't be too good a thing if it fell in love
with Olbia!
Til later
Chris

***
After several exceptional days —150 NM or more daily—, I took a day's
rest. 45NM during the past 24 hours! I spent 14 hours making circles
in te water the south of Nantucket Shoals, which stretch 30 miles to
the SE of the second race mark, Nantucket Island. It was really fine
(en anglais dans le texte (1)): full sun, lots of birds, small
dolphins, black all over, a nice swell to rock me... in the rhythm of
the boom and of the sails. Clonk, Glang... Clonk, Glang... Clonk,
Glang... Clonk, Clonk.
Of course, partying as I did till late, I'm a bit tired.

Lat: 40.57NLon: 069.14W***126 NM during the past 24 hours***Holiday***

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165 NM in the past 24 hours
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Scents of stable for Olbia.
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I'm about to cross the Canada/US border in the afternoon, and aiming
for the southern point of Nantucket Island. Then there will be 70
miles left until the finish line.

We're having lots of lucks for the end of the race. I'm doing two
"Tabarly" days in one, and I now have two days on him.

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Third week.
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Wind: North, 15 knots (F4)
DTF: 390 NM
153NM during the past 24h
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Hello, everyone!
We're now south of Halifax (Nova Scotia), and the ENE wind is stable,
which allows good daily averages (around 150 NM). Arrival on Thursday
evening is now possible.
Till later
Chris

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The Canadian Trade Winds.
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Wind: N 15 knots (force 4)
DTF (Distance to finish) 543 NM (1000 km)
Temperatures. Outside: 12°; Inside: 13°; Water: 11°.
***
20% of the way left. The last two days, lots of miles went by: 143
yesterday, and 133 today.
Yesterday afternoon, we had to slow down since I had to deal with a
front that was parallel to the isobars. That means the wind was North
on on side, and South on the other. But during the actual passing of
the front things are confused.

Lat : 42.29N
Lon : 052.00W
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Last third
***
The last two days we were running downwind. That was nice, since I've
been having trouble getting out of the Gulf Steam claws. I think i'm
out of them now, which means I can go faster (125 NM in the last 24
hours).
I'll now have to watch out for all those little lows that are born on
the the NE coast of the US before crossing the Atlantic Ocean and
ending up at home. The don't seem too violent, but give birth to
frequent weather modifications, therefore making necessary frequent
changes of sails.

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Tail of the Bank (1).
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After several days of strong winds, the conditions are quite better now.
50° W. This time, I've rounded the Southern point of the Great Banks.
5 to 10 knots of NNE winds. The kite's up. I'm at the limit between
the Labrador current and the Gulf Stream (the water is at 17°C), which
gives impressive —and invisible— swirls and currents.

Lat: 41.58N
Lon: 048.11W
***
Temperature: outside: 7°; inside: 12°; water: 6°.
***
The Labrador...

is, as everyone knows, a charming palmed-footed dog that loves to
swim (in 6° water).
According to Wikipedia, it also is a cold oceanic current that comes
from the arctic ocean and goes to the south. It flows along the
eastern coast of Newfoundland and then veers South-East.

Lat :46.51N
Lon :035.54W
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Match racing in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean
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Yessterday saw he beginning of a race in the race: I'm abeam of Banjaard, a 36' Swan manned by John Falla. John won the first round last night.
At 21:45, the Queen Mary, heading home, passed us by at 26 knots. We must be on the right route!
This morning the race started again and the issue of the second round remains quite uncertain. The west wind, blowing at 10 knots, is very unstable.

Lat : 47.57N
Lon : 30.27W
***
1000 miles. One third of the way. The weather's been very clement with
us. Three little lows, the last of which in the right direction. I am
now nearer to Newfoundland than to Brest. For the second third, I'm
now looking toward the great banks, with a particular thought for all
those fishermen who spent their lives in the area. The weather will be
the essential concern, for you have to take the fastest route while
anticipating in order not to get into a difficult position.

Lat : 48.17N
Lon : 027.00W....

Here are the distances (in NM) run each day, along with the total and
the average mileage per day.

Day Dist TOT AV
J1 91
J2 102 193 96
J3 137 330 110
J4 154 484 121
J5 91 575 115
J6 139 714 119

L : 49.09Nl : 023.03WIn the midst of the fifties trade winds!

Lat : 49.29N
Lon : 019.25W

Oceanographic studies and clothe-drying session
This morning, sunny, but no wind.
I saw that I was completely becalmed, but still made 1 to 1.3 knots
(with a 1.7 knot peak), unfortunately on a 50° course! Real bad for
the morale!!!
It was a rather uncanny phenomenon, in fact, for we slowly started
making headway —under spinnaker— in a weak N wind, and I could no
longer feel any difference between surface and ground speed. Bizarre!
I'm taking advantage of the calm to get my stuff dry, because the next
few day are going to be rougher.

Lat : 49.53NLon : 012.46W

Hello, everyone!I'm having a great time jumping up and down the waves, but Christian had lots of things to do during thoe last two —pretty tough— days.After a starboard track that got me out of the Channel, I'm now nearly on a direct route, in a WSW 5-6 wind that should quiet down and veer aft.

Olbia is a a 34" race boat designed by Sparkmans & Stephens, and buit
by Aquafibre (UK) in 1971.
She was the RORC class 3 winner in 1973.
Christian Chalandre has owned her for the past 16 years. Together,
they have cruised and raced from Iceland to the Caribbean islands and
from the British Isles to the Azores, the Iberic peninsula and the
Canary Islands.
Olbia hibernated in Pornic (on the Atlantic coast of France) to be
suited with beautiful new sails, custom-tailored by Jade/Star Voiles
owner, Christophe.