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Vendee Globe: Positions changed and psychological warfare
Jan 17, 2005 02: 56 EST
After 66 days of racing English skipper Mike Golding (Ecover) took the lead of the Vendée Globe for the first time in his long sailing career last week. But the positions have changed once again as Mike Golding continues to lose ground following the damage to his mainsail halyard Friday. Current positions are:
16h January 15h00 GMT
1. Vincent Riou (PRB) 3991,1 nautical miles from the finish
2. Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) 130,4 miles from leader
3. Mike Golding (Ecover) 232,7 miles behind
War over radio
71st day of the race: 130,4 miles apart, Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam are playing a huge game of chess on the Atlantic. The bluffing, mind games and the war of nerves are reaching their climax, as they approach the Equator. The two leaders have just stepped up the psychological warfare. On Sunday’s radio session, both appeared to show they were convinced that their diametrically opposed arguments were right. Concerning the pressure they feel, Vincent insisted that the closer they got to the finish, the more the pressure was on the one in second place. Jean’s answer: “I’m 130 miles behind. What could happen to me? On the other hand, I’d be a bit worried if I was in Vincent’s position”
Send each other messages
Then, there was the question about the Doldrums. For Vincent, they don’t have much influence at this time of year. So, for Jean it was "a complete mess" of course. As the two competitors know exactly what the other has said from their shore team, who updates them regularly, the two single-handed yachtsmen use their daily radio link-ups with race headquarters to send each other messages and try to destabilise the other. In this psychological warfare, it is important to convince everyone that everything is fine on board, even when there is a problem. It can, moreover, be added that only the two frontrunners have no problems with their boats, apart from a few minor details... Maybe that’s why they’re in the lead, they would argue, trying once again to convince us all.
Mike Golding feeling a little down
Ecover’s broken mainsail halyard has cost the British yachtsman dearly. Not only did Mike drop back 200 miles from Vincent Riou, but he exhausted himself, climbing the mast three times in difficult conditions to carry out the repairs as quickly as possible. The result: lots of bruises, physical exhaustion, and he feels downhearted. Today, Mike Golding felt “it would take a miracle to get back up there” with the leaders.
12 men and three women are out on the ultimate in Ocean racing: A single-handed, non-stop and unsupported circumnavigation of Earth. The Vendée Globe is a non-stop 37 000 km voyage from west to east, across three oceans and around three capes. Record holder is Michel Desjoyeaux who completed the 2001 race in just 93 days and 4 hours.
After what seemed like a perfect Atlantic descent the original 20-strong fleet in this the fifth Vendée Globe has been reduced to just 15.
Image of Mike Golding Monday, January 17th, 2005 courtesy/Ecover.
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