Miranda Merron (co-skipper 40 Degrees): "The last day at sea is always a busy one - it's time to make the boat and crew semi-presentable to the outside world. We think the boat is quite clean and tidy now, but we'll see what others think in a few hours! The weather yesterday was perfect, downwind sailing some 12-15 miles off the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The water here is quite green. Alex (shore crew) had hidden a couple of surprises on board before the start - in strategic places that are supposed to be regularly inspected. We therefore had a foie gras for lunch on the terrace, but are saving the champagne for the finish. Thank you Alex! We were kept on our toes by the many very small one-man wooden fishing boats which are hard to see until quite close up, and we were wondering how they got so far out without any visible means of propulsion. It seems that each group has a mother ship. We passed very close to several boats, and waved at each other. What has been somewhat less entertaining is that these boats are out here at night too, unlit (other than the mother ship). Some have torches which cast a feeble light at the last minute when we are approaching at 9 knots, while others have no light at all. One unlit one was so close, I'm amazed that it didn't snag on the spinnaker. I only saw  it because the hull was light in colour. At about 25 miles to go to the finish, a vessel came close and lit up our sails. Thinking that we were about to plough through yet another unlit fishing fleet, I was immensely relieved when it turned out to be a Mexican Navy vessel come to escort us the rest of the way. They are following us one mile astern. The wind is quite light, and we are aiming for an antisocial finishing time.”

Felipe Cubillos (skipper Desafio Cabo de Hornos): “I’m really happy to finish the race and to have completed my first transatlantic crossing with Daniel. We’re really happy to have been part of the race and to have taken part in the first Solidaire du Chocolat. I admit, we’re really very hungry as we haven’t eaten much during the past three days. In my opinion, there were two separate races: the first 15 days with a succession of depressions, then our eventual  entry into the Trade Winds and then crossing the Caribbean in very agreeable conditions. This race has been great and is a perfect event for Class40.”

Daniel Bravo Silva (co-skipper Desafio Cabo de Hornos): “Happy, happy, happy! We’ve done it! The race turned out to be incredibly tough and I really had no idea how hard it was going to be and whether I could do it. It’s truly fantastic. It is wonderful to be back in South America, in Mexico…it’s like coming home!”

Stephen Card (skipper ORBIS): “We just don’t have any wind. We got about six hours of light breeze last night, which has now turned into flat calm. We had a look at the water situation yesterday and if the wind picks-up, we should be OK to sail straight to Progreso. If we have anymore weather like we have at the moment, we will probably have to stick our heads into Grand Cayman. Apart from the water, everything is OK. All our group arrived in Progreso last night and they will leave on the 24th. The GRIBs are showing 9-12 knots of breeze and we’ve got just two knots. Watching everyone else sail away from you is not good. Adriatech, the nearest boat to us is 140 miles ahead now.”

Felipe Cubillos (skipper Desafio Cabo de Hornos): “It’s dawn and we have the coast of Yucatan to leeward and the breeze stayed with us overnight. We’ve reduced the distance of Sail4Cancer ahead of us and have increased our lead over 40 Degrees behind us.  As always, congratulations to the winners and it has been a privilege to share the race with Tanguy de Lamotte, Giovanni Soldini and Bernard Stamm. We don’t want to just pay tribute to these giants of offshore sailing, but also to congratulate all the other boats in the race: all the boats still racing and the boats that fought hard, but have had to retire. Many of the boats still racing are already with very little food, tired, very tired,  and some are frustrated and with little water….but they continue fighting. They do not surrender and they are giving everything to get to the finish line, even though some of them may be five days from Progreso. In a society where the important thing is often success and victory with a culture of winner-takes-all, we want to pay tribute to the teams still fighting who don’t care about fame or recognition and for whom the finishing of the race is fulfilling and of prime importance.”

Miranda Merron (co-skipper 40 Degrees): "Many evil clouds with 40 Degrees written all over them. Progress has been mighty slow, with wind shifts of 60 degrees and not much wind which suddenly increases to quite a lot. We are having to work hard to get to the finish, which is still 390 miles away. It is all the more challenging at night as there is no moon. Well done to Tanguy and Adrien for their well-deserved victory."

Stephen Card (skipper ORBIS): "Well, a tactical error on our part yesterday put us in too close to the land and at around midday we were stuck in the land effect vacuum. We've been trying to break out of it since then but it has a firm hold on us and we've only managed to do about 30 miles in the last 20 hours. Currently we are heading south and away from Mexico slightly, at about four knots. I think our race is well and truely blown now, but we're hoping to break out into the breeze soon as we have limited amounts of water and diesel. Actually, we only have enough for five more days. With 1018 miles to go to Progresso, we cannot afford any further delay. A stop in Kingston or Grand Cayman may be required. Our loved ones fly out tomorrow and we are a bit worried that we might not even arrive before they return to the UK!! Apart from that, it’s very hot, 45 degrees in the cabin yesterday, so we've rigged up a sunscreen from the remnants of our old fractional kite. Not pretty, but it works. Both Shaun and I are in good health but a little low on morale. This is proving to be a very long race.”

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Weather forecast
over race area of Solidaire Chocolat 2009



General synopsis by November 15, 2009 at 00h

Cold front north HISPANIOLA, moving slowly east. 
New low expected 38N90W by 17/00UTC, with associated front west gulf of Mexico. 
Persistence weak gradient of pressure about 1008 hPa south Cuba and Republic Dominican. 
High 1015 hPa 28N88W, with little move, weakening at end.

Weather forecast from November 15, 2009 at 9UTC to November 17, 2009 at 00UTC

West of HISPANIOLA :
Northeasterly 08/12kt, locally 04/08kt in north. Sea slight. Showers or squalls. 
 
North of East of CUBA : 
Mainly Northerly O5/10kt. Sea slight. squalls.  
 
South of East of CUBA :
Northeasterly 08/12kt. Sea slight. squalls. 
 
West of CUBA :
Northeasterly 12/17kt. Sea slight. Scattered squalls .  
 
North of YUCATAN (east of 87 west) :
East or Northeast 10/15kt, increasing Northeast 12/17kt by 16/00UTC. Sea slight. Scattered squalls . 
 
North of YUCATAN (west of 87 west) :
East or Southeast 05/10kt, backing East or Northeast 10/15kt by 16/00UTC, decreasing Northeast 05/10kt at end. Sea slight.  




Further outlook for next 24 hours

Strong wind warning (> 33 kt) : None



Tropical activity
None.



on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 08? UTC

Hervé Fortuny

Météo-France

Denis Lazat (skipper PLAN): “Robert Louis Stevenson’s book ‘Treasure Island’ was a huge part of my childhood: ‘Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum!’ Well, it’s still the same for us and the Caribbean has a rich and exotic history filled with stories of pirates, treasure, slavery, sunken galleons, a code of honour and double-crosses. Puerto Rico is a tempting stop-off point for us, although I’d prefer to call it ‘Hispaniola’. As the islands roll passed, their names are like titles of adventure novels and we regret being unable to stop. But the French West Indies are not what we want with their supermarkets, post offices and mayor’s offices. The same can’t be said for the half-Dutch island of St. Martin or Antigua – location of a regatta that is the dream of most sailors. Then there’s Anguilla, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, all with ports like Port au Prince, Kingston and Havana all calling to us to pull in! Then there’s the choice of sailing close to Jamaica or Haiti. Is it going to be Papa Doc, or Bob Marley?”

?


Weather forecast
over race area of Solidaire Chocolat 2009



General synopsis by November 14, 2009 at 00h

Low 998 hPa ex IDA 32N73W, moving slowly east, expected 10004 hPa 33N70W by 15/00UTC, then 1007 hPa 30N67W by 16/00UTC. Associated cold front near CUBA, moving slowly east. 
Persistence of weak gradient of pressure about 1007 hPa south Cuba and Republic Dominican. 
High expected 1014hPa 24N87W by 14/12UTC, moving north, expected 1015 hPa 28N88W by 15/00UTC, then 1017 hPa 29N88W by 16/00UTC.

Weather forecast from November 14, 2009 at 9UTC to November 16, 2009 at 00UTC

West of HISPANIOLA :
Easterly 08/12kt, locally 04/08kt in north, backing Northeast 10/15kt at the end. Sea slight or moderate. Showers or squalls. 
 
North of East of CUBA : 
Mainly Northerly O5/10kt. Sea slight. Showers or squalls.  
 
South of East of CUBA :
North or Northeast 05/10kt, veering Northeasterly 08/12kt by 14/12UTC. Sea slight. Showers or squalls. 
 


West of CUBA :
North or Northeast 13/17kt, veering Northeast by 15/00 UTC. Sea slight or moderate. Showers or squalls. 
 
North of YUCATAN (east 87 west) :
North or Northeast 10/15kt, veering Northeast 10/15kt by 15/00UTC. Sea moderate, becoming slight today. Showers. 
 
North of YUCATAN (west 87 west) :
East or Northeast 04/08kt, temporarily variable 02/04kt at first, veering East or Southeast 05/10kt by 15/06UTC. Sea slight.  











Further outlook for next 24 hours

Strong wind warning (> 33 kt) : None


Tropical activity
None.


on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 09? UTC

Hervé Fortuny

Météo-France