?Weather forecast
over race area of Solidaire Chocolat 2009

General synopsis by October 21, 2009 at 00h
Low 974 hPa 51N and 16W moving east, expected 978 hPa just southwest Ireland by 22/00h UTC, then moving northwest, expected 991 hPa 56N 14W by 23/00h UTC.
Relative low 1001 hPa 46N and 32W moving quickly southeast 40nds and deepening, expected 997 hPa 42N and 19W by 21/12h UTC, then moving east, expected 993 hPa in north of  Portugal by 22/00h UTC, then moving east. Associated gusts  55 nds in southern partr of this low. 
New low expected 986 hPa 48N and 33W by 22/12h UTC, moving northeast, expected 989 hPa 49N and 27W by 23/00h UTC.
High 1019 hPa 33N and 39W moving southeast, expected 1018 hPa 30N and 27W by 22/00h UTC, then moving Northeast and building, expected 1020 hPa 33N and 14W by 23/00h UTC.

Weather forecast from October 21, 2009 at 9UTC to October 23, 2009 at 00UTC
FINISTERRE
West or Southwest 20/25kt veering Northwest 25/30kt gusts 40kt until 22/00h UTC, backing West 15/20kt until 22/12 UTC, then Southwest 18/23kt gusts 35kt. Sea very rough in Northwest swell, or locally high (wave atteignant 6m) in northwest at first, decreasing. Showers ou squalls, then rain.
 
PORTO, North of SAO VICENTE
Westerly 15/20kt backing West or Southwest 30/35kt gusts 55kt between 21/18h UTC and 21/21h UTC, veering Northwest 18/23kt gusts 35kt until 22/06h UTC, then backing Southwest 13/18kt. Sea very rough in Northwest swell, decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
East of CHARCOT
Westerly 23/28kt gusts 40kt veering Northwest 25/30kt until 21/21h UTC, temporarily 30/35kt gusts 55kt in south, decreasing 20/25kt gusts 35kt until 22/06h UTC, then backing Southwest 15/20kt. Sea very rough or high (wave 6 or 7m) in Northwest swell, decreasing. Rain ou squalls.
 
West of CHARCOT
West or Northwest 23/28kt gusts 40kt, temporarily 30/35kt gusts 55kt in south, decreasing 18/23kt gusts 35kt until 22/00h UTC, then backing Southwest 22/28kt gusts 40kt from southwest. Sea very rough or high (wave 6 or 7m) in Northwest swell, decreasing. Rain ou squalls.
 
East of ALTAIR
West or Northwest 23/28kt gusts 40kt, locally 30/35kt gusts 50kt in southeast at first, backing Southwest between 22/00h and 22/12h UTC, then increasing 25/30kt gusts 45kt. Sea very rough decreasing. Rain ou squalls.
 
JOSEPHINE
Westerly 20/25kt, locally 30/35kt gusts 55kt in north, decreasing 18/23kt gusts 40kt betwwen 22/00h UTC and 22/06h UTC, then backing Southwest from west. Rain ou showers. Sea very rough or locally high in north (wave 6m) in Northwest swell, decreasing. Rain ou showers.
 
East of ACORES
Westerly 15/20kt locally 25/30kt gusts 45kt in northeast at first, backing Southwest between 22/00h and 22/12h UTC. Sea becoming rough or very rough in Northwest swell decreasing. Showers.
 
ANTIFER :
Southerly 15/20kt, occasionally 20/26 in west. Slight or moderate.
 
CASQUETS, OUESSANT :
Southerly 15/20kt, locally 25/30kt in west, then veering South or Southwest 15/25kt overnight. Gusts. Rough ot very rough in Westerly swell.
 
IROISE, YEU :
Southwest 15/25kt, occasionally 25/30 in west. Rough ot very rough, cross in Westerly swell.
 
ROCHEBONNE :
Southwesterly 15/25kt. Rough ot very rough, cross in Northwesterly swell.
 
PAZENN :
Southwest 25/30kt veering West or Northwest 20/25kt overnight. Gusts. Very rough or high in Northwesterly swell.
 
Further outlook for next 24 hours
Strong wind warning (> 33 kt) : West to Southwest 30/35kt pour ALTAIR, CHARCOT.

Tropical activity
None.

on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 09? UTC
Anne Couzinier

Météo-France

Yves Eclaret and Lionel Regnier on board Vale Inco Nouvelle Calédonie are heading for La Coruna to make mainsail repairs. Currently 30 miles from the Spanish port and making five knots, their ETA is 0400-0500 Wednesday

"We are retiring due to electronics problems with the charging systems, autopilots and wind wands," explains skipper MacKenzie Davis.  "All are well.  We are headed back to La Trinite sur Mer and do not require assistance."

With the mainsail torn below the second reef and damage sustained to the port rudder, Yvan Noblet and Damien Guillou have taken the hard decision to retire from the race. Appart City is now heading for Lorient

Jouni Romppannen (Tieto): "So far we’ve been doing quite well, but this is really tough and we have to work all the time. But, we have no problems at all, apart from the physical side. We are a little bit tired, but I guess we’re in the same position as all the other guys are right now. It’s just eat-sleep-sail, basically! It’s very disappointing [2 boats retiring]. We all wanted the whole fleet to be over in Mexico, but it’s part of sailing and it was quite nasty weather last night. We have to care we don’t hurt ourselves or our boat."

Felipe Cubillos (Desafio Cabo de Hornos): "We just want to let everybody know we’re OK. We’ve had one of the hardest nights and there’s still a couple of heavy days ahead. Every manoeuvre on deck left us soaked and there was little point in changing into dry clothes as the same would happen a couple of hours later."

Denis Lazat (PLAN):"The front has gone through, which is a very good thing! All would be well onboard if the front hadn’t left a few unpleasant gifts for us: genorosity that kept us constantly busy as we continued under three reefs and storm jib. A massive drop in temperature; an outbreak of seasickness during which we both spent time with a bucket calling for ‘Raoul!’ some minor, non-serious damage. Sorting the boat out will have to wait until things calm down."

Miranda Merron (40 Degrees): “The sea started to build yesterday afternoon, and the front went through just before midnight. We had changed to the storm jib when the wind was at 30 knots plus and the boat was quite OK with 42 knots. Needless to say, the accompanying sea state has taken its toll. There will be housekeeping chores inside  the boat once daylight comes! It was fortunate that we crossed the Cape Finisterre - Ushant shipping during the day yesterday, as that could have been a little exciting in the night. So, although we were spared something similar to crossing a motorway in horizontal rain and zero visibilty, the autopilot chose the windiest and roughest couple of hours to misbehave, which did add a little excitement. Starlit now, the evil weather of a few hours ago but a distant memory. Still in drysuits though..."

Weather forecast
over race area of Solidaire Chocolat 2009


General synopsis by October 20, 2009 at 00h
Low 971 hPa 54N and 19W moving southeast and filling slowly, expected 973 hPa 52N and 16W by 21/00h utc, then 980 hPa 52N and 12W by 22/00h utc. Associated cold front extending from cap Finisterre to Ireland and moving east.
Relative low expected 1002 hPa 46N and 32W by 21/00h utc, moving quickly southeast 38kts and deepening, expected 998 hPa 42N 20W by 21/12h utc, then 41N and 11W by 22/00h utc.
High 1024 hPa 46N and 41W moving southeast and weakening, expected 1018 hPa 30N and 28W by 22/00h utc.








Weather forecast from October 20, 2009 at 9UTC to October 22, 2009 at 00UTC
PAZENN
West or Southwest 20/25kt gusts 35kt increasing 25/30kt gusts 40kt until 21/00h utc. Sea becoming very rough or high (wave 5 or 7 m)in Northwesterly swell. squalls.
 
FINISTERRE
West or Southwest 18/23kt gusts 35kt increasing 23/28kt gusts 40kt until 21/00h utc. Sea becoming very rough or locally high (wave 6 or 7 m) in northwest in Northwesterly swell. Showers ou squalls.
 
PORTO
West or Northwest 15/20kt gusts 30 kt, increasing temporarily 18/23kt gusts 35kt between 21/00h utc and 21/12h utc, and becoming cyclonic between 21/18h utc and 22/00h utc, locally Westerly 30/35kt gusts 50kt in south. Sea becoming very rough in Northwesterly swell. Showers ou squalls.
 
East of ROMEO
Westerly 25/30kt gusts 45kt increasing 30/35kt gusts 50kt until 21/00h utc, then decreasing 23/28kt gusts 40kt. Sea becoming high or very high (wave 8 or 10m) in Northwesterly swell. squalls.
 
East of CHARCOT
West or Northwest 25/30kt gusts 40kt decreasing 23/28kt gusts 40kt between 21/00h utc and 21/12h utc, then increasing 30/35kt gusts 55kt in south between 21/12h utc and 22/00h utc. Sea becoming high (wave 6 or 8m) in Northwesterly swell. Rain ou squalls.
 
West of CHARCOT
Northwest 30/35kt gusts 45kt decreasing 25/30kt gusts 40kt from south between 20/18h utc and le 21/06h utc, increasing Westerly 30/35kt gusts 55kt in south until 21/12h utc, then backing Westerly 18/23kt gusts 45kt everywhere. Sea becoming high (wave 6 or 8m) in Northwesterly swell. Rain ou squalls.
 
East of ALTAIR
Northwesterly 25/35kt gusts 45kt from south to north, backing West 30/40kt gusts 55kt between 21/00h utc and 21/12h utc, then decreasing 23/28kt gusts 40kt. Sea very rough or high decreasing. Rain ou squalls.
 
JOSEPHINE
Northwesterly 18/23kt backing West between 21/09h utc and 22/00h utc, and temporarily increasing 30/35kt gusts 55kt in north from west. Rain ou showers. Sea moderate or rough becoming very rough or locally high in north (wave 6m) in Northwesterly swell.
 
East of ACORES
North or Northwest 15/20kt backing Westerly until 21/12h utc, and increasing locally 25/30kt gusts 40kt in far northeast, then backing West or Southwest 13/18kt. Sea becoming rough or very rough in Northwesterly swell. Rain ou showers.


Further outlook for next 24 hours
Strong wind warning (> 33 kt) : Vent of Westerly 30/35kt over FARADAY, ALTAIR.
 
Tropical activity
None.

on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 09? UTC
Anne Couzinier

Météo-France

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) : « We had a nice night sailing downwind in light air to start off with, picking up gradually. We tried to keep abreast of sail changes and take turns to rest. We’re doing our best to understand the system ahead to anticipate how we are going to react, particularly for sail changes and shortening sail and gear breakages. We have to fix everything in the boat so that nothing shifts about. Cloud overhead, a spot of sun but you can see the change on its way. The sea is beginning to get rough with every other wave ending up on deck. »

Pascal Douin (PHR) : « We are sticking to our westerly option. In view of the forecasts, we’re pushing on ahead to latch onto the shift of the front tonight. We’re trying to get on as best we can. We are just behind Cargill-MTTM (Damien Seguin-Armel Tripon, ed’s note). Right now, Laurent i shaving a whale of a time at the helm, we’re surfing along with top speeds of 17 knots. All weather information sources agree about the front on its way. The wind will start to back and then we will have to bear the brunt of the situation. We’re in for a rough night but that is part of the deal. »