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Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS December 2008
Yacht Racing News
Update Vendee Globe & Rich Wilson's GREAT AMERICAN III
One of the most grueling yacht races is overall and a waterline length of 60 feet; beam as possible, except three — leader Guillemot, tic first 24 hours.
the Vendee Globe, which starts from Les 17 feet; draft 14 feet 6 inches, and displaces and British contenders Mike Golding Down on the dock Bernard Stamm’s
Sables d’Olonne, France, sails around the 8.5 tons. (ECOVER) and Sam Davies (ROXY), who shore team were working flat out to repair the
world and finishes back at the start. What is This is the fastest class of racers de- have each put in two tacks to stay on a more broken bowsprit on CHEMINEES
more impressive the race is singlehanded signed to an open rule that keys on the boat’s direct south-westerly course. Of the main POUJOULAT. Stamm said, “It’s a race against
and non-stop. Anyone who receives outside length and depth of keel. They are con- north-westerly group, Loick Peyron the clock, but there are things you can’t
assistance is immediately disqualified. It is structed of carbon fibre and have little in the (GITANA EIGHTY) was in second place, hurry. For example, we’re going to have to
also a race through some of the most inhos- way of creature comforts. They are high-tech with Roland Jourdain and Kito de Pavant rebuild the bowsprit in its entirety and you
pitable oceans in the world. in their computer and electronic systems. very close by. On the rankings Dee Caffari can’t change the time it takes to dry compos-
The race is dominated by the French, by These boats are certified by the International (AVIVA) is still showing as first Brit in elev- ites, whether you are racing or not.”
numerous other countries try their hands to Monohull Open Classes Association enth, while Alex Thomson (HUGO BOSS) There are now seven skippers who have
unseat them. There is only one American (IMOCA), which means that they have been one place behind. been forced to head back to Les Sables
entered in this race, Rich Wilson, who is a measured and given stability tests. Bernard Stamm was in a collision which d’Olonne since the start. The most recent
native of Massachusetts, but with ties to the forced him to return to port: “There were a was Kito de Pavant’s GROUPE BEL and
State of Maine. He has received degrees from 9 November whole group of us racing upwind. There was Yannick Bestaven on AQUARELLA.COM,
MIT and Harvard Business School. He The sixth edition of the Vendée Globe a fishing boat in the area that I saw some way which have both been dismasted. Derek
worked as a mathematics teacher in Boston, got underway at 1302, on a gloomy day of off and didn’t seem to be a problem. I went Hatfield on ALGIMOUSS SPIRIT OF
as well as being a Trustee of both the Sea variable south-westerly breezes with con- down to do some nav work and a few minutes CANADA is also returning with electrical
Education Association and The School for fused choppy seas inshore and a heavier later… boom! I reckon he must have changed problems.
Field Studies, and an Overseer of the Boston swell out at sea. direction. By the time it took me to go inside, British skipper Thomson, HUGO BOSS,
Museum of Science. One of his most impor- The overcast conditions did not dampen I’d hit him. I couldn’t raise him on the radio. informed the race office that his Open 60 was
tant endeavours was founding the Sites Alive the atmosphere, with hundreds of thousands I don’t know whether he saw me. It was more taking in water but the pumps were control-
Foundation, which is a non-profit educa- of spectators lining the sea walls and clam- or less a direct hit, a little bit to one side. A ling the situation. Not long after this message
tional program called Ocean Challenge. Due bering onto precarious vantage points to huge collision. We’ll be trying to repair it. I the race committee was informed that he was
to the excitement and content he thought give the 30 skippers the famous Les Sables decided immediately to head back, as I can’t returning to Les Sables d’Olonne following
that this would inspire student with a learn- d’Olonne send-off. After emotional farewells hoist any headsails. For a downwind race, the discovery of a structural problem. A
ing adventure. The first adventure was his, on the pontoons, the sailors were treated to that isn’t much good! It appears that only the crack has appeared on the port side hull. She
along with Steve Pettengill, attempt to break a crescendo of applause, cheering, horn- bowsprit is broken. I’ll be setting off again. was the eighth boat to return. The Vendee
the clipper ship record between Boston and blaring and flag-waving from the crowds as There’s no reason not to. The others won’t Globe rules only allow the competing yachts
San Francisco. When just 400 miles from they made their way out to sea. be waiting for me, but it’s around the world to return to Les Sables D’Olonne to carry out
Cape Horn their 65-foot trimaran capsized. At the start it looked like Mike Golding race, so isn’t over yet.” repairs using outside assistance and restart
More amazing than their survival, is that the on ECOVER 3 was set for the best start, but Another racer returned to port, Michel the race within a 10 day window of Sunday
trimaran was re-righted by a huge wave. was OCS, while Alex Thomson showed great Desjoyeaux, FONCIA. A small leak in one of 9th November.
Hours later they were rescued by a pace off the line in HUGO BOSS. However, it the ballast tanks caused an electrical problem
containership. His survival story impressed was defending champion Vincent Riou on making it impossible to start the engine to 11 November
the students so much that he made another PRB who got his nose in front first, with recharge his batteries. Within just a few hours the vicious cold
attempt to break the record. This time he PAPREC-VIRBAC (Jean-Pierre Dick) and It was a tough, physical first night, but front is gone and with it the 40-50 knot winds.
succeeded, and then went on to break two Sebastien Josse on BT climbing to join him a cold front is forecast to hit them during the Almost immediately the whole rhythm of the
other clipper ship records. on the charge out to sea. Josse took the lead afternoon and into tonight which will give race changes as the fleet sail with increas-
For his dedication to education and his after around an hour of racing. Dee Caffari them a severe test in the Bay of Biscay. ingly favourable 20-25 knot northwesterly
love of sailing, he was awarded the Cruising got a confidence-boosting flying top-five Mike Golding’s decision to follow winds, racing off Cape Finisterre.
Club of America’s prestigious Blue Water start on AVIVA, carrying full mainsail – as Guillemot with two tacks last night seems to Those who rode it out the under fifty-
Medal. did Riou and Thomson, while the rest of the have paid off, the British skipper on ECOVER knot gusts and six metre high waves with
The yachts competing in the Vendee fleet opted for a reef. has made up ten places from last night’s lashing rain, have made their tacks as the cold
Globe are Open 60s. Wilson’s boat is GREAT During the evening the conditions rankings and is now lying 13
th
. front passed over and the conditions have
AMERICAN III, which was designed by worsened with the arrival of a low over Ire- Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS was eased to give faster reaching conditions.
Bernard Nivelt. Wilson purchased the boat land generating south-westerly winds in ex- given a four hour penalty by the international Jean-Pierre Dick on Paprec-Virbac 2 and
and sailed her to Portland, where she would cess of 30 knots gusting to more than 45. jury for not having his shore crew off his boat Roland Jourdain on Veolia Environnement
underwent a major 10-month refit at the Maine before the four minutes pre-start cut off. seem both to have timed this well after con-
Yacht Center. This refit included repairs to 10 November The skippers have had to contend with tinuing westwards for as long as possible
the bow, modifications to the canting keel, This morning’s position update shows short slamming waves, of about 3-4 metres, and they now lie in first and second, with 1.1
complete rewiring, and a new deck layout. Marc Guillemot (SAFRAN) the leader. Most with building breezes, peppered by sharp miles of difference between them.
GREAT AMERICAN III has a length of the fleet were heading directly west as fast squalls under dark clouds, making for a fran- At 0530GMT, Michel Desjoyeaux left
M A I N E M A R I T I M E A C A D E M Y N E W S
MMA TO WELCOME ROBOTICS between FIRST and the LEGO Company.
Continued from Page 7.
college, coordinating with Maine Maritime
COMPETITORS Every year, FLL works with experts in the
Academy’s ongoing efforts to improve col-
sels of any horsepower. He brings more than Maine Maritime Academy will host the field to create a Challenge that relates to a
lege aspirations for Maine youth and to
20 years of professional experience in sea- upcoming Northern Maine FIRST LEGO significant real-world issue. The end result is
stress the importance of math and science
based engineering to the college, along with League Tournament on 7 December, at the a two-part Challenge that requires research
skills to future academic and career success.
a deep understanding of the professional college’s Castine campus. Sponsored by to complete The Project, and science and
Maine Robotics competitions and track meets
qualities and competencies expected of Maine Robotics, the high-tech competition engineering to master the complex missions
were first welcomed to campus three years
today’s marine engineers. Since his appoint- is one of two tournaments scheduled to be of~The Robot Game. Each September, FLL
ago as an outreach initiative which comple-
ment to the MMA faculty in 1997, Libby has held in Maine this year. The event, sched- announces the annual Challenge, which en-
mented Maine Maritime Academy’s hands-
participated extensively in hands-on learn- uled to take place in MMA’s Alexander gages the teams in hands-on robotics design
on, math and science oriented educational
ing opportunities for students, serving regu- Fieldhouse, will begin at 9:30 a.m. and con- and authentic scientific research. After 8
focus. “This competition makes math and
larly as an assistant training officer aboard clude at approximately 3 p.m. The public is intense weeks, the FLL season culminates at
science fun by integrating competition,
the college’s training ship. In 2004 he was invited to observe the competitions at no high-energy, sports-like tournaments.
hands-on activities, and action,” said Wright.
appointed senior engine training officer and charge. According to Thomas Bickford, presi- This year’s FLL theme, entitled Climate
“Each year this event continues to demon-
began serving as the college’s coordinator dent and director of Maine Robotics, volun- Connections, will challenge children ages 9-
strate the academic potential of these bright
for power engineering cooperative educa- teers from the community are being sought to 14 to investigate the earth’s climate and
competitors. The event is a showcase of
tional experiences. assist in all areas of competition organiza- discover the links between science, people,
creativity, problem solving skills, and team-
His professional experience extended to tion. resources and communities. The theme seeks
work.”
state interests in 1999, when he was ap- Maine Robotics, a Maine-based non- to encourage students to unearth how we
Those interested in becoming a volun-
pointed as the principle investigator of the profit venture, has been bringing hands-on learn about past climates and delve into
teer are encouraged to contact Amy Gutow,
Maine Department of Transportation’s Fast science and technology activities to Maine questions surrounding our current and fu-
director of the MMA Conferences Depart-
Ferry Project Grant. His diverse interests schools and children since 2000. The organi- ture climatic conditions.
ment, 326-2283. Potential volunteers are en-
have also placed him in the graduate studies zation uses robotics competitions and sum- The 2008 competition at Maine Maritime
couraged to learn more about the FIRST
program at MMA, where he achieved an mer camps to educate children from the 3rd Academy marks the fourth year that the
LEGO League and its Climate Connections
M.S. degree in logistics management. An grade through high school. ~Robotics is a college has played host to the event and the
robotics competition by visiting the
active member of the Society of Naval Archi- multi-disciplinary topic that touches on en- 9th year the event has run in Maine. Organiz-
organization’s web site at http://
tects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), he is gineering, basic science, computers, pro- ers expect to welcome more than 20 teams
www.firstlegoleague.org. For further infor-
noted for his support of student engineering gramming, mathematics, problem solving, totaling approximately 150 students and 200
mation on Maine Robotics, visit http://
projects and a high-level of respect and and project design and management. Maine adults. The day-long event will be open to
www.mainerobotics.org/ or contact Thomas
admiration from students and fellow engi- Robotics sponsors local competitions in the public spectators. According to Jeffrey
Bickford, director, at 866-4340, or
neering faculty. FIRST LEGO League (FLL), an international Wright, MMA director of admissions, the
bickford@mainerobotics.org
program for children created in a partnership program has become an annual event for the
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