01 April 2011
Barcelona World Race 2010-2011

3 days from the finish !

D+91. During the night at 03:35 hours (UT+1), Virbac-Paprec 3 passed the Strait of Gibraltar, in the lead of the Barcelona World Race, as was the case after the start, following 90 days and 13 hours of racing, grazing the Moroccan coast to avoid the counter current.  The leaders met with extremely difficult conditions in a 40 knot wind and rough sea as they entered the Mediterranean. In 2008, Paprec-Virbac 2 went through the Pillars of Hercules after 89 days and 5 hours at sea, which is 32 hours less than this morning. Damian Foxall*, present for the radio contact at midday, talked of his memories of their passing through the Strait in the very first race. For the moment, the ETA (estimated time of arrival) in Barcelona is sometime on Monday.

How did your passage through the Strait of Gibraltar go?

LP: “It was hard-going. We are now sleeping in turn to recover at night. This is the worst time we’ve had on the boat. We’ve had a lot of wind; 40 knots, with a very strong sea. This is still the case in the Alboran Sea. Welcome to the Mediterranean; sometimes the worst of all seas. It’s beautiful to go swimming in, but not for boats with a head wind. This has been the situation for 15 days. It’s a bit long. We haven’t given her sheet since the infamous doldrums. We’ve been running close hauled since.  At the moment she’s slapping a great deal. This isn’t good for the boat, and when it’s not good for the boat, it’s not good for the sailors either. She has never suffered as much in these three last months as now. While I’m talking to you, I’m keeping an eye out the small window to make sure we don’t hit a cargo ship or two, since we’re right in the middle of the main shipping lane.”

Can you tell us about your surfing sessions along the Moroccan coast?

LP: “We grazed the Moroccan coast for a change of scenery, but mostly to protect us from the waves. This was didn’t often last long, because each time we had to go back offshore again. The start of the night was fun. We grazed Cape Espartel, the north-west headland of Morocco. I know Cape Espartel well. My father was born in Tangier. It brings back childhood memories. We used to go walking on this Cape when we were small. It’s a little like a return to your origins. It was where we went walking to go and see the ocean. Today I’m on this ocean. We passed a few metres from it, skimming the rocks in the middle of the night. It was a magnificent night.”

Damian, what do you remember about passing through the Strait of Gibraltar with JP in 2008?

Damian Foxall*: “I have been through the Strait of Gibraltar many times, but never with as much wind as with Jean-Pierre Dick during the last Barcelona World Race. After 89 days at sea, it was harder for the boat than for us. With a few small technical problems, such as the forestay damaged in the South Atlantic, we were being particularly careful about equipment, especially as we were getting close to the end. We passed into the Mediterranean without any bother. The Strait of Gibraltar is always a stressful moment. You always have to be careful with equipment. Even if you are still racing, the priority is given to preserving the boat.”

* Damien Foxall won the first Barcelona World Race together with Jean-Pierre Dick. He is the most French of the sailors from the British Isles. Damian is the sports manager for the Groupama project for the next Volvo Ocean Race.