Édouard safe in Australia whilst Cole faces nasty storms
Text Marco Nannini
Image: Édouard De Keyser – Solarwind – @Édouard De Keyser
Édouard De Keyser’s journey in the Global Solo Challenge has been one of trials and tribulations, of patience and determination, and indeed of technical issues. With the smallest boat still in the event, after the retirement in Hobart of Dafydd Hughes on Bendigedig, we must consider that the challenge is magnified for smaller boats for which the same seas and winds are more demanding and treacherous than for bigger boats.
Initial Incident and Decision to Heave-To (14th January)
On the 14th of January, Édouard De Keyser, while located south of Australia, encountered a critical challenge. He reported to the event organizers around 1800 UTC that the starboard rudder of Solarwind was damaged, rendering him unable to sail on a port tack or use his autopilot. Complicating matters, his engine had failed a few days prior. At that time, with a decreasing NE wind of about 20 knots, he could no longer head towards Hobart 650 Nautical Miles ahead of him, his intended destination. Facing an upcoming shift in wind to the SW and an increase to 30-35 knots due to an approaching cold front, Édouard decided against sailing NW on the other tack, as the weather evolution wouldn’t allow him to reach South West Australia. He opted to heave-to, a maneuver to stop the boat under sail, to rest and prepare for the challenge ahead. Despite the apprehension caused by the lack of autopilot and strong winds, Édouard did not feel in immediate danger and requested the organizers to inform JRCC Australia as a precaution.
Change in Wind Direction and Progress (15th January)
By approximately 14:30 UTC, an anticipated cold front reached Solarwind, allowing Édouard to steer towards Australia. He set a course almost directly north, moving towards busier shipping lanes 400 miles north of him where he could seek assistance if needed. With the wind not expected to increase beyond the current 30-35 knots and set to decrease gently within 24 hours, Édouard faced, however, challenging sea conditions. The biggest problem was that the autopilot appeared to be inoperable and he would have had to alternate long periods at the helm alternated by rests whilst stopping the boat.
Route Adjustment Towards Adelaide (15th January)
Édouard contacted the organizers to report a significant development: he managed to set a course for Adelaide using his autopilot. He left the broken starboard rudder support in place, a decision that made him apprehensive about the sustainability of this setup. Sailing in about 30 knots of wind and a 3-4m swell, Édouard covered over 100 Nautical Miles since the previous day. Positioned just under 400 miles from Kangaroo Island, south of Gulf St Vincent, he was progressively getting closer to more shipping and therefore options. Adelaide was a further 100 miles from Kangaroo Island, and the route to Port Lincoln was about 450 miles from his current position.
Removal of Broken Rudder components and Improved Conditions (16th January)
Édouard successfully removed the broken starboard rudder components while maintaining the use of the autopilot. This improved the situation significantly, as the broken rudder equipment posed a risk of causing further damage to the boat. With sustained winds of 25 knots and following seas, Solarwind’s autopilot and conservative sail plan allowed for reasonable sailing at around 5-6 knots. Édouard, who had communicated via satellite phone, seemed well-rested and in good spirits, given the circumstances. The current route was set towards Kangaroo Island and Adelaide, with the final destination still dependent on weather evolution.
Approaching Port Lincoln (17th-19th January)
By the 19th of January, Édouard was 120 Nautical Miles from making landfall in Port Lincoln which was chosen as the port of arrival. After sailing in challenging conditions of 30-35 knots of wind and significant swells, he faced lighter winds, which were expected to drop completely by the 20th (Australian time). His main concern was to avoid close encounters with fishing boats and communicate effectively about his restricted maneuverability. A forecasted lull in the wind was followed by expected winds from the south and southeast, aiding his approach to Port Lincoln.
Arrival in Port Lincoln (20th-21st January)
The south-southeasterly winds arrived earlier than expected, facilitating Édouard’s progress, with less than 50 miles to Port Lincoln as the day ended in Australia. He was expected to reach Port Lincoln early on Sunday morning, local time. Coordination with local authorities was required for his clearance into the country, as Port Lincoln is not a primary port of entry.
Édouard arrived near Port Lincoln, by Boston Island, just before sunrise on the 21st of January and heaved-to stopping the boat, waiting for daylight. The launch designated to pick him up was delayed due to another operation but was on its way for a 9 am local time rendezvous. Solarwind, with one rudder and no engine, could not venture past Boston Island and was about 9-10 Nautical Miles from Port Lincoln.
Final Tow and Clearance (21st January)
In the morning, Édouard De Keyser received a tow into Port Lincoln by SES PORT LINCOLN 81, deployed by SA Water Police. He was towed to the quarantine dock and met with Australian Border force and Biosecurity officials for clearance. Appreciation was expressed for JRCC Australia, South Australian State Emergency Service and the crew of the rescue vessel, SA Water Police, Richard Goldsmith, Dave Petersen, and everyone involved in the successful resolution of this challenging situation.
Édouard’s challenges, however, do not end with the arrival in Port Lincoln. Global Solo Challenge regulations require that boats stopping set off within a timeframe that reasonably still allows them to round Cape Horn by the end of austral summer, before the weather deteriorates and significantly increases the risks associated with navigation in the South Pacific and South Atlantic. Given Édouard’s current position, which leaves him with approximately 6400 miles to sail to Cape Horn, his boat expected performance and a 20% safety margin, the calculated latest departure date for Solarwind is the 2nd of February. It’s therefore a very tight timeframe considering the boat must be repaired and made seaworthy in compliance with the regulations that each boat had to meet at the start. This does not just involve repairing the rudder, but also the engine and any other element that is not currently in compliance.
The difficulty in avoiding damage at sea whilst sailing a small boat in big oceans is certainly one of the considerations that brought leading skipper Philippe Delamare to choose a robust and bigger aluminium boat. Foregoing the speed potential of light racing boats, he decided to opt for a boat that would be able to take on big seas and big winds without having to deroute to lighter conditions even if it meant he could not surf down the majestic south Atlantic, Indian and Pacific waves.
Whilst racing boats have shown us their great capabilities, often surfing at double digit speeds and covering much greater distances on a day or week basis, so far it is Philippe’s choice that seems to have paid off. He sailed the shortest extra distance compared to the theoretical route than any other competitor and this alone is worth many days in terms of mileage as going faster alone, but sailing many extra miles, only pays off when the speed differential is such to justify the choice.
Another aspect is indeed the ability of a sturdy aluminium boat to withstand heavy weather with a somewhat lesser risk of damage. Only on one occasion in the South Atlantic Philippe has decided to briefly slow down to avoid the worst of a storm that was rapidly crossing his path, but otherwise he’s just dealt with what came his way, a rather different approach to that of many other competitors who, in order to preserve their faster but inevitably more delicate boats, have had to often opt to slow down or deroute to avoid the heaviest storms. This is certainly the number one factor that has given Philippe the advantage he has today.
In the past weeks several light displacement boats were forced to take evasive action to stay out of the worst of the weather in their path. Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna, sailing on a 50ft light displacement canting keel Open50 has weaved a route that kept him on the edge of the roaring forty depression in areas of medium intensity winds which is where his boat can express the highest speeds and does not have to endure slamming conditions on waves at high speed. Andrea’s strategy has consistently seen him as the fastest boat in the fleet rising the ranks from last to 7th with the likely imminent overtaking of David Linger on Koloa Maoli that will have to concede 6th place on the water.
In terms of expected time of arrival (ETA) rankings we are witnessing a breathtaking duel between Andrea Mura and Ronnie Simpson on Shipyard Brewing who have repeatedly traded their ETA 3rd place. Ronnie will be dealing with some complex weather and a heavy storm in his approach to the Horn and has decided to slow down with boat preservation in mind. Meanwhile, however, the Italian skipper has some light winds to clear and may face some headwinds in the coming days leaving this duel completely open to any result.
Cole Brauer in second place has had to look at the bigger picture and knows that to finish first you first must finish, in her case several storms seem to have decided to test her patience and seamanship by creating a complex scenario where sailing too fast could lead her to being stuck in between two heavy storms with potentially nowhere to run for respite. A little frustrated by the developing scenario but fully aware of the risks she would otherwise face with her 40ft light displacement racing boat, Cole and her shore team have wisely opted to draw a route that will see her rounding Cape Horn just behind the second storm, rather than attempting to squeeze between the two that are forming on her route.
This will inevitably help Philippe Delamare on Mowgli further consolidate his first place. On sailing up the South Atlantic, the french skipper encountered several complex weather scenarios that slowed him down. First a passing of a storm that Philippe decided to avoid, then a light patch where Mowgli was stuck even drifting backwards. This allowed for a very big part of his advantage to be eaten up by the brilliant young American skipper. Now the situation is somewhat reversed, with Cole unable to press on as fast as she would certainly love to do and Philippe who seems to have unlocked the path to a motorway of favourable winds which should take him past Salvador and near to Recife in Brazil.
Philippe still has to sail over 5000 miles and once past the Doldrums he may probably face several days of testing and tiring upwind conditions in the north easterly trade winds, which are not favourable on the way back to Europe, before having to negotiate the final approach to Europe which will be shaped by the belt of low pressions in the north Atlantic. It a specular situation toward Cape of Good Hope on the way down, sailing out of the trades, past the St. Helena high and towards Cape Good Hope, but the goal will be A Coruna instead.
The number of variables will be steadily decreasing for Philippe and whilst we had anticipated the South Atlantic could bring its difficulties, and it did, the remainder of the navigation focuses around the risk of equipment breakages due to boat fatigue and the timing and wind circulation from edge of the north east trade winds to the approach to the Iberian peninsula.
Riccardo Tosetto on Opbortus and Francois Gouin on Kawan3 Unicancer continue their match race for 5th place in ETA rankings mid pacific, with some areas of high pressure that can certainly shuffle cards at any time before both will need to start studying the weather charts and plan their approach to Cape Horn.
William MacBrien on Phoenix will cross the antimeridian today and join the rest of the fleet now sailing in the western hemisphere. Kevin Le Poidevin on Roaring Forty, Alessandro Tosetto on Aspra, and Louis Robein on Le Souflle de La Mer are still in the Indian Ocean. Kevin is by the Crozet Islands where Ari Kansakoski had dismasted on the 21-22 December. Alessandro is 1000 miles from Cape Leeuwin and Louis is doing his best to reach Hobart where he has scheduled to stop for some essential repairs. The weather has certainly not been favourable for Louis who’s been slowed down by a stationary high pressure in the Australian Bight which is starting to be a concern for the French skipper. He must reach, and be in a position to restart from, Hobart no later than the 11th of February for the reason already explained.
Last but not least, Pavlin Nadvorni is hard at work in Bluff Harbour, South Island, NZ, to make repairs to his mainsail track and be able start sailing again, which he plans to do before the end of January as soon as work is finished.
It was another highly complex week for sailors in the Global Solo Challenge with technical issues and complex weather taking the largest share of challenges faced by skippers. Édouard’ safe arrival in Australia was everyone’s biggest concern but all eyes are now looking and the red spirals forming in the approach to Cape Horn that will be putting to the test every skipper on their rounding of the dreaded cape, with Cole Brauer next, expected to round in approximately 4 days depending on weather developments.