| Azores: Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables Mini Race: Isabelle Joschke takes fifth in Horta |
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| Tuesday, 08 August 2006 | |
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Anne Combier: Isabelle Joschke (Degrémont) came in fifth position at the end of first leg of the Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables Mini race. Despite a few technical problems, which she managed to overcome, she sailed to a fine finish gaining nine places between Spain and the Azores. Isabelle Joschke on Degrémont arrived in Horta (Faïal) in great form, smiling, happy and beaming. She surprised the small Mini world by conceding only three and a half hours to Adrien Hardy, the winner of this first leg. She quickly found her rhythm by closely following the strategy she had decided upon on departure, taking a North route in the Bay of Biscay, then heading towards Spain. With the 25-30 knot North-North-easterly wind, Isabelle was able to accelerate, at the same time sailing slow towards the South, at the head of the fleet, making it easier to tackle the archipelago. This is how the final hours enabled her to gain even more time on the leaders, which brought her into a better position for the end of the race. There now remains the return leg between Horta and Les Sables d'Olonne, which will start on 15 August. "I'm really pleased: I had a fantastic crossing, although it wasn't easy at first since we had to get through two fronts in the Bay of Biscay, against the wind, with squalls and a choppy sea. It was quite difficult as initiations go, but then from Cape Finisterre, we had a strong leading wind: we moved forward really quickly and it was super on the water! I was very motivated and I am especially pleased with this first leg! It is true that I will have to do some work here in Horta to repair my jib and to check out the boat's rigging, which is a little worn, not to mention finding a SSB radio (radio capable of receiving weather forecasts at sea), etc. I need to prepare Degrémont thoroughly. I think that the stress will diminish in the next few hours and I will suddenly fall fast asleep later. A few days rest will do me a lot of good…" Isabelle has deserved this rest, since she had to solve a few technical problems, the day after the start of the race: her jib tore and she had difficulties with her main automatic pilot. "My pilot wasn't working properly and my SSB radio fell in the water in the boat. This meant that I didn't have any weather forecasts. I repaired my jib straight after the front had passed. I needed the time to sew and stick. All these worries become greater when you're single-handed. Tactically, I did what I wanted to do, but I did not come across the conditions that I expected, particularly arriving off the coast of Spain. So it wasn't a very good choice. In fact, the wind really dropped at Cape Finisterre and in a group of several boats we were suddenly stuck there! I wasn't getting the weather any more, but fortunately I received news from the other competitors who relayed the forecasts. That was very nice of them! This meant that I was able to make strategic choices." This first leg of 1,270 miles between the Vendée department and the Azores, was a really quick one, since the winner sailed at an average 6.69 knots, for eight days at sea, while Andraz Mihelin, from Slovenia, sailed more than 250 miles in 24 hours! Isabelle Joschke on Degrémont, also made some incredible scores on a 6.5 metre yacht: hours and hours at the helm, at an average of more than twelve knots, which boosted her spirits after a little slackening off as she left the Bay of Biscay. "I didn't get through the first gale very well; fortunately I was not too severely punished, as I left the Bay of Biscay. After I realized that I was almost completely alone to the North, I found the fleet again, and that was reassuring. The finish in the Azores was also very tiring, because the strong wind changes meant that you had to be careful. My boat, Degrémont, does not run well when overcanvassed. So you quickly need to reduce sails. As well as that, it behaves like a submarine: It is always under water! Between the spray and the waves, with a strong adverse wind from the day after the start, and then a very strong leading wind, I was virtually swimming in it for eight hours! That was the unpleasant part: everything was soaked inside and I slept in a puddle! That did not stop me from sailing well, since I always leave aside the negative aspects. The pleasant part, was the wild surfing at the helm" Isabelle Joschke now has eight days to get her strength back and to prepare Degrémont for the second leg, which will start on Tuesday, 15 August, after the Sea festival that has been providing entertainment at the harbour since Sunday. The Minis will also take part in a friendly regatta with sailors from the Azores, on Sunday 13 August, between the Islands of Faïal and Pico. Positions on arrival of the first leg at Horta (Faïal-Azores): 1-Adrien Hardy (Brossard) in 7 days 21 hours 49 minutes 40 seconds 2-Andraz Mihelin (Adria Mobil Too) in 7d 23h 13’ 15’’, 01h 23’ 35’’ distant from the winner 3-Fabien Despres (Soitec) in 7d 23h 50’ 35’’, 02h 00’ 55’’ distant from the winner 4-David Sineau (Bretagne Lapins) in 8d 00h 25’ 42’’, 2h 36’ 02’’ distant from the winner 5-Isabelle Joschke (Degrémont ) in 8d 01h 12’ 45’’, 3h 23’ 05’’ distant from the winner 6-François Salabert (Aréas Assurances) in 8d 01h 39’ 16’’, 3h 49’ 36’’ distant from the winner 7-Kristian Hajnsek (Adria Mobil) in 8d 02h 47’ 25’’, 4h 57’ 45’’ distant from the winner 8-Nicholas Brennan (Rafiki) in 8d 03h 30’ 02’’, 5h 40’ 22’’ distant from the winner http://www.lessables-lesacores.com |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 August 2006 ) |
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