Vendée Globe - Cléac’h cuts Gabart lead to 61 miles then stalls too (video)

Highlights video of the 68th day of the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe - Wednesday, January 16, 2013.

Vendee Globe live tracking

Cléac’h cuts Gabart lead to 61 miles then stalls too - Vendée Globe 2012-2013: "Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) is just 61 miles behind the leader Francois Gabart (MACIF) but the gains may have finished for now as both struggle in the doldrums. Le Cléac’h has averaged 10.6 knots over the last four hours (compared to Gabart’s 6.6), but was down to 6.3 knots over the last hour (compared to Gabart’s 7.4). But it seems likely that Le Cléac’h will be able to bank many of the 212 miles he has won back since Monday afternoon. . . .  "

The solo sailing blog: ‘I celebrated with a shave just before I tacked, the first shave of the race’ | Alex Thomson | Independent Editor's choice Blogs: " . . . Conditions are good onboard Hugo Boss today and there seems to be a little more wind than yesterday but still up and down and shifting up to 50 degrees without the aid of any squalls. During the last two nights I have had more wind than the day time and it has been more stable allowing for more night naps. This is better as it is sweltering inside the boat during the day. The route looks fairly simple up to the equator and across the doldrums. At the moment it looks like I will have an easier crossing than those in front and I will cross further west which should theoretically be easier. You can never tell with the doldrums though! . . ."

The Independent (blog)

Vendee Globe: MACIF slows approaching the Doldrums
Daily Sail
Back into the North Atlantic, Vendee Globe race leader Francois Gabart on MACIF has slowly dramatically over the last 24 hours as he approaches the Doldrums, allowing the boats behind to close. Image above courtesy of Expedition with GRIB files from ...

Daily Sail

Vendee Globe - Golding climbs the South Atlantic + Royal rendezvous
Sail World
Fifth place on the Vendée Globe was Mike Golding's for a fleeting moment on Tuesday when he eased Gamesa ahead of his long time arch-rival Jean Le Cam. But the British solo yachtsman ran out of breeze, hitting a buffer zone of high pressure which ...

Sail World

Vendee Globe: leader Gabart crosses equator
7M SPORTS
Lead skipper Francois Gabart crosses the equator while Jean Le Cam continues to hold off the challenge of Mike Golding in the Vendee Globe on Tuesday (15th January). Script: The Vendee Globe round the world race continued on Tuesday (15th January).

Boats hope for smooth sailing in Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race
Sun-Sentinel
With a forecast of east-southeast winds of 10-15 knots, the sailing in the 160-mile race should be much better than last year when the 47-boat fleet sailed directly into stiff winds at the start, then had to contend with little or no wind the rest of ...

Frostbite Sailing Series Race Day #5 Results
Bernews
Six races were sailed on Day 5 of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club's Frostbite Series 2012-2013 in the 420 Fleet on Sunday [Jan13]. Chase Cooper and his crew Ceci Wollmann finished the day in first place recording two wins, they finished with 8 ...

Coroner finds solo sailor Neil Stanley Qualtrough 'met misfortune at sea ...
The Daily Telegraph
Mr Qualtrough was a 63-year-old retiree with two adult children when he disappeared on the high seas somewhere between Hawaii and South Pacific islands after sailing solo out of Honolulu on June 6, 2007. After his wife died in 2001, Mr Qualtrough ...

'More Sailors, More Sailing' Crew Training Initiative Launched by ICRA
Afloat
#icra – The Irish Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA) rolls out a nationwide 'crew recruitment and training programme in April just over a month ahead of its national championships at Tralee Bay Sailing Club. The Initial roll out of the 'More Sailors ...

Ostego Bay receives funds from sailing club
Fort Myers Beach Observer
Proceeds from the 2012 Summerset Regatta sponsored by the Caloosahatchee Marching Chowder Society have been directed to a nonprofit environmental organization on San Carlos Island. Ostego Bay Foundation recently became the recipient of a $500 ...

Fort Myers Beach Observer

Rainer Holtorff named as the RYA Yachtmaster® of the Year 2012
BYM News (press release)
Although I have the highest German sailing qualifications I wanted to take the RYA Yachtmaster exam because it is widely acknowledged around the world and means that I can now work in places like the Caribbean. I would recommend the RYA Yachtmaster...

more sailing news below

Follow @johnthecrowd