Conrad Coleman and 40 Degrees launch into top ten

Conrad Colman on 40 Degrees, a Jaz 40 Class 40 designed by Owen Clarke Design at the start of the 2010 Route du Rhum

40 Degrees, an Owen Clarke Design Class 40 at the start of the 2010 Route du Rhum

NOMANDY CHANNEL RACE 2010 - DU 12 AU 23 MAI 2010 LE 16 MAI 2010 - DEPART PHOTO © JEAN-MARIE LIOT / NCR 2010

While Joerg Riechers on mare.de seems to have changed strategy, cashing in his gains and giving up his southerly position by sailing north of west today to cover the race leader Thomas Ruyant,  New Zealander Conrad Colman has been reaching fast south west from his position in the north.

In only two days the Kiwi skipper on his Owen Clarke/Clay Oliver designed 40 Degrees has moved from twenty second place place into 9th and at 13.1 kts had by far the fastest run in the fleet on this afternoon's pole. In the last position report this evening Colman had moved up to seventh, one place and twenty five miles behind mare.de.

“I have my shift and am now heading south-ish finally under spinnaker after nearly a week hard on the wind. I had an incident with my big spinnaker so the pilot is now driving over the through the waves  while I am busy down below in Mr. Fixit mode. Which brings us to the subject of autopilots.

Ever since Joshua Slocum- the first ever solo circumnavigator- swore that a manifestation steered his ship whilst he was in the throws of a deathly fever, solo sailors have tended to anthropomorphous the machines that make what we do possible. Given my current occupation, it should come as no surprise that I name my autopilots Knut, after a crew on the Kon Tiki Expedition, one of my favourite childhood stories.”

As the leaders pass through the front at different times positions and distances will change as the invisible rubber band that links them contracts and expands. Distances measured in hours at upwind speeds of nine knots expand as average fleet speeds increase to thirteen, fourteen knots and beyond. Contractions and expansions above and beyond those created by tactical decisions, damage/down time, good decsions and bad will affect positions between now and the final stages of the race.

Conrad Colman

Joerg Riechers