SolOceans

So, change of crew onboard Bostik with the disembarkation of Erwan Lebec, the Boat Captain on behalf of SailingOne. "I suffer from dental problems and I’m in a general state of extreme tiredness" explains Erwan Lebec. "Taking into account the fact that Bostik is going to sail in very tough conditions between Cape Town and Wellington, I don’t feel fit enough to continue the journey". Erwan Lebec joined SailingOne in the last spring, during the design of the deck plan. He then followed the whole building process of the first Veolia Oceans^® one-design with first Christian Brit, then Jean-Baptiste Daramy for the preparation part. Erwan Lebec is going back to France and will take some time off to rest and come back into shape to handle the preparation of the one-designs being built at the moment at JMV Industries in Cherbourg.

"On one hand we do regret the fact that Erwan is leaving us. He has done a great job onboard and put lots of effort into preparing Bostik" said Charles Caudrelier. "On the other hand, we will be able to sail in the real conditions of the SolOceans in the Indian Ocean, as solo sailors, in turns. But we know that in case of a problem on the deck the other one is there to give a hand that helps feel in security. For the delicate maneuvers, we will be in the conditions of double-handed sailing."

"Erwan is great when at sea, he is a great sailing companion and I am really sad he is leaving the boat" said Liz Wardley "But I am also happy to be sailing "nearly" as a solo sailor in the Great South with Charles. It’s gonna be fun!"

On the way they are going to tackle the navigation between Cape Town and Wellington, Charles Caudrelier is moderate: "Before everything, Liz and I, we are going to behave as true sailors. The objective is to arrive safely without any failures in New Zealand. But we also are competitors. The Veolia Oceans^® one-design Bostik is made to plan. We will eventually encounter the famous long swell from the South and the strong leading winds that will allow us to slide at high speed. However, the actual bowsprit lacks reliability. The system will be modified on the one-design series, but for the moment we have to keep the equipment that has already caused us worries. We won’t be able to sail in the strong breeze under spi or gennaker and our average speed will be not so good as a consequence. Despite that, I think we will have more opportunities to sail with the main sail doubled-reef and the foresail than under spi and full main-sail. So we are not going to dawdle on our way! I am really impatient to discover the secret world of the Indian Ocean…"

Nevertheless, Charles Caudrelier added: "The Great South is dangerous because of the numerous storms. In fact, they are permanent. They can be big, very big. There is also the ice phenomenon you can find there which scares us. Icebergs are nearly invisibles for a sailor during a storm. When you can still see the big one from far away, the small one, the growlers are between two waters and are nearly impossible to identify. And that’s the risk! For me it’s a huge risk. Moreover it is an unpredictable risk. Whereas a storm today can be forecasted, you can sail round it and avoid it. Modern monohull such as Bostik are really good for that."

Liz Wardley replaced any anxiety by a communicative enthusiasm and a deep joy at the idea to go back to the Indian Ocean: "The Roaring Forties is a place very mythic for all sailors in the world. You always hear about it and it is always a dream to be able to get down there in sail. It is a place where it is just also waves and also winds for unstoppable surf for days and days in a time. It is a pleasure to have already been there and to go back with a boat with a planning hull it’s gonna be really fun! I’m really happy to be on board Bostik!"

Liz Wardley left the harbour with a half smile and her twinkling blue eyes adding: "Big waves mean big fun as well on surf! It should be great." Liz is ready to improve her own instantaneous speed record, Bostik’s speed record to date, just above 24 knots. Bostik’s stem should be fuming with sea spray on her journey towards Wellington!