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Friday September 5th 2008 News RSS
It's at 35 to 40 knots of steady wind (Force 7 to 8), with gusts at 45 knots, that Bostik, the first unit of the Veolia Oceans® one-design series for the SolOceans, has done one more test navigation with Charles Caudrelier at the helm. The bay of Quiberon was completely white with the foam and not a single boat dared to go out today in such hostiles conditions. "Down wind with the main-sail double-reefed and the jib all the time, Bostik was at 25 knots. We were constantly reaching at twenty knots. The waves sweeping the deck permanently at this speed are very dangerous and one should better take refuge inside and let the automatic pilot (NKE) manage the situation. And it does it perfectly actually" declared Charles Caudrelier once back onshore, his face covered with salt. "The new fitting out of the living area is more spacious. Everything is more accessible. It's good like that. Concerning the boom, we will try it in less extreme conditions". That's what is going to take place next Monday under the supervision of North Sails France management who will test the new sail included in the one-design (a Code 0) and who will validate for good the set of sail for the one-design series with Michel Desjoyeaux, technical consultant of the Veolia Oceans® series and Charles Caudrelier. A small to moderate breeze is forecasted for Bostik on that day.
The bay of Quiberon (Morbihan - France) on September 5th or the Roaring Forties in december? The Veolia Oceans® one-design keeps being tested with the skipper of Bostik, Charles Caudrelier at her helm, in the worst sailing condition. More than 20,000 nautical miles have been sailed so far.
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Photo Jean-Marie Liot - SailingOne