Gitana : écurie de course au large fondée par le Baron Benjamin de Rothschild

Tuesday 20 May 2008

Gitana 13 just 213 miles from Taiwan

Setting out from Qingdao late morning on Sunday 18th May - at 09h 58'19'' UT - bound for Taipei, the maxi-catamaran in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group is performing a more rapid descent towards the island of Taiwan than forecast, despite having to round a zone of high pressure. Indeed this latter zone has forced Lionel Lemonchois and his men to extend their course eastwards.

The crew of the maxi-catamaran have come out of this game of cat and mouse very well however: “We had to put in a long 100 mile tack to the east following our gybe last night, in order to hunt down a steadier breeze. Once we hit this new air, we headed south again at the edge of the zone of high pressure. Another bit of good news has come in the return of the sun, which we haven't seen for way too long” joked Lionel Lemonchois.

Positioned 213 miles from Taipei at 1415 UT, the sailors of Gitana Team will have to bend their course towards the Japanese island of Ishigaki, situated 100 miles to the east of Taiwan, before heading towards their destination. The last stretch of the course is also shaping up to be fast thanks to a freshening SE'ly breeze.