Groupama 3 - Journal de bord

Interview from Stan Honey by Rob Grant (Latitude 38 Magazine - http://www.latitude38.com)

Hi Stan,

> Sounds like the breeze finally started cooperating the last few days. What's the outlook for the Pacific, and what are the chances you'll break Bruno's record there?

Bruno had a great run on Orange in the Pacific.  Our hope is to try to maintain the modest lead that we earned in the Indian Ocean and try to preserve it across the Pacific.  The weather is good for us for the first couple of days with nice reaching, then ok for a couple of days gybing downwind. I'm not sure about the last couple of days.  It could get complicated and windy for us depending on the timing of the movements of a Southern Ocean Low.

> How's the boat holding up?

Groupama 3 is doing great.  Everything is perfect.  She is a delightful boat to sail.  I am writing this on a rare fine day in the Southern Ocean.  It is brisk in a Southwesterly with blue sky and puffy clouds just after a clearing cold front.  We are sailing along at 30-35 knots.
As with most passages in the Southern Ocean, days like this are the exception.  Most of the sailing is done in overcast, grey, Northwesterlies.

> With all the complexity (?) in the weather, have you been getting any sleep?

I have had some tough spells to find time to sleep.  The South Atlantic was a nightmare even not sleeping, losing one thousand miles to Orange in light air.  It was also tricky at the beginning of the Indian Ocean finding a way to catch our front.  The Horn always keeps your attention, not only the approach and rounding but also the transition into the North-bound strategy for the South Atlantic.

Cheers,