February 28, 2019
Pixel Flyer approaches Australia
For nearly two months, the journey continues around the world of Englishman Alex Ellie. And while he is lucky: almost half the distance behind!
Recall: Ellie started on Pixel Flyer (class 40) on December 31 and is hoping to set a new world record for sailing around the world solo and non-stop for yachts that are 40 feet long or less.
Since 2013, this achievement belongs to the Chinese Guo Chuan – 137 days, 20 hours, 1 minute and 57 seconds. (In 2016, China’s most famous yachtsman disappeared while trying to set a record for crossing the Pacific Ocean).
As we already wrote, when setting the record, Guo Chuan started from the city of Qingdao in China (and, of course, finished there too). The distance, which he eventually overcame – 21,600 nautical miles – is the minimum allowable for the International Council to recognize World Sailing Speed Record Council. Ellie takes the classic route (like all those, for example, who are fighting for the Jules Verne Trophy) – with the start / finish line on the line between the French island of Ushant and the English Cape Lizard. In this case, the distance is much longer – around 27,000 nautical miles.
At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that the route chosen by Guo Chuan was much shorter, but at the same time it took much more time. This is also because the Chinese yachtsman didn’t have to rely on favorable wind conditions at a considerable part of the distance, in particular, while passing the islands of Indonesia.
But Ellie favors the wind – and throughout the entire journey (except perhaps a month ago its advancement stopped the anticyclone zone for several days). But in the Southern Ocean, Pixel Flyer certainly has no problems with the tailwind. So, three days ago, the yacht in 24 hours passed 281 nautical miles – an excellent indicator! According to the forecast all the way to Australia (and Ellie has already left Kerguelen Island behind), the weather should be, according to Ellie himself, close to ideal.
You can follow the British travel with the help of the tracker on his personal website – http://alexalley.com. The small squares along the route are notes or photographs that a racer sends on a given day or is posted by his assistants.
422 February 28, 2019 # 8827
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