SPORT
/ WINDSURF
Press release N°31 - tuesday 7 october 2003
RAPHAELA
LE GOUVELLO
Solitary crossing of the Pacific on windsurfboard
After
more than two months at sea
Monday evening, Raphaëla le Gouvello was launching her 62th day of
navigation on the surfboard.Tuesday August 5th was the day of departure
from Perou and seems far away. One more month to go, the most difficult
to
undergo- that weighs upon our navigator's arms as she clutches the sail.
Overall,news are good. Raphaëla is relieved that she was finally
able to
repair the handles of the door accessing to the bubble . As a proof of
her
perfect physical shape, Raphaëla notices that she has put on a little
weight: «I think I am a little fatter. This is normal, with
the heat and
weak wind, I don't spend much energy» Difficult to imagine
after more that
3200 nautical miles completedin two months.
Friday October 3, we receive the visit of Christine JANIN
at the PC. Her
good humor and experienced past as an accomplished explorator re-energize
Raphaëla. Her tranquil words tranquilize her: "take your
time and really
profit. For us as well! And very shortly you will have as companion the
beautiful moon.»
Moved by the words of the first female to have reached
the North Pole by
foot and the first French to go to the Roof of the world, Raphaëla
le
Gouvello anticipates the beautiful moments that await her: «this
is true,
the vision of the moon is fascinating. I am even thinking of navigating
by
night through the Tuamotu. The shape will be interesting.».
A nocturnal
navigation that Raphaëla had regretted not doing during her crossing
on the
Atlantic.
To encourage herself, our surfboard navigator expresses
herself in the
immensity of the ocean: «in the day, I don't have anyone to
talk to so I
sing really loud .no worries if I sing out of tune!!»
And then, as she pronounces these words with hesitation,
Raphaëla pursues
her daily task of advancing as many nautical miles as possible. The wind
has shifted and navigation is once again a difficult task. The progression
towards the West is difficult and the notion of time takes all of its
significance: «I don't have the same points of reference as
people on the
ground any longer. I feel as though I left Lima yesterday, but I am also
conscious of the distance covered and yet to be covered.»
When she feels engulfed in the middle of a great void,
our navigator thinks
about Tavae Raioaoa, the Tahitian fisheman who , in march 2002, after
a
motor failure, drifted on his small boatfor four months on the Pacific:
«When I feel really depressed, I think about him. My board is
a four star
compared to the conditions he underwent.»
She is impatient to get in touch with her route operator.
Guy Saillard says
« on the port side straight ahead, head toward 240" As she
heads towards
Tahiti and tries to avoid wind holes, Raphaëla le Gouvello pursues
the
goose barnacles removal operation.
Sunday 5 October, she returned to the warm and vicious
waters of the Pacific
waters to rid the hull of an every growing colony of goose barnacles:
«It took all my courage, I Put the suit on and did as fast as
possible.They were everywhere, huge 2cm sized ones.»
Her five senses awakened, Raphaella Le Gouvello compares
the colours and
ardors of the Ocean that has been carrying her since she departed : «the
colours are brighter, more velvety than before. Before the end of the
second third of the crossing and the arrival of the heat, it is calm again.
At the
moment the Pacific bears well its name»
She is determined to overcome this problematic situation
that that lies
between the 120° and 130° West. Raphaëla le Gouvello does
not mention her
potential imminent arrival.
Organisation whise, Guy Saillard, the man of the situation
, architect and
operations manager, arrived in Papeete last Thursday. He went to Raïtea
to
bring back the catamaran. He arrives with the boat in the port of Papeete
this morning. The whole team on board is working on different tasks: the
AVITAILLEMENT that will enable the departure to take plade next Saturday
to
go and meet Raphaela; the fabrication of a wooden cradle to install the
board once it is on ground . Everyone is excited, the weather is very
warm,
and Raphaela's arrival is anticipated on October 20.
Raphaëla is located on Tuesday 7 october
at 7h00 (Paris time)
at 10°49 South / 129°13 West.
Temperature of the sea water: 27.76° C
East wind 7 knots
Distance covered since Sunday approx 91 nautical miles
Total distance covered since LIMA : 3234 nautical miles
Duration sinceLIMA : 62 days
Distance to cover until the crossing point: 799 nautical miles
Distance to cover until Tahiti : 1256 nautical miles
News of Raphaëla le Gouvello will be communicated
Friday October 10
Follow
current events pertainting to Raphaëla Le Gouvello on her Internet
site:
(www.raphaela-legouvello.com)
Management and Administration of the Sports Event-
press :
Agence HICKORY
32, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière 75010 Paris
Project Manager:
Arnaud PARSAL-tel: 01 56 03 69 13 - email: sportsoutdoor@hickory.fr
Manager :
Anne COMBIER tel: 01 56 03 69 00 - mob: 06 07 69 23 63
email: annec@hickory.fr
Contact press TF1 :
Laurent PETIT tel : 01 41 41 29 59 - email: lpetit@tf1.fr
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