PRESS RELEASE
Friday 12th May 2006

On the 33 rd day of her crossing, Raphaëla has already covered over half the route

but is currently being held up on the Indian Ocean,
resulting in a drop in her daily average.

HEADWIND ATMOSPHERE: Since Tuesday 9 May, Raphaëla had been expecting a change in the weather conditions, the east-south-east trade winds had disappeared and been slowly replaced by a westerly wind, preventing any significant progress on her board for almost two days. On waking on Thursday morning (yesterday), the Indian Ocean windsurfer noted from her GPS that she had even gone backwards during the night, with the result that she had covered only 4 nautical miles in 24 hours, instead of the usual 60.

ZEN ATITTUDE: Raphaëla had been forewarned, several days ago, by her weather router Jean-François Bonnin, so was mentally prepared for this new situation and has adopted a "zen attitude". This positive attitude is certainly due to the past year's preparatory work with her coach, Jean Claude Ménard, says Raphaëla. This 48-hour lull can also be used by the sportswoman to take advantage of the relative calm and to rest her body and mind. During the past month or so, the lady windsurfer has been faced with a series of powerful winds, squalls and deep swells accompanied by waves and sometimes breakers, creating violent pitching. At times, the weather conditions were such that it was impossible to sail in safety. "Fortunately I was well-prepared physically so I could get through this particularly difficult period". But this situation must not last too long, since the Breton woman's patience has its limits.

FLOATING ANCHORS AS A "HANDBRAKE": During yesterday evening's phone link, Raphaëla explained that she kept sailing all day in spite of the lack of wind in order to move westwards and compensate for drifting at night in the wrong direction, and to avoid losing too much ground. In order to slow down the drifting at night, Raphaëla left her sail trailing in the water, still attached to the board. Last night, she even added extra floating anchors (a sort of parachute made of spinnaker material and attached to the board by a long rope, like an aquatic handbrake). Although, in the morning, the whole thing had tied itself into knots and loops, Raphaëla was very satisfied with her initiative since she had only drifted a little during the night.

DROP IN STATISTICS: The last two 24 hours have shown the worst daily averages, with 17 nautical miles covered between Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 May, and 4 nautical miles between the Wednesday and Thursday 11 May. So the daily average has really dropped, moving to an average of 59 nautical miles this morning, instead of the 64 nautical miles reported since the starting line. It should be pointed out that the average over 24 hours is calculated every morning at 6 a.m.(GMT) from the positions sent by the Argos beacon. This average includes daytime sailing as well as the night-time drifting necessary to complete this type of crossing. Besides, it would be unthinkable to attempt to cross the Indian Ocean in the other direction on a windsurfer or by rowing. Even sailing boats use routes further north in order to avoid battling against the trade winds.

NICE WEATHER AND A CALM SEA: The Indian Ocean is showing a completely different face with the last two days' sunshine, contrasts in the light and the deep blue colour. "A really nice day," as Raphaëla says. "There is a long swell, with small waves on the surface, and the sea is nothing like what I went through in the first month. I have done a good day's sailing, sailing full-and-by on my favourite reach, safely attached by the harness. As the wind's direction and strength kept changing all the time, I even fell into the water at one point, but nothing serious. The only thing that bothered me a bit was a brown mass that I could see far off beneath the water and I don't know what it was."

TODAY: During the night's phone link (the morning for Raphaëla), the news was good: "This morning I woke up to sunshine and a calm sea. The wind has turned south-easterly and is very slight, around 10 knots as forecast. I am going to rig the largest of the sails (7,4 m²). But I have noticed a "soft" south-westerly swell. I'm going to start the day at once and try to get in some nautical miles because, in the last two days, I feel that the end of the crossing is getting further away."

FORECAST: Raphaëla is waiting for the trade winds to return, which should set in from tomorrow Saturday 13 May, with a force of 12 to 17 knots, from the SOUTH EAST first, and then EAST-SOUTH-EAST from Monday 15 May. So, the daily averages should improve and become closer to those of the earlier averages, that is, around 60 nautical miles per day.

NEWS AT RACE HQ: Yesterday, the team from "Aide et Action" was present and came to talk to the adventuress. Claire Calosci (managing director) and Jean Jourdan (director in France) were over-awed and somewhat moved by this voice from over the seas. Raphaëla, who has not lost her sense of reality, remembered the 25th anniversary of "Aide et Action". She also asked them how their preparations were getting on for the exhibition "Regards Croisés", a photography exhibition by Barbara Rix, at Saint Lazare station from 16 to 30 June. The aim of this exhibition is to mobilise the public in favour of the cause of education for all, and it juxtaposes two types of successful careers. These are careers of famous people and of unknown individuals who have succeeded thanks to their education in general and to the support provided by "Aide et Action" in particular, for example, the young girl from Laos, Ela, who is dumb and who has become a teacher trainer for teachers of deaf and dumb children. Raphaëla and her team are proud to carry the colours of "Aide et Action".

The crossing - today's figures (8 a.m. French time):
Length of the direct route: 3300 nautical miles (6111 km)
Distance covered since departure: 1811 nautical miles (3353 km)
Distance left to cover: 1496 nautical miles
Daily average: 59 nautical miles (109km/24h)
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) near Reunion Island: around 6-7 June (depending on future weather)
Town of arrival on Reunion Island: Le Port (Pointe des Galets)

To see her position on the map, click here

Race HQ: You can come and talk to Raphaëla via her Iridium satellite telephone. A daily call is organized (from Monday to Friday). Race HQ is open to the press and the public, and is based at C.A.P.E (Foreign press reception centre), its faithful partner, inside the Maison de Radio France. France Inter has installed the technical equipment to listen to the lady windsurfer in real time, in the best possible conditions. (only in French)

To listen to today's phone call (only in French), click here

Throughout the crossing, via the teaching kit, pupils will be able to discover many topics that mark the Breton lady's voyage, by surfing on the especially dedicated website: www.respectocean.com

Photos and video images of Raphaëla le Gouvello surfing are available on request. Contact us.