PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday 7th June 2006

Full sail ahead,

Less than 24 hours from crossing the finishing line, Raphaëla is living her final day of solitude at sea, before meeting up again with her family and friends tomorrow evening off Reunion Island.

THE LAST GREAT MOMENTS OF AN EXCEPTIONAL ADVENTURE:
Raphaëla is well aware that she is living her last few hours of a crossing that will long remain etched in her memory. Yesterday evening, Tuesday, during the daily phone link with Race HQ in Paris (and in duplex with her team on Reunion Island), there was an emotional moment between Raphaëla and the representatives of Le Port Town Hall who are gradually getting to know this enigmatic character. The Reunion Islanders are particularly eager and mobilized to welcome Raphaëla in the way she deserves. All the associations, sports clubs and other institutions are aware that the event created by the arrival of the lady windsurfer is creating a considerable stir, and they are closely involved in this unique celebration, which should attract a large crowd.
For Raphaëla, the moment will be particularly moving since she will set foot on Reunion Island for the first time in her life, after a 60-day voyage in which every hour brought joy and pain.

A MAGNIFICENT ISLAND AND ENTHSIASTIC ISLANDERS:
The whole of Raphaëla's team has been present the last few days in this small corner of France, at the other end of the earth. We have to say that the inhabitants of the town, Le Port, are very generous and kind, and their fellow Reunion Islanders have given us a sincere, warm welcome. The island is a real jewel in the heart of this majestic, unpredictable Indian Ocean. Raphaëla, who will not be able to stay long on Reunion Island after her arrival, will return more serenely in the coming months to visit this superb island, with its many resources.

THE LAST NIGHT BUT ONE: The trade winds returned yesterday afternoon, blowing regularly and enabling the lady windsurfer to do 7 hours consecutive sailing. Having done 28 nautical miles at the end of the day, this last-night-but-one provided Raphaëla with a wonderful show: cloudless skies and the Southern Cross as a backdrop. This afternoon, the Breton lady sailor hopes to see the mountains of Reunion Island, rising to over 3000 metres high.

THE LAST DAY BUT ONE: According to her weather router, the day's forecast is winds blowing at about 20 knots, from the east-south-east, which are ideal conditions to move along and quickly approach the long-awaited island.
Tomorrow, Thursday, the wind should strengthen when she is 15 nautical miles from the coast, gusting to 30 knots, the last major difficulty, associated with a large 3-metre swell.

RAPHAELA'S TEAM
It was 6 a.m. (local time) this morning when the whole of Raphaëla's team met on the pontoon at the marina at the Pointe des Galets to embark on the "ANTISTRESS",  put at our disposal to go and meet our ocean adventuress. The aim is to ensure the safety of the lady windsurfer during this last night as she approaches the coastline, by slowly circling around her. This encounter should take place about 40 nautical miles from the official finishing line opposite the Prefecture at Saint Denis.
In the afternoon, the patrol boat "La Rieuse" will cast off its moorings at about 3 p.m., also to ensure her safety and avoid any collisions due to the increasingly heavy commercial shipping between Reunion Island and Mauritius Island.
 After her night's drifting, Raphaëla should find herself at 8 a.m. local time about 15 nautical miles or so from Saint Denis (North coast). The lady windsurfer should cross the finishing line at around 11 a.m. local time (give or take an hour) that is, 9 a.m. French time.

RACE HQ: final phone link this evening at 6 p.m. (Paris) at the Race HQQ at CAPE (Radio France) and duplex transmission with Le Port Town Hall on Reunion Island (at 8 p.m.).
 
The crossing - today's figures(8 a.m. France): 
Departure from Exmouth, AUSTRALIA on Sunday 9th April
Current crossing time: 59 days and 2 hours
Distance since the starting line: 3186 nautical miles
Number of nautical miles left to do: 75 nautical miles
Probable arrival at Reunion Island: Thursday 8th June in the morning  (depending on weather conditions)
Town of arrival on Reunion Island: Le Port (Pointe des Galets)
Finishing line (opposite the town of Saint Denis – fictitious North-South line; materialized by the patrol boat "La Rieuse" positioned north of the Prefecture).

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. The time of the link-up is 6 p.m.

To see her position on the map, click here

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.