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LEG 5 Salvador, Brazil to Newport, RI : THE 4,000 MILE SPRINT TO THE FINISH
Current Class 1 leader Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm on Open 60 Bobst Group-Armor Lux is psyched up for the ‘ultimate fight’, two words his closest rival Frenchman Thierry Dubois has written on the cabin wall of Solidaires. Stamm is nothing but totally focused: “The first part of the leg will be all about speed, and after the Doldrums we will have to negotiate the northern hemisphere trade winds, which can shift from south to north east. So it will be a game of finding the right compromise between course and speed. I must cross the finish line of the last leg in order to breathe a sigh relief and say to myself that it's over. There are 4000 miles, 5 different weather systems, a lot of tactics, and of course 'Boisdu' always on my tail.”
Latest Class 2 News: Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada rejoined the race at 01:52 GMT Sunday 13th April at 56 02 S 066 24 W. He reports 17 knots of wind from the North East, rain and fog and is making 7.3 knots boatspeed. He dismasted on March 7th to the east of Cape Horn and has spent 27 days rebuilding his Open 40 in order to complete Leg 4 of Around Alone.
The same applies to fellow American skipper Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal, who is trailing Van Liew by 5 points overall: “Goal Number One for this campaign has always been to finish the race. 4,000 miles is a long way to go, but the goal remains the same: to bring Everest Horizontal safely back to Newport.” This has not been achieved without a considerable amount of hard work, generous supporters and some invaluable volunteer help along the way for his unsponsored campaign. Kent and his boat are both in remarkably good shape for the off: “This is the first time that I have had more than 45 minutes sleep the night before a restart!” he remarked.
LEG 5: SPECTACULAR START FROM SALVADOR
It was Bermudian skipper Alan Paris on BTC Velocity who won the start after the gun was fired from the Brazilian minesweeper. He was immediately followed by Emma Richards on Pindar and then Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet right behind. Moments later Thierry Dubois on Solidaires rolled over the top of Ocean Planet to move into third. In a group at the committee boat end Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group - Armor lux and Kojiro Shiarishi on Spirit of yukoh were all a few seconds late for the start, but sailing at full speed. The fleet headed downwind towards a turning mark four miles away with the leaders vying for first place. At first it was Dubois who steamed into the lead, but Stamm was not to be denied and at the mark it was the all too familiar sight of Bobst Group - Armor lux at the front of the pack. Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet showed blazing speed with his narrow Tom Wylie design and followed Stamm around the mark a mere half boat-length astern. Dubois on Solidaires was third at the mark. Brad Van Liew also found himself at the front of his class and was the first Class 2 boat to round the turning mark. The fleet then sailed close-hauled along the coast to the Farol da Barra lighthouse.
REGATTA STYLE RACING AROUND BRAZIL
At the latest positions (14:00GMT), Tiscali was the boat furthest west and inshore, and Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti was calculated in first place early this morning. This is the first leg where Bianchetti has not had to race with either a totally new or spare rig after two dismastings, and so this Lombard designed Open 60 is definitely one boat to watch on this last leg – something which British skipper Emma Richards on Pindar will be doing constantly, as her goal is to keep Simone 2 points behind her to retain her 3rd place overall. Richards got off the starting blocks a little slower, but has swiftly picked up the pace since: “I had opportunity to overtake both Tiscali and Ocean Planet overnight when they tacked late after the sand bank - phew! Tiscali has sailed a lower faster course and gone ahead of me but closer to the shore, and Ocean Planet is currently sitting about 200m from me to windward.”
Literally shocking news is just in from Alan Paris as his Open 40 BTC Velocity collided with two whales as 7.5 knots boatspeed: “The boat came to an abrupt stop, I got up from the Nav station and again the boat was shaken by the whale moving away, I fell against the nav station on my ribs, but am OK. There was much blood in the water and I clearly saw 2 whales on the port side. One then followed me as BTC Velocity started moving again, but luckily did not attack the boat.” Thankfully, no visible damage has occurred, although Alan will check this thoroughly. TISCALI’S SETBACK COULD BE PINDAR’S GAIN
On the satellite phone Bianchetti sounded exhausted but determined to get the repair done: “It's not a problem at the moment with these light winds so I've decided to take advantage of this moment of calm to repair it in view of the stronger winds expected after the 20° parallel. My competitors are going faster behind me but I'm counting on getting back up to pace as soon as possible.”
TORTUROUS TWO DAYS AHEAD
After climbing 26m to the top of Tiscali’s rig no less than 11 times in the last 48 hours, Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti is not giving himself a moment of rest as he now tries to make up the lost miles and keep hold of his second place. In a satellite call, Bianchetti explained all: “The screw had come right out and under pressure from the battens the carbon fibre on the track broke above the 3rd spreader. My body is shattered – I spent over 4 hours up the mast at one time – but I haven’t slept for 24hrs, as I need to push the boat even harder and the weather here is so confusing. I can’t sail into very strong winds with this damage so I will avoid the low pressure.”
29th April 03. Class 2 leader Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America summed up how the final leg of Around Alone 2002-03 is being played out on the water when he wrote in his log today that from now on this will be: “a heck of a boat race to the finish!” The majority of the fleet has come together to the East of Bermuda, but the wind gods have thrown them all an unwelcome curve-ball as a small area of high pressure has developed to the west of the island.
30th April 03. The 28,000 mile, 8 month grand prix Around Alone race is going to reach its zenith for Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group – Armor Lux when he crosses the finish line in Newport RI in the next 24 hours. As he makes it his fifth straight time to arrive first in port, not only will he have won Leg 5 to make it four leg wins in total, but also secured the coveted victor’s place on the podium for Around Alone 2002-03. “I have left to race the equivalent mileage of how long it takes to cross Switzerland from one end to the other – 300 kilometres! I’m still in race mode, nothing has changed around me, so it’s hard to think that soon I’ll be on land. |
AsianYachting
"Unluckiest
sailor of the month" Award go to March
2003
NEWS and VIEWS
AsianYachting "Unluckiest sailor of the month" Award go to April 2003 NEWS and VIEWS
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LEG 4: LINE HONOURS TO STAMM, LEG 4 TO DUBOIS
It was a bittersweet victory for Dubois, who had led the war on the water after Stamm made his enforced stop in the Falklands for 22 hours, until yesterday morning. In Stamm’s words: “Well, normally on pure boatspeed I could not overtake Thierry, but he made one error by going inshore the last two days, so he lost the wind.” Thwarted of taking line honors, Dubois does however take victory in the leg because Stamm will be given a 48-hour penalty for his stop to repair the broken keelboard. Moreover, the steady and somewhat cautious Dubois did arrive with his boat in pristine condition, which will give him an advantage over Stamm, who has had to call in extra shore crew to fix up the boat for the final leg.
LEG 4: BIANCHETTI BANKS FIRST PODIUM POSITION
When asked if the fact that he missed finishing within Bernard Stamm's 48 hour penalty time by 30 hours, Bianchetti was in fact relieved: "I am so happy to make this podium but also to do this properly; I really didn't want to come second because of a friend who has a penalty, that's not my spirit." This result also shows that Bianchetti is a sailor with a long term vision, as he went on to explain: "The goal was to bring my boat through the Southern Ocean in perfect condition, and I was 'speaking' to the new mast all the time. After Cape Horn everything was good so then I say 'go'! I have come a long way since the dismasting in Leg 2, and now I am going to begin the next leg fighting for the overall podium."
In Van Liew’s final log of Leg 4 he summed up the experience of racing Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America one third of the way around the world to another class win: “Merely surviving is an achievement, getting to the destination is rewarding and winning the leg is icing on the cake that has me buzzing internally.”
TIM KENT TAKES 2nd PLACE FOR THE THIRD TIME
“Cape Horn was everything I thought it was going to be, Kent recalled. “We summited Everest. These are hallowed waters. Countless wrecks lie on the bottom here, and countless lives have been lost trying to get around this windswept point of land. I feel honoured to have been there, to have seen this storied point and move on. I am incredibly lucky to be on a boat this safe, and on an adventure this grand.” His leg was dogged with the usual problems that an unsponsored first time campaign goes through, the most potentially fatal one being when his forestay broke with the notorious headwinds and shorter seas of the South Atlantic still ahead of him. However, Kent’s response is that compared to the dismasting that his good friend and rival Derek Hatfield experienced, his life has not been that troubled.
This was the first time Kojiro and Spirit of yukoh have finished on the podium and the pleasure was obvious on the skipper’s face. His boat has performed impressively in the Southern Ocean, tailing Tim Kent on the bigger Open 50 Everest Horizontal most of the way round. Koji may not speak much English, but he is one of those rare individuals whose rich body language tells a thousand stories. The passage from Tauranga, New Zealand had been relatively trouble-free for the Japanese skipper in comparison to the two 40 footers behind him, which bore the brunt of the worst conditions around Cape Horn. “The Southern Ocean was very good to me this time. Big high pressure made the sailing really nice. No storms. The last time I rounded Cape Horn I was 90 miles to the south and of course never saw a thing. This time it was very nice to see.” |
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Soon enough Pindar, Solidaires and Hexagon overshadowed and then rolled the smaller Open 40, but it was a sweet moment for Hatfield who has been the first to cross the start line each time. Canadian John Dennis on Open 50 Bayer Ascensia, and Italian Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali were early for the start, and both yachts had to recross the line.
As the fleet sailed into the haze it was Bobst Group - Armor Lux leading Solidaires with Hexagon and Ocean Planet close behind. Emma Richards had started with two reefs in her mainsail, which left her underpowered, but once she threw the reefs out the boat picked up speed and Richards was slowly gaining on the leaders. Only Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali was struggling to keep up. After restarting, Bianchetti got caught close inshore and had to tack to clear a headland.
Only Everest Horizontal remained at the dock, unable to complete vital rigging adjustments in time. American skipper Tim Kent estimates that he will be away before nightfall this evening. WEATHER
FORECAST & ROUTE – by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
 Weather supplied by Raymarine The Around Alone yachts are now heading out into the Roaring Forties of the Southern Ocean. As the boats leave Cape Town the winds are moderate. There is a depression well South to the West of the Cape travelling Eastwards. In 4 days time it will be centered East of the Cape. This will give good Westerly winds to the fleet at 40 degrees South for a while. It will be up to the sailors to decide how far South they go, and therefore how strong they want the winds to be. Their
route from Cape Point is up to them, but they must leave Heard Island,
about 53 South, and South of the French islands of Kerguelen, to their
South. From there they will trend North towards a wayline along 46
south and between 105 and 120 degrees east. They must, at some point,
pass north of this line as it brings them within range of the Australian
Search And Resue services. From there they leave Tasmania to their North
and then Cape Reinga, the Northern point of New Zealand to their
South before turning South to Tauranga on New Zealand’s East coast.
 Track
the Around Alone fleet with Raytech Navigator 4.1 – go to www.aroundalone.com
positions page and follow the link at the top of the chart.Overall
Points, Around Alone 2002-03:
Class
1
Boat Name
Total points Position overall
Bobst
Group -
Armor Lux
20
1
Solidaires 18 2 Pindar 15 3 Hexagon 11 4 Ocean Planet 11 4 Tiscali 11 4 Garnier 8 7 Class
2
Boat Name
Total points Position overall
 Tommy
Hilfiger
Freedom America
20 1
Everest Horizontal
17
2
Spirit of Canada
17
2
Spirit of yukoh
13
4
Bayer Ascencia
13
4
BTC Velocity
10
5
Return to AsianYachting News and Views |
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16th December 2002
While Derek and Bruce ready for the big winds, the leaders are already enjoying fast sailing. Thierry Dubois on Solidaires and Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group Armor lux were averaging 15 and 16 knots respectively. They are being propelled by a stiff northwesterly wind blowing at 25-30 knots. For now Dubois?s move to the east seems to be paying off. Stamm has gybed over to consolidate with the French sailor, and if he holds his course will pass astern of Solidaires. My guess is that he will gybe in the next few hours and head deeper south where more wind is forecast. This move by Thierry Dubois is exactly the same as one taken by Mike Garside in the Around Alone four years ago. Garside was sailing Magellan Alpha (now Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America) and was trailing the fleet out of Cape Town. He decided that the weather would allow him to sail across the Agulhas bank south of South Africa, and so he took the chance. "I was trailing out of Cape Town and decided that the wind would let me cut across the banks south of Cape Agulhas, so I went for it," he wrote. "It was a hell of a fast, hairy ride in fog with loads of fishing boat all over the place, but it paid off and I opened up a good lead over the whole fleet - including the 60's - which I held for 2 days. Boy was I flying! My blood was up and that was the occasion when I held over 30 knots for 30 plus minutes." |
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LEG 3: RELENTLESS CONDITIONS KNOCK AROUND ALONE FLEET NEAR KERGUELENS  22nd December:
The Southern Ocean is dishing up its usual dose of difficult
conditions and they are taking their toll on the 12 strong Around Alone
fleet after 8 days of racing from Cape Town, South Africa on their way
to Tauranga, NZL. Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group-Armor Lux
and Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America lead their respective
classes as they track East towards the Kerguelen Islands in 25 –
30 knots of South Westerly blow. Christmas may be round
the corner but the strong winds and cross seas continue to lash the yachts
and have now taken their first casualty. John Dennis, Canadian skipper
of Open 50 Bayer Ascensia, announced this morning that he
was turning back for Cape Town. "I have diverted and I am now heading
to Cape Town as the bearings on the shaft for the alternator and ballast
pump have ceased," he wrote in a brief email to Race HQ. "I feel that
it is unsafe to proceed if I am not able to charge batteries or pump water
ballast. Once I get to port I will decide then what the best course of
action might be." Race rules require the yachts to be sailed between
each port for the competitor to remain an official entrant.
Early this morning Tim
Kent on Everest Horizontal reported in to have lost power
from all his batteries and to be unable to start the engine: "That means
I will have no electrical power. I will see if solar panels can provide
enough power to start engine once daylight arrives." Without any means
of charging his batteries Kent would be forced to stop to make repairs.
A few long hours passed until a second email came through. “The
motor is running and I have electricity again. If I had not installed
those solar panels in Brixham it would be another story altogether."
 The
rest of the fleet are undergoing a formidable baptism by the Southern
Ocean rollers as a frontal passage rolls over the fleet and they are hit
by a residual wave train from the South West. "It’s rather scary
right now," wrote Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet. "Wind gusts
to 45 knots. Speed sometimes steady at 20 knots. Howl of keel is deafening.
Consequences of wipeout nerve-wracking." Fortunately the wind is from
behind and Bruce feels that these conditions are where Ocean Planet
shines. “With the unstayed rig, I have up the main alone, 3rd reefed
with the mast rotated and the sheet way out...no shrouds in the way! I
can sail a very low course at high speed and in great control.”Schwab is currently ahead
of Italian Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali and
50 miles from 4th placed British skipper Emma Richards on Pindar,
averaging a fraction of a knot faster in the last 8 hours. Interestingly
he is the furthest North in Class 1 at 42 degrees latitude, happy to stay
where the wind blows and his boat is on the best sailing angle, whereas
leader Stamm is heading up to the Kerguelens from the bottom forties sailing
towards North Westerlies as he goes over the top of the low pressure to
the South.
Alan Paris’s report
from BTC Velocity was even more to the point. "Two knockdowns
to 90 degrees in the past 3 hours as wind dies to 30 knots from 40 yet
sea state is way up !! All OK just a little messy." At the same time,
this is adrenalin junkie stuff, and Paris managed to surf at a top speed
of 22.1 knots on his little 40 footer: “front third of the boat
out of the water and two large spumes of water rising 5 feet off either
side of the mast. Awesome stuff!”
Several skippers are also
learning what happens if you don’t tie down absolutely everything
in the cabin: Schwab reported that: “on one spin out about half
of my food containers flipped over dumping their contents all over.
It took a while to repack all that (this time the lids are locked!).”
Japanese skipper Kojiro Shiraishi on Spirit of yukoh
described one knockdown: “At three in the morning, suddenly I experienced
the terrible blow of a gigantic wave and we turned over. Completely pushed
over sideways!!! Causing unfixed kitchen things to fall down on me. The
chart table also got wet because of gully water. The Southern Ocean baptized
me already!!”
The strong winds are forecast
to moderate in the next 24 hours, and the next front is quite far to the
west. This should allow the yachts time to regroup and to sort out the
mess on board. We will keep you posted on John Dennis’s situation
and bring you any important news as it happens.
Track the Around Alone
fleet with Raytech Navigator 4.1 – go to www.aroundalone.com
positions page and follow the link at the top of the chart.
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LEG 3: JOHN DENNIS ON BAYER ASCENSIA RETIRES FROM AROUND ALONE
The next email from John confirmed his course of action: "It is with great regret and enormous disappointment that I announce my retirement from the race. From the start I've experienced equipment issues, and it's now too late for repairs to get to New Zealand safely and in time for the next leg. I want to thank Bayer Diagnostics for all their support and sponsorship, and Grant International and other supporters for their help and encouragement. I have tried hard to complete this voyage. I am personally defeated, devastated, and disappointed also for my sponsor. To my wife Penny and children Stephanie and Frank I love you and treasure you and I am so sorry for the hardship I have caused you. To all those following me, I am sorry too. My diabetes did not defeat me -- diabetics can compete." Race
Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
said in a brief statement: "We are very sad to hear John's news. He has
been a great competitor and his compassion will be missed. Race rules
state that a competitor must sail to the next port in order to remain
officially in the race. If John were to restart from Cape Town he would
be trailing the fleet by thousands of miles and many days, and therefore
would have no realistic safety cover in the Southern Ocean. He would also
unlikely make it to New Zealand in time for the next leg. Retiring from
a race like Around Alone, the longest competition for an individual
in any sport, takes a certain courage and we commend him for
making a tough decision."
Every skipper who starts
Around Alone is a winner considering that half the battle is making the
start line in the first place. It was literally hours before the final
entry deadline when John signed up his sponsor, Bayer Diagnostics, and
became an official entrant in the Around Alone on his Open 50 named 'Bayer
Ascensia'. His message was compelling: To raise awareness for diabetes
worldwide and to inspire other people with diabetes to actively self-manage
their condition and to live a full life. The slogan on his hull said it
all: "Your Life. Your Way." John spent much time in each port talking
to school and hospitals groups, and everyone who passed his boat always
left with a lasting impression of a dedicated sailor. On the race course
he came a creditable 4th in Leg 1, and in Leg 2 he finished just 20 minutes
behind Alan Paris on BTC Velocity on the water in 6th place, but was reinstated
to 5th position after penalties. He was lying joint 4th with
Spirit of yukoh in Class 2 overall rankings after two legs.
Bayer Diagnostics released
the following: "We salute John Dennis, his dream, and the epoch journey
we were fortunate enough to embark upon with him over the past six months.
John came to us with his life-long dream, to participate in a single-handed
global sail, and he wasn't going to let his diabetes limit him.
And it was that determination that made Bayer decide to sponsor John as
skipper of the Bayer Ascensia. Ascensia means to "ascend and achieve,"
and in John's case, it's been just that - a journey of achievement and
effort. John's sheer participation in this race - becoming the first
person with diabetes to set records for both crossing the Atlantic and
finishing the Cape Town leg - speaks volumes to the mental and physical
obstacles he had to overcome and ultimately the winning attitude that
got him here today. We're honored to be associated with John for
not only making history, but for serving as an inspiration to people with
diabetes worldwide about what can be achieved through active self-management."
John will arrive in Cape
Town late on Christmas Eve and berth
at the Royal Cape Yacht Club, where he'll spend the holiday with
close friends, conducting necessary repairs. Ongoing conversations
ensue with Around Alone as to his further role as an honorary race participant,
continuing to communicate the importance of diabetes self-management.
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LEG 3: HIGHS AND LOWS OF SOUTHERN OCEAN RACING 30th
December:
A total of 2,130 nm separates first from last boat in the Around Alone
race deep in the heart of the Southern Ocean, where currently 11 skippers
and their Open class yachts are located between the Kerguelens and Southern
Australia. One by one the front boats are passing the virtual waypoint
at 46N and of course the second of the three ‘Great Capes’
in their solo circumnavigation – Cape Leeuwin.
 With
still 1,000 miles to go until they pass Tasmania to their North on their
way to Tauranga, New Zealand, there is a low pressure system passing over.
Current leader of Class 1 Bernard Stamm has anticipated this and has plunged
Bobst Group-Armor Lux back to 47S latitude in the last day:
“I am a few degrees further South than Thierry, he is closing in
with the low pressure and there is a risk that the gap will get much shorter
as the system catches us up.” For now Stamm is the slowest
boat, currently making only 10 knots, whereas Hexagon, Pindar
and Tiscali have all been averaging a blistering 17 knots
boatspeed in perfect reaching conditions with the 20 knot South Westerlies
on the other side of the system. This makes for a stark contrast from yesterday’s racing, where skippers
were complaining of a lack of good stable following winds. In a satellite
telephone call yesterday, Simone Bianchetti voiced his frustration: "It
is tiring being this far South as it is really so cold trying to work
on deck, when I change sails the waves washing over the deck are freezing
and everything is so heavy. I haven't slept for 36 hours as last night
the winds were still variable and I had to work on deck so much. Emma
and I have been in a high pressure cell, waiting for the low to come.”
 So everyone
is happy today, as Emma expressed what it is that really makes solo sailors
tick – speed: “Having had a slow 8 hours with 10 knots of
wind last position report, I have made up for it with one of the fastest
and best fun 8hrs sailing I've had. Often 20 plus knots of boatspeed with
the inevitable loll in the troughs after a good surf, I think I have still
managed an average boatspeed of nearly 17kts! In this very wet surfing
weather, the whole time I am on deck is a bit like a firehose right on
you and there is nowhere in my cockpit I can get away from this!”
The British sailor admitted she was making her tea single-handed now as
she holds on for dear life.Even Stamm admitted that “the last two days were hellish –
upwind sailing in very confused seas, constant sail changes, clinging
on for dear life as the boat gets flattened on her side or bangs into
each wave incessantly. Now I am back racing downwind I am happy.”
On the other hand, his closest rival, Thierry Dubois, expressed his boredom
when the wind dies down to below 20 knots and there is nothing much to
do. Relief and excitement are relative terms down South.
Just behind Simone and Emma is Bruce Schwab aboard the very unique Ocean
Planet with her unstayed rig. The American has been staying to
the North but clocking some good boatspeeds and is converging with the
boats in front. “We will be getting faster and faster as this race
goes on, just watch. We have been hauling in the last few days and have
made the most of our north position for a better angle to get back in
the game.”
 In Class
2, the ‘surfin’ safari’ is on for leader Brad Van Liew
on Open 50 Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America as he clocks 16
knots boatspeed in the fast-flowing Westerlies riding the top of the low
pressure system. These smaller boats are finally able to show how fast
they can go in optimum sailing conditions. Open 50 Everest Horizontal,
skippered by American Tim Kent is proving to be very quick. Having started
the morning after the race got underway, he is now back in second place,
furiously fighting for position with the speedy Open 40’s Spirit
of Canada and Spirit of yukoh just in his wake.
The racing here is much closer and these skippers will be experiencing
the Southern Ocean in widescreen as they race on smaller yachts through
the big seas and breeze.For the AA positions page go to www.aroundalone.com and follow the link at the top of the chart. 3rd January 2003 - Emma's Mainsail rips in 2 on Pindar
Emma has shown her true grit and determination in getting straight to work on her 165 square foot mainsail with a needle and thread; and hopes to be racing again within 36 hours. Speaking from on board at 09:30 am GMT this morning, Emma Richards commented: "It could be worse, I think! There was a huge tearing sound and my mainsail is now in two bits. I was safe and sound, however my initial reaction was that my round the world dream was over. But then my resourceful side kicked in and I am now into about my 8th hour of repair - lining up, sticking, sewing, undoing, redoing. I know that I won't be able to push the boat very hard after I have made the repair, and there is no guarantee that it won't just break again, but I have to try something. I'm afraid it's going to be a long job sitting on the boom resembling a bucking bronco with an attitude. I just hope I can do a good enough job to start getting involved in the race again. I am now wishing that I had been a sailmaker in a previous life, but I have to admit that this is doubtful, as needlework never was my forte!" |
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DALTON TAKES PODIUM PLACE IN THIRD LEG OF ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
Crossing the line in third position, Dalton collected eight points on this 7,125 nautical mile leg from Cape Town, South Africa in a total elapsed time of 30 days, 18 hours, 38 minutes and 18 seconds. The final week of this race was a battle of wills and skill between Dalton and Italian Skipper Simone Bianchetti on board the yacht Tiscali. In the small hours of yesterday morning, Dalton sailed through the edge of the America's Cup sailing ground in the Hauraki Gulf, passing inside Great Barrier Island, a tactical move unprecedented by any of his fellow competitors.
"A combination of intuition,
skill and a little bit of luck has been crucial for me on this leg of
the race. My communications systems were down for most of this leg, which
meant that I lacked the up to the minute weather data that plays such
an important part in competitive yacht racing. Despite this, it has been
my most successful leg so far and this is down to excellent preparation
by the team in Cape Town." Class 2 - And Brad Van Liew again
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Oct 20th 03.50 GMT, Simone Bianchetti skipper of the Italian Open 60 Tiscali informed his shore-team that he had dismasted. After a forced three day stopover in Brest to fix the auto-piloting systems and repair some hull damge Bianchetti restarted the race only to be dismasted. Oct 22 After 2 days surviving the storm Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group/Armor lux came out with a considerable lead of 144nm over Emma Richards on Pindar and 198nm over Thierry Dubois on Solidaires. These three sailors, along with Graham Dalton on Hexagon, have survived the great storm and now their mode of racing will change from survival sailing to tactical racing. Racing again, after up to 5 days laid up in Port
While all the Class 2 yachts are now back at sea, two Class 1 boats remain in port. The rest were close behind. Bruce Schwab, skipper of Ocean Planet has decided to leave on Thursday rather than today in order to carry out some final work on his boat. The other yacht not racing is Tiscali. Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti remains in Spain while he and his team try and figure out how to get a replacement mast. Return to AsianYachting News and Views AsianYachting
"Unluckiest sailor of the
month" Award
Race Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston responded to the news: “ We are desperately sorry to hear of Tiscali's dismasting. Simone is a tough and experienced sailor and this will be a great frustration to him. We hope he can clear the mess of mast and rigging from the boat and be able to make a safe port quickly. Since Around Alone is scored on a points system and not elapsed time, Simone could only earn minimum points for this leg if he is able to find a replacement mast and rejoin the race, and this would give him 3 more legs to catch up and show us his metal.”
The only way forward for these boats given the location of the high pressure system over Cape Town is to duck under the system to benefit from favourable NW to Westerly 20 knot winds, as going over the top would only give them adverse headwinds. This means heading South towards 40 degrees latitude, the gateway to the Southern Ocean seas. Looking at his track, Stamm is on course for another high speed passage as he is estimating his arrival for the 13th or 14th November into Cape Town, which would come out at around 31 days in total after setting out on 14th October from Torbay, England.
Class 2 is enjoying really close racing, as the positions show. Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal is in a buoyant mood today after taking the plunge to head West, as he is now back into 3rd place behind Canadian, Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada. The class 2 skippers in the grip of the Doldrums had rather different reactions to its unpredictable effects. After another 30 knot squall, Hatfield's "only regret was that I didn't have any time to grab the soap and take a proper shower, something I could do with right about now."
And finally? it seems to be the fashion for boats on long distance solo races to 'bump into each other'. Two sightings in the last 2 days have bizarrely occurred. Thierry Dubois actually sailed into view of Pindar whilst Emma was aloft, but seeing no one on deck, nor getting any response to his call over VHF, he sailed off alone again, baffled that he had the "amazing fortune to come across the most charming creature in the Atlantic" but that she was not 'at home'. Only after Emma sent him a message when he was long gone did he realise that she had been up the mast the whole time. Secondly, Bermudian Alan Paris actually sent a picture to the website of Bayer Ascensia sailing alongside him, amazed "that in this large expanse of ocean 2 boats can meet at almost the same point."
Since 23rd October, the boat has been moored at the Spanish Naval base 15 miles North East of the commercial port of La Coruna, following her dismasting during the race. Tiscali is able to set off once more on the race after the replacement of her mast with one made available by competitor and current leader Bernard Stamm, skipper of the Open 60 Bobst Group - Armor Lux, which was transported to Spain on the Hatherleigh trawler owned by Pindar, sponsors of Emma Richards. The boat has a suit of sails entirely customized to the new rig. Rain, with 25-30 knots of wind from the WSW heralded the boat's departure. SECOND SWEET VICTORY FOR STAMM 13th
November He was greeted by the crowds and a horde of local media at the docks of the V&A Waterfront after stepping off his boat, and Richard Turner from Champagne Mumm gave Stamm his well deserved Magnum. In a short press conference Stamm, understated as always, said in his simple English: "It was a pretty windy start to the leg with that big low pressure, but I managed to put some distance between myself and Thierry & Emma then. It is tricky to get to Cape Town with the high pressure blocking the way, but now I have arrived I am so happy to be here!" When asked about what it was like to climb his mast just two days before his arrival, he replied: "You look up and you say to yourself 'I can't do it!' but then you tell yourself the only way to win the leg is to go up the mast, so you climb. But when you are up there at the top, you look down and say 'I can't get down!'" Stamm now has a month to enjoy the pleasures of Cape Town, which he has never visited before now. Stamm's closest rival, veteran circumnavigator Thierry Dubois on Solidaires was at 0600hrs this morning 118nm behind Stamm steaming in to Cape Town at an average speed of 16 knots for the last 8 hours. Dubois is controlling his lead over third placed British skipper, Emma Richards on Pindar and lies 91 miles ahead of her. Pindar is reaching at 10 knots in 'awkward' seas, and Emma is "hanging in there!" as she put it this morning: "Saw the first signs of the coast last night, a huge container ship, passed within a couple of miles. Lucky I had taped on my emergency nav lights to the bow in the evening. My mast head ones and strobe light were blown off in the big storm the first week, I could only see they were gone when I went up the mast last week, and the bow ones finally gave up during the night before last! definitely time to arrive. I just got the position reports in which is very disappointing, but I believe in miracles so I'm off to help make them happen!"
Results
: Leg Two (Torbay to Cape Town)
Class
1
Boat
Name Elapsed Time / Corrected Time after penalties
Pts
1. Bobst Group-Armor Lux
29d 22h 59m 45s / 29d 22h 59m 45s 10
2. Solidaires
30d 08h 42m 55s / 30d 08h 42m 55s
9
3. Pindar 30d 16h
27m 13s / 30d 18h 27m 13s 8
4. Hexagon 31d 15h 54m
12s / 32d 01h 54m 12s
7
5. *Ocean Planet
48d 16h 15m 16s / 49d 02h 15m 16s 6
6. **Tiscali 61d
04h 58m 59s / 62d 04h 58m 59s 5
* = Ocean Planet
received a time penalty of 48 hrs for stop in Bayona (inc. in Elapsed
Time)
** = Tiscali received
two time penalties of 48 hrs each for two stops (inc. in Elapsed Time)
***Class II
Tommy Hilfiger
46d 02h 48m 13s / 46d 02h 48m 13s
10
Freedom America
Everest Horizontal
50d 04h 37m 35s / 50d 12h 37m 35s
9
Spirit of Canada
50d 15h 25m 40s / 50d 17h 25m 40s 8
Spirit of yukoh
51d 09h 05m 51s / 51d 09h 05m 51s 7
Bayer Ascencia
57d 00h 22m 36s / 57d 02h 22m 36s 6
BTC Velocity
56d 23h 59m 24s / 57d 21h 59m 24s 5
***All
boats in Class II received a time penalty of 48hrs for stop in Bayona/La
Coruna (inc. in Elapsed Time)
Penalties were added
for non-reporting under clause 25.1 of the sailing instructions.
These penalties are added to the elapsed time to create corrected time.
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Torbay, England 26 Sept 02. Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm has won Leg 1 of the 2002 Around Alone. Sailing his Pierre Roland Open 60 Bobst Group - Armor Lux, Stamm crossed the finish line off the Berry Head Hotel in Torbay harbour at 15:33:38 local time (14:33:38 UTC). Throwing his arms into the air and smiling broadly Stamm looked tired but jubilant as he waved at the crowds assembled on the docks to welcome him. It has been a fast crossing for Stamm who earlier set a new transatlantic solo record unofficial time of 10 d 10 hr 55 m and 19 secs when he passed Lizard Point off the southwest coast of England. Stam also holds the crewed transatlantic record on the same boat, which interesting enough is 38 hours less at 8 d 20 hrs and 55 minutes "I am very excited to hold a new record and to win this first leg of the Around Alone race. I have been preparing my boat for the last year and the hard work has paid off," he said. Stamm must be especially happy to be in Torbay having lost power two days ago forcing him to hand steer for the remainder of the trip. This establishes a new solo monohull transatlantic record and will become a benchmark record for all future solo monohull Atlantic crossings. WSSR Website: http://www.sailspeedrecords.com
Return to AsianYachting News and Views |
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With the tall buildings of lower Manhattan as a backdrop and a moderate 10 to 15 knot southerly wind blowing, the 13 yachts set off for their 28,000 mile voyage around the world. It was an amazing sight, the yachts looking like giant butterflies as they floated across the harbor towards the King’s Pointer Military Training Ship, which was the starting boat on the other end of the line from ‘Ground Zero’. Just as the start gun was fired from Battery Park by Deputy Mayor of NYC Daniel L. Doctoroff, the smallest boat in the fleet, 40ft BTC Velocity, helmed by Bermuda’s Alan Paris, scooted across the line clearly ahead of the fleet. It must have been a sweet moment for Alan whose dream has always been to sail around the world by himself. He was soon overtaken by the larger Open 60 yachts as they powered away from Ground Zero towards the Verazanno Narrows bridge and beyond into the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Times are being taken at the Ambrose light – veteran French circumnavigator Thierry Dubois was confident earlier in the day that this first leg of Around Alone could be record-breaking conditions. Around Alone 2002-03 takes the fleet from New York to Torbay (England), then Cape Town (South Africa), Tauranga (New Zealand) and Salvador de Bahia (Brasil), before returning to Newport in April 2003. The official entry list of competitors consists of 13 competitors from 10 different nationalities; 7 in Class I and 6 in Class II. Visit the official web site: http://www.aroundalone.com Return to AsianYachting News and Views |
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Philippe Jeantot twice Class I winner of the former BOC Challenge in 1982 and 86, now relabelled the Around Alone reached hero status as the fastest single handed sailor around during the eighties has added these words of wisdom for the 13 competitors on the eve of starting Leg 1 from New York to Torbay in the UK on Sept 15.
This race is considered one of the toughest and physically demanding feats a human can endure. "The first hurdles of getting over the initial disappointment of breaking gear, losing time, damage control and choosing to continue on to the finish despite these problems are by far the toughest decisions which in the long run are the most rewarding" added Jeantot. Christophe Auguin got it right when he won the 1992 BOC when he said "This sport is 40% good team and good skipper, 40% good boat and 20% luck". Philippe added that only when you have all these in place do you have a chance and agreed with Brad Van Liew's biggest concern that luck comes in the form of situations you don't have control over like hitting a container or whacking a iceberg while you are trying to push the boat along at 20 knots all the time. Philippe and his family have
asked AsainYachting to convey onto competitors of
the 6th edition of Around Alone there best wishes, good racing, safe
sailing and most of all Bon Voyage! Return to AsianYachting News and Views |
Salvador,
Brazil – 13th April 03. After 24,000 miles of solo
ocean racing around the globe, only two points and a matter of 10 hours
and 50 minutes on elapsed time separates the leading two contenders
for overall Class 1 victory in Around Alone 2002-03 before the
restart of the fifth and final 4,000 mile leg from Salvador da Bahia,
Brazil to Newport, RI. 
The
other fight in Class 1 is for overall 3rd place, currently
held by British skipper Emma Richards on Pindar, who could become the
first woman to be on the podium in the 20 year history of Around Alone
if she plays her cards right. However, Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti
on the powerful Lombard designed Tiscali, can still topple Richards
if he can beat her by 2 points in this last leg - despite his dismasting
on Leg 2. Neither skipper is taking the final leg lightly: “The wild card
is Bruce Schwab,” Emma commented. “Simone and I both know that Ocean
Planet holds an advantage over the beamier boats if we get moderate
upwind conditions.” Bruce Schwab is indeed looking forward to finishing
the Around Alone on a high point with his slim Tom Wylie designed boat.
“I am confident that I can finish in the top three of this last leg.”
In
Class 2, current overall leader, American skipper Brad Van Liew
on Open 50 Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, heads into the last
leg as the only skipper in this fleet with 4 straight wins and maximum
40 points under his belt. Van Liew will be aiming to consolidate his consecutive
victories – a run which has only been matched by Class 2 winner Yves Dupasquier,
who won all four legs in the 1991 BOC Challenge. With an average boatspeed
of 8.54 knots on the racecourse so far, Van Liew has also surpassed his
boat’s previous performance in Around Alone 4 years ago, when she was
skippered by Mike Garside to 2nd place overall with an average
boatspeed of 7.63 knots.
However,
Van Liew does not claim that the final leg will be plain sailing: “The
last 1,000 miles will be the most tactical. As I pass Bermuda my strategy
must be decisive. There is Cape Hatteras to pass and the weather could
easily be unpredictable and nasty.” After suffering a dismasting on the
final leg of the Around Alone four years ago the American skipper knows
better than most that anything can happen.
Japanese
skipper Kojiro Shiraishi on Open 40 Spirit of yukoh could spring
a surprise on his big brothers in Class 2 as in each leg of Around Alone
he has been climbing up the rankings to finally score 3rd place
in Leg 4. Without the unstoppable Canadian skipper Derek Hatfield on Spirit
of Canada physically racing with the class, Koji will be biting at
the heels of the 50 footers - especially now he has natural energy
strips fixed on the hull and in the mainsail to dispel any opposing forces
in the elements. Bermudian skipper Alan Paris on Open 40 BTC Velocity
is looking forward to achieving his solo circumnavigation, which has been
a smoother ride than most for the skipper who has spent so far a total
of 174 days at sea. “I don’t have shore crew, but have never had anything
huge to fix each time I finish a leg. I guess I owe my organisational
skills on the boat to more to 18 years as a hotel manager – it’s enough
training for anyone!”
Salvador,
Brazil – 13th April 03.
With
fireworks marking the occasion, Bernard Stamm sailed through the final
gateway of the inshore course with a good 8 boat length lead over Solidaires,
but the real story was the blazing hot performance turned in by Bruce
Schwab on Ocean Planet who was just behind Solidaires as they passed
through the gate. Not long after all the Class 1 boats rounded, Brad Van
Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America rounded the turning mark
off the Farol da Barra lighthouse and he too headed out to sea, followed
by Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal and Kojiro Shiarishi on Spirit
of yukoh.
Salvador,
Brazil – 14th April 03. The first 24 hours of Around
Alone’s fifth and final leg has been more of a regatta than a long distance
offshore race, as the Class 1 leaderboard has been changing and all 5
boats are racing within 11 miles and in sight of each other. As the fleet
squeeze round the ‘bulge of Brazil’ in moderate upwind conditions on a
smooth sea, each skipper is starting to carve out their own routes.
In
Class 2, current leader Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom
America is hoping to round the ‘bulge’ of Brazil on one tack, and
38 miles behind Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal is finding that
the boatspeeds are dropping: “As the sun rises higher today, the
winds become lighter. During the night I was able to maintain my
course up the coast with eased sheets and the genoa, but daylight brought
with it enough of a windshift to put me back hard on the wind, and back
to the smaller, flatter solent.”
23rd
April 03. The final 1,500 miles of Leg 5 of Around Alone 2002-03
is shaping up to be the most exciting racing. Latest news is that Italian
skipper Simone Bianchetti, currently in 2nd place on Tiscali,
and vying for 3rd place overall with Emma Richards on Pindar,
has spent the last 24 hours repeatedly climbing up to the top of the mast
after a segment of the mainsail track on the mast came away yesterday
afternoon.
The
British skipper herself is on the attack and gaining on her main rival
in their battle for the overall podium. Pindar is still positioned
furthest to the East as Richards makes the most of the steady easterly
breeze to catch up on Tiscali and remove a boat or to between them.
“In the coming 24 hrs the wind will decrease and go aft until eventually
we will be gybing and heading off to Newport on Port gybe for a while…
I have already seen my whole sail inventory in the last 36 hours and I'm
sure will see them all again a few times before the end of this race,
plenty of work (and opportunities) to come.”
According
to distance to finish American Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet and
Frenchman Thierry Dubois on Solidaires lie in between Emma Richards
and her target still. Schwab is hand-steering his narrow Open 60 over
to the West, still making 9 – 10 knots boatspeed: “A bit more wind now
and hoping that Thierry & Emma to windward of us will be slowing down
in the next position report. They should be entering a light zone soon,
and I'm keeping my tired fingers crossed!” On the course, these three
boats are actually spread West to East as the fleet approach their biggest
obstacle of the leg – a low pressure to the East of Bermuda generating
headwinds bang in the middle of their route.
24th
April 03. The tropical depression barring the route for the 9
Around Alone boats racing to Newport, RI is going to shake up the fleet,
starting with leader Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group – Armor Lux.
Currently in 10 – 12 knots of northwesterly breeze, the Swiss skipper
had to manoeuvre his blue monohull upwind straight into the storm: “Like
any system, they come with confused seas and crazy winds, but it’s calmer
right now. I’m not out of the woods though, as the next 48 hours will
be just as torturous, and only after that will things be much clearer.”
Bianchetti
is being given a breathing space as light winds plague Solidaires and
Pindar coming up behind him. However, some light needs to be shone
on Bruce Schwab, who has cunningly kept in the pressure over to the West.
At 8 knots, Ocean Planet is going twice as fast as his rivals to
the East, and is now under 100 miles from Tiscali in terms of DTF.
British skipper Emma Richards is trying to keep her cool as Pindar
sychronises a westerly gybe with Solidaires to move away from another
wind hole in the high pressure: “I stopped moving completely for about
3 hours this afternoon, quite frustrating but at least Solidaires did
the same thing. I am happy doing 5 knots now compared with not moving,
but its still only half the speed of the others! I am prepared for another
3 or more days of light wind now as we have not made it through this funny
pattern as quick as I had hoped. C'est la vie!”
COUNTDOWN
TO SWISS VICTORY
Tauranga,
New Zealand 9th Feb: Leg
Four of the Around Alone Race started on Feb 9. At 7,850 nm, this is the
longest and perhaps the hardest leg of the entire race for the remaining
11 racing yachts. After a breathtaking start, with at least 300 craft
- jet skis, kayaks, yachts and motor boats - on the water and 5 helicopters
overhead, New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark fired the start gun
from the naval vessel Moa. For the fourth time in a row it was Canadian
Derek Hatfield sailing Spirit of Canada who crossed the line first in
the fresh 10 - 15 knot North Westerly breeze. The sailors will head
straight toward the 50th parallel and into the Southern Ocean to round
Cape Horn on the southern tip of South America. The first boats are expected
to finish in Salvador, Brazil about a month after the start. 
AROUND
ALONE 2006
Negotiations
are underway with a respected and high profile Race Director to be appointed
for 2006 Around Alone prior to the completion of the current race. An
independent panel of experienced solo sailors and other stakeholders under
the leadership of David Stubley of Fast Track, a sports marketing company,
will be formed to advise the race management. Three skippers have already
agreed to join the advisory board: Mike Golding, a previous competitor
in the race, with Bernard Stamm and Brad Van Liew, both current skippers
in this race. Fast Track has been commissioned to generate sponsorship
and media partners for the 2006 event. There will also be a substantial
cash prize fund.
Then
Derek Hatfield was forced to return to land to sort his charging
system out after starting Leg 4 of Around Alone and the
new batteries he installed in Tauranga apparently caused a major electrical
failure on Spirit of Canada. More was to come
latter from his fellow competitors as they approached Cape Horn,
Hexagon skipper Graham Dalton
reported that his boom had snapped during a gybe and whilst American skipper
Bruce Schwab was taking a nap on Ocean Planet
was laid over by a big breaking wave, which lead to a disastrous
sequence of events and his second boom break in this race "The boom broke
right where it hit the runner, the runner deck block exploded and then
the runner jammer ripped out of the deck leaving a good sized hole. Just
what I needed! After safely rounding Cape Horn race leader Bernard
Stamm revealed that he has serious problems with his keel "The
upper part that I use to manoeuvre the keel has broken. I can hold the
keel with ropes in the middle but not able to cant the keel to windward.
With the prospect of a 3,000 mile beat to Salvador forced to relinquish
his lead to his closest rival, French circumnavigator Thierry
Dubois on Solidaires and incur Bobst
Group – Armor Lux a 48 hour penalty after a 22 hour pit-stop
in Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands to repair his broken keel "
2.
As some of her fellow Around Alone competitors have joined the "Unluckiest
Sailors" (above) Emma Richards despite her boat problems is
one lucky girl. Last week her sponsor Andrew
Pindar, boss of the Scarborough-based print and multimedia
company of his name, rocked into Tauranga and after a meeting agreed to
extend Richards' sponsorship for another three years. "We've never had
a written agreement," says Richards. "Our sponsorship has always been
on a handshake. It's great to have that kind of trust." The deal is very
informal and is not a case of the present deal coming to an end and being
renewed. "It's more looking at the three years going on from here," she
says.
The
7880 nm Leg 4 of Around Alone from Tauranga NZ to Salvador (Brazil) round
the notoriously rough Cape Horn has claimed two booms, two masts, damaged
two keels caused a pitch-poling (end-over-end capsize) and forced Kiwi
Graham Dalton on his Open 60 Hexagon to retire from the race entirely.
The ports of Mar del Plata and Ushuaia in southern Argentina and Port
Stanley in the Falkland Islands have been extremely busy receiving the
yachts, effecting emergency repairs before sending the competitors on
their way. Winds of around 70 knots and 40 foot high waves have been recorded
and Canadian skipper Derek Hatfield (before dismasting his Open 40 Spirit
of Canada) joined a long line of mariners who have been fooled by Deigo
Ramirez, a small rocky archipelago 30 miles west of Cape Horn that have
scared the fillings out of many sailors who have come up on the group
in the middle of the night and suddenly seen the lights on the wrong side
of the boat.
Hatfield's
pitch-poling story is pretty amazing: It was sometime mid-afternoon when
the wave that had his name on it came up from behind. "I was so exhausted
that I could hardly think, but when I heard the wave I knew that I was
in trouble. It was not as big as some of the others, but was breaking
and it made a huge roar as it approached the boat. In seconds we were
falling down the face of it until the bow dug in and then we pitch-poled.
The boat went straight up and then fell over sideways. I was at the back
of the boat and got flung forward, and the next thing I knew I was in
the water under the boat."
Derek
continued his story. "I heard the water gurgling and knew that I
was under the boat, then all of a sudden I heard loud explosions that
reverberated through the water and I knew in a instant that the mast was
breaking. It was unreal. Gurgling water and huge bangs. Suddenly without
the mast the boat came back upright and I was dragged back on deck."
Derek is amazed and gratified by the outpouring of support he has been
receiving including Emma Richards sponsor Andrew Pindar offer to fund
a spare mast is starting to feel a bit confident that he might just be
able to get back into the race.
Salvador,
Brazil – 10th March 03. In the final 24 hours of
the 7,880 mile fourth leg of Around Alone, overall Class 1 leader Bernard
Stamm, Swiss skipper of Bobst Group-Armor Lux, stole a march
on the leg leader Thierry Dubois to take the line honours in Salvador
de Bahia, Brazil at 12:39:07 GMT (09:39:07 GMT). To his credit, Thierry
Dubois sailed Solidaires to his first Leg victory across the
line at 16:23:30 GMT (13:23:30 local time), a difference of 3 hours
and 44 minutes, which is the closest Dubois has finished behind Bernard
on the water and after the longest leg.
On
being asked how he felt after the damage to the keel lost him his lead,
Stamm remarked: “Forget the frustration of the broken keel, stopping
for 22 hours and getting a penalty – the last 3 days with no wind and
insufferable heat were the worst to endure, it was like being in prison!”
Dubois added: “Hell is better – I assure you!” So after an intense week
of soaring temperatures on the water and inside the boats, both skippers
arrived with storm clouds overhead but still received a true Brazilian
welcome at the CENAB (Centro Nautico de Bahia), which included fireworks,
fruit and of course, caipirinhas.
13th
March 03. From the humid glaze off the horizon, the blue hull
of Open 60 Tiscali came reaching in at 10 knots to the finish line in
Salvador, Brazil. Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti somersaulted from
the boom as soon as he realised his first podium position in the fourth
leg of Around Alone, crossing at 18:43:13 GMT (15:43:13 local time).
Bianchetti has made a steady comeback from his unfortunate dismasting
in Leg 2 off Northern Spain to climb up the rankings in the following
two legs, and is now contesting for third place overall with 26 points
- in thoery just one behind Emma Richards on Pindar, who is due to arrive
tomorrow during the day.
15th
March 03. At 12:16:56 local time
(15:16:56 GMT) American Class 2 overall leader Brad Van Liew scored his
4th leg victory in Around Alone with Open 50 Tommy Hilfiger
Freedom America, completing the longest 7,880 mile
leg with an 800 mile lead over his nearest rival Tim Kent on Everest
Horizontal. Van Liew is now the only skipper in either class to have
won every leg so far.
As
a veteran of Around Alone, Leg 4 from Tauranga, NZ to Salvador in Brazil
held some chilling memories for Van Liew as it was rounding Cape Horn
in Around Alone 1998/9 that his boat dismasted. Van Liew often commented
on the extremes of cold and heat as the fleet had to race through the
icy Southern Ocean as well as the tropical heat in the South Atlantic.
Just in the last week he faced 115 degree temperatures below deck and
100% humidity that left him sweating so profusely he couldn't drink
enough water to rehydrate. “Being physically and mentally challenged
to the max, while navigating the boat through extremes like no other,
was the hardest yet most rewarding part of this Leg.”
Emma
Richards, skipper of Pindar, came to greet her American
friend at the docks after she herself had finished Leg 4 in 4th
position at 16:51:40 local time (19:51:40) yesterday just before sunset.
A consistent and solid performance by the youngest skipper in the fleet
– and only female – Emma has now firmly consolidated her 3rd
place on the overall podium. “It was only until Simone arrived well
after Bernard’s penalty time had run out that I could relax and just
focus on getting Pindar to the finish in my own time.
I feel pretty confident about my position now and am looking forward
to a well earned break in Brazil before tackling the final leg.” 
22nd
March 03. Open 50 Everest Horizontal, skippered by Class
2 American Tim Kent, ghosted into Salvador de Bahia under cover of night
to cross the finish line at 03:03:58 GMT (00:03:58 local time) in second
place for Leg 4 of Around Alone. Kent not only notched up his third
2nd place finish in Around Alone, but also achieved a life-long
ambition in the process – to go from Great Lakes sailor to veteran Cape
Horner – his personal ‘Everest Horizontal’. 
Cape
Town, South Africa – 14th December:
The
boats sailed close-hauled and mostly single-reefed along the coast in
a brisk 20 – 22 knot northwesterly wind, ploughing through the
chop caused by the NSRI boats and spectator craft. Frenchman Thierry
Dubois looked to have the best speed and he passed Emma Richards to
open up a small lead on the fleet. However, he was soon being reeled
in by Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group - Armor Lux.
Stamm had taken a conservative start but an hour into the race he had
passed Dubois and was once again in the lead.
In
Class 2 Hatfield had a comfortable lead over second place Alan Paris
on BTC Velocity with Kojiro Shiraishi on Spirit
of yukoh and John Dennis bringing up the rear. Current Class
2 leader Brad van Liew was late starting due to some mainsail problems;
it seems that the sailmaker sewed the leechline on his mainsail by mistake,
and Van Liew was not able to make adjustments to the back edge of the
sail. Within minutes after the start the sailmakers were on board frantically
hand sewing the sails, and at 1400 local time van Liew hoisted the mainsail
and Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America was back
in the race.
Hatfield
was not the only Around Alone skipper getting ready for the wind. Bruce
Schwab on Ocean Planet, sailing 35 miles ahead of Derek, was also preparing
for a long night. "The wind has been steadily building as the first low
pressure system approaches. I've been feeling nervous, running around
and checking things, and will be reefing a bit early until I get a feel
for how accurate the weather models are. I think we're ready, but you
just never know! The clear skies of yesterday have given way to low clouds
and spots of rain. There is a real feeling of anticipation and wonder
about what it will be like in a week or so when we will be getting deeper
into the south."
23rd
December: Canadian
skipper and diabetic, 58 year old John Dennis, affectionately known
as 'Pops' to the rest of the Around Alone competitors, today sadly announced
his retirement from Around Alone 2002-03. Late on Saturday 21st December,
while sailing Leg 3 of the race, he turned the bow of his Open 50 Bayer
Ascensia and set a course back to Cape Town. In an initial email
to the Race HQ he explained that the bearings on the alternator shaft
and ballast pump had ceased to work, and that he felt it would be unsafe
to continue to New Zealand if he was unable to charge batteries or pump
water ballast.
If
the 11 skippers racing the 7,190nm leg from Cape Town to Tauranga, NZL,
have been describing their days as blending into each other, like a
seamless stretch of time marked by the bleak but beautiful Southern
Ocean scenery of big winds and waves, with the occasional gliding albatross,
today will have been a day to remember for British skipper Emma Richards.
In a 40 knot squall late last night, the mainsail of her 60-foot yacht,
Pindar, ripped into two pieces and threatened to end her hopes of finishing
Leg 3 on the podium. 
Emma
had spent the past few days over the New Year positioning herself to
the South of her opponents to have the best run into Tauranga, New Zealand.
However, she has had to sacrifice the competition for crucial repair
work that is complex and difficult - especially in the freezing, exacting
conditions of the Southern Ocean on a constantly rolling and pitching
yacht. After 19 days of racing hard and close on the heels of her main
rivals Hexagon and Tiscali for a podium finish in Tauranga, precious
miles are now being lost as her boatspeed has dropped by 3 - 4 knots
whilst she effects the repairs. Hexagon, Tiscali and Solidaires clocked
runs of just over 300 miles in the last 24hrs, whereas Pindar has covered
only 230nm, which translates to 7 - 8 hours of time lost so far.
Tauranga,
New Zealand: Class 1 leader Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group
- Armor Lux, crossed the finish line of Leg 3 in the shadow of Mount
Maunganui in Tauranga, New Zealand at 11:24:43 local time on Thursday
Jan 9th (22:24:43 GMT Wed January 8th), proving for the 3rd time that
he is the master of this Around Alone. Even with 4 reefs in the mainsail
the Swiss skipper was surfing at over 14 knots over the quick succession
of tall waves under a storm grey sky, sending white spray from the
bow after falling into each trough. His elapsed time is calculated
at 25 days, 12 hours, 24 minutes, 43 seconds, knocking a shade under
two days off the old record set four years ago by Giovanni Soldini
on Fila (NB: to Auckland). 
Stamm
had held the lead shortly after leaving Cape Town on the 14th December
2002, and yet after 7,000 miles, he was in serious danger of being 'shot
before the ceasefire', as he battled through nasty seas in strong South
Easterly headwinds for the last two days. His finish was not a moment
too soon; seconds after crossing the line the tiller on the boat came
off in his hands and he lost all steering. 
One
sailor who has been there before is second placed French circumnavigator
Thierry Dubois with Solidaires. As Bernard was finishing, he was rounding
Cape Reinga a few hundred miles behind, and heading into the same boat-breaking
conditions as Stamm had just experienced. Dubois was in a black mood when
he heard that his main rival had finished: "Yet again victory has
eluded me and I am getting so frustrated to always be just one step behind.
So now I will let you know that since the Crozet Islands the reacher,
its replacement and the brand new large gennaker have blown up and I have
spent 4,000 miles sailing downwind with only the staysail and Solent.
Also near the magnetic South Pole, which caused my undoing in the last
Vendée Globe, yet again screwed up my electronics despite assurances
from the experts that it was all regulated, so my Northern route to the
Tasman was not so voluntary. To top it all off, one of my rudders sheered
off laterally, no collision, no explanation."
Graham
Dalton, skipper of the HSBC-sponsored yacht, Hexagon, sailed into Tauranga,
New Zealand at 0638 hrs GMT/UCT today (14th January, 1938hrs local time)
to complete the third leg of the single-handed round-the-world yacht race,
Around Alone. Over 1000 spectators on land and sea were on hand to cheer
him into Hexagon's home port.
Looking
forward to spending some time in his home country, New Zealander Dalton
said, "I aim to do my best on every leg, but for me, this one is
all the more satisfying as I was sailing into the port where Hexagon was
built and where we have so much support. 
The
countdown to the finish of Leg 3 has begun for Class 2 leader American
Brad Van Liew, who will be bringing his rocket-ship Open 50 Tommy Hilfiger
Freedom America over the line within the next 10 hours under the landmark
of Mount Maunganui in Tauranga, New Zealand. Over the course of the 7,200
nm leg, Van Liew has pushed out an incredible 1,050 mile advantage over
his nearest rivals in Class 2 and is set to finish after spending 32 -
33 days in the Southern Ocean alone. This is the kind of performance worthy
of the bigger siblings in the Class 1 fleet, two of which he has been
trailing by only 3 -5 miles down the East coast of New Zealand.
22
January 2003
Moments
after crossing the finish line there was more drama as the furling line
on the headsail snapped just as the wind gusted to 25 knots and Everest
Horizontal skidded towards hard, rocky land. Fortunately the shore crew
jumped on board to help Tim dropped his sail and moments later everything
was under control. "Typical of this leg," Tim said with a wry
smile.
Tim's
arrival is the first of three expected today. Derek Hatfield on Spirit
of Canada was just over 60 miles from the finish line when Everest completed
the leg. His ETA is around 09:00 local time. Further back Kojiro Shiraishi
on Spirit of Yukoh was enjoying fast sailing and is expected to arrive
in Tauranga late Thursday afternoon.
The
committe had to change the planned Leg 2 departure from Torbay as a big
depression moved across from the Atlantic. After the start competitors
had to ride out the remainder of the storm and experienced confused seas
for the first few days. As they approached the north coasts of Spain and
Portugal "A monster depression about 2000 miles wide and almost the entire
width of the North Atlantic took shape!" It brought with it 70 to 80 knot
winds as the leaders battened down into survival mode to ride out an angry
Atlantic.
All
6 competitors in Division 2, and Division 1 competitor Bruce Schwab on
Ocean Planet, decided to seek shelter during the storm in Bayona, Spain
and will hang there until the worst goes through before heading out and
rejoining the race.
The
Class 2 yachts are racing again after five long days in port they left
in the order they arrived. American sailor Brad van Liew sailing Tommy
Hilfiger Freedom America was the first to leave the harbour in Bayona,
Spain and head out to sea. The lashing gales and big seas that have been
pounding the coast of Spain for the last few days, has subsided finally
allowing the yachts to continue on to Cape Town.
At
03.50 GMT on Oct 20th Simone
Bianchetti skipper of the Italian Open 60 Tiscali in
the Around Alone informed
his shore-team that he had dismasted. This combined with subsequent events and
the camaraderie shown between the competitors to win this months Unluckiest
sailor award. After a forced three day stopover in Brest
to fix the auto-piloting systems and repair some hull damage Bianchetti
restarted the race only to be dismasted. When the mast broke in three
parts Simone was inside, the boat was running South West at 16 / 20 knots
and the weather conditions were rapidly getting worse. Simone was not
harmed in the accident and recovered all the pieces of the mast, made
a jury rig and sailed on to the Northern Spanish fishing port of
Carino.
An
extraordinary set of events has unfolded amongst the competitors and their
sponsors to get him racing again. Showing what the Around Alone is all
about and the ultimate definition of what sailboat racing should be -
stiff competition on the water, graciousness and camaraderie off it.
8th
November. 
French
skipper Thierry Dubois has accelerated off with the rising
breeze and is now 72 miles in front of Emma Richards
on Pindar, after the British skipper's
terrifying ordeal up her 80ft mast to replace the main halyard.
Another predator in the shape of Graham Dalton
on Hexagon is creeping up on the sole female in the fleet as
well. Still around 300 miles behind, however the New Zealander has been
revelling in stronger favourable winds compared to the front runners and
clocked the best 24hr run of the class.
Meanwhile
on board Spirit of yukoh, Japanese skipper Kojiro
Shiraishi was dealing with the frustratingly calm conditions
the old fashioned way; meditating to "empty my mind and stay zen!".
Saturday
9th Nov at 5 o'clock GMT, the Italian Open 60 Tiscali
in Class 1 of Around Alone 2002-03, left the port of "El Ferrol del Caudillo"
in Northern Spain with skipper Simone Bianchetti at the helm, for Cape
Town (South Africa), where she is expected in 30 days time.
Graham
Dalton has been firing his rocket ship Hexagon
on all four cylinders, and this morning at 0600hrs GMT lay 178 miles back
from Pindar, however it may be all too late for the New Zealander to pinch
a podium place after all, as the wind remains stable from the South and
he falls into line behind the other two yachts on the same trajectory
towards the finish. Only the local vaguaries of the wind shadow under
Table Mountain stand in their way.
When
UK's Emma Richards the
only female competitor on her Open 60 "Pindar" took 4th place
on Leg 1 she established a new record Transatlantic
Women's Single-handed Monohull record in a time of 13
days 1 hour 14 minutes and 36 seconds and subject to ratification. This
is the inaugural record for this category and is a welcome addition to
the WSSR lists. More at 
New
York, 15th September - New York Harbor was transformed from a commercial
port into a spectacular venue for the start of Around Alone 2002-03. From
early in the morning, all the Open class yachts were towed off the pontoons
of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, where they had been docked for two
days after the Prologue race from Newport, RI.
Earlier
forecasts of Tropical Storm Hanna paying an unwelcome visit did not materialise
and the cloud cover lifted just as the start sequence got underway. As
the yachts short tacked up towards the Statue of Liberty, Canadian Derek
Hatfield on Spirit of Canada took the lead and clung to it for a few minutes
before being overhauled by the larger yachts. First to pass him was Bobst
Group-Armor Lux skippered by the Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm closely followed
by Garnier skippered by Belgian Patrick de Radigučs. Despite being a lot
smaller, Spirit of Canada hung close to the Open 60 before their waterline
length gave them an advantage that even the tenacious Hatfield could not
match.
As
the first boats approached the Verazanno Narrows bridge fog rolled in
and a line of squalls passed overhead. The good weather held just long
enough for the fleet to clear the tricky sailing in the channel. Tonight
they will be well past Ambrose light sailing along the Long Island coast
heading towards England.
"Preparation,
Preparation, Preparation will always be the biggest factor to winning
this race. A picture should already be emerging on each competitors
chances based on their abilities and preparedness" speaking dockside from
his personally built and designed Privilege 50 catamaran presently
berthed at Admiral Marina, Pt Dickson on Malaysia's west coast where Philippe
and his family are midway through a 8 year cruise around the world.