Movistar protests Pirates and ABN AMRO TWO

by Volvo Media on 19 Feb 2006 movistar has issued a protest against Pirates of the Caribbean and ABN AMRO TWO regarding their crew changes and in particular their having the old crew members working on the boats during the pit stop.

Under Volvo Ocean Race rule 6.3 (b) 'Between finishing at a Pit Stop or retiring before the finish and the preparatory signal for the next Leg: (i) Only those persons who are to sail on the boat in the next Leg may go on board except, as authorised by the race committee, guests and persons to repair Organising Authority supplied equipment.'

The protest will be heard in Rio. The protested teams were told of the protest before the start when movistar skipper Bouwe Bekking informed them prior to their start from Wellington.

Positions at 07:30 GMT -

The two ABN AMRO boats are sailing in a much more easterly direction than the next three. As a result, the lead has changed.

ABN AMRO ONE and her sister are sailing a course of 168 degrees at 21 knots in 22 knots of wind from 35 degrees. ONE now leads from TWO by four nautical miles.

Pirates of the Caribbean, Brasil 1 and Ericsson are sailing in a more southerly direction on a course of around 175 degrees, Pirates are six miles behind the leader as are Brasil 1, Ericsson is three more miles back. movistar, havng started two hours behind the rest of the fleet are 21 miles behind and so far are sailing the same course as the leader.