BT Global Challenge Leg 6 Latest News

by Event Press on 19 May 2001 The last 24 hours have seen further changes in positions as the more westerly yachts have benefited from slightly stronger winds. Norwich Union has now taken the lead after a strong 24 hour run. Quadstone continue to do well with
Richard Chenery on only his second leg as skipper. LG FLATRON, TeamSpirIT and Olympic Group also continue to
match sail each other, while at the rear Spirit of Hong Kong is attempting to make up miles on the leaders before
they reach the trade winds on Sunday.

Weather report

Wind: Variable force 3
Swell: Slight
Barometric Pressure: 1016mb
Air Temperature: 21C -- 70F
Sea Temperature: 20C -- 68F

Forecast

A ridge of high pressure now covers the route keeping winds light whilst a deep low-pressure system to the south will
swing the wind to the north or Northwest during today before it becomes south-easterly tomorrow.

Staying light from a generally north or north-westerly direction the wind will slowly back round to a predominantly
westerly direction this evening. Because the fleet is spread out over such a large area the yachts could experience
very different conditions. The more westerly yachts found the best wind overnight but this is likely to drop for a while
today before swinging to a more favourable direction earlier than for the rest of the fleet. The exception to this is for
the yachts to the Northeast that could begin to feel the start of light trade winds and have their spinnakers up by
midnight.

The demarcation line between the start of the trade winds and the more variable conditions appears to be close to 25
degrees south. The more northerly yachts should reach this line first although the wind is likely to be stronger to the
west tomorrow, making it very difficult for the yachts to formulate a clear cut short term strategy. Instead they must
continue on the heading that gives the best boat speed along a reasonable course remaining flexible to the changing
wind direction.

Having been trapped at the junction between different weather systems since the start, the end is now in sight and
the whole fleet should be sailing in strengthening trade winds by Sunday. These winds should steadily increase to a
force 5 by Monday and continue at a similar strength for the most of next week.

Latest Race Update

Norwich Union has taken the lead on a day that saw the yachts to the west making big gains on the more easterly
boats. Norwich Union gained 52 miles on yesterday's leader Compaq and moved from 22 miles behind to 30 miles in
front. Quadstone, now in second place and 12 miles behind Norwich Union, did nearly as well jumping 6 places
whilst BP gained 4.

The fleet is spread out over a front 180 miles across stretching from Quadstone in the southwest to Compaq in the
northeast. Current courses and speeds suggest that the advantage in the wind is still firmly with the yachts to the
southwest although the forecast is not clear if this will persist. A period of head winds followed by lighter winds is
expected before the fleet reaches the trade winds.

At the back of the fleet Spirit of Hong Kong managed to close the gap on first place to 116 miles, hopefully they can
keep this up as they are in danger of seeing the lead boats reach the trade winds and accelerate away.

LG FLATRON, TeamSpirIT, and Olympic Group are still sailing in close company; TeamSpirIT and Olympic are neck
and neck with LG FLATRON on the horizon 5 miles in front. These three are suffering from light variable winds along
with Compaq and Isle of Man. It was this group of more easterly yachts that suffered the biggest losses last night as
the wind failed.

The next 36 hours are crucial in the race to reach the trade winds, as once into the steady winds the opportunity to
catch up and overtake will be limited. The previous legs have shown how evenly matched the yachts are in similar
conditions and it will need a mistake or sail damage, for yachts to change positions once into the trades; the next
main passing place will be on the approach to the doldrums well over a week away.

Quotes from the Fleet

Mark Wilson, Crew Volunteer, VERITAS
I am so angry that we have once again made a basic tactical error such as this, early on in the race. We are now 90
miles behind the leader and 60 miles behind the main pack, and as always miles lost easily are much harder to gain
back. There is a huge distance to sail, and the yachts are in such flukey wind, that there is every chance that the
fleet will park up ahead very soon and we will sail right on back to them, but to be thinking this way so early on is a
real heartbreaker. As always, we are now sailing the yacht brilliantly, working hard to stay focussed and studying our
options and tactics hard before every gybe, but to an extent the damage has been done. I just hope and pray in the
huge picture that is this leg, the start will prove as insignificant as everyone says it will.

Race Positions
As at 0800 GMT (distance to leader in miles)

1. Norwich Union
2. Quadstone (12)
3. Logica (26)
4. Compaq NonStop (30)
5. BP Explorer (42)
6. LG FLATRON (51)
7. Isle of Man (53)
8. TeamSpirIT (56)
9. Olympic Group (56)
10. Save the Children (71)
11. VERITAS (105)
12. Spirit of Hong Kong (116)