Last boat almost home in Around Alone

by Mary Ambler on 30 May 2003 Strong headwinds have been impeding the progress of Open 40 Spirit of Canada across the Gulf Stream. However, with only 247 miles to go until Canadian skipper Derek Hatfield crosses the finish line at Castle Hill, he has come out of the current and is reaching in Southwesterlies again on a bee line to Newport, RI.

Hatfield’s penultimate night at sea on Spirit of Canada saw some of the most atrocious sailing conditions in the whole race, as he told in his latest log: “Last night I watched as the barometer dropped like a stone to 1006 and what that has produced is some of the worst sailing conditions.

The wind is against current here in the Gulf Stream and though the boat speed is 10 kts the speed over the ground is a dismal 4 kts. When these conditions come together the ride gets very uncomfortable the boat just pounds over the back of square waves which makes eating and sleeping very difficult, it's almost like being inside a washing machine.

I have run out of meal replacement drinks, which makes it difficult to keep up the calories, it's a big effort right now to prepare a meal. I'm looking forward to seeing the Newport Bridge!”

Spirit of Canada is still ranked and providing the boat crosses the line, Hatfield is set to take 3rd place overall in Class 2.

Fellow competitors Brad Van Liew, Bruce Schwab, Tim Kent and Alan Paris are intending to come back to see their friend, as well as his family and a host of Canadian and local supporters.


SPIRIT OF CANADA POSITION AT 16:30 GMT 29th May 2003

Positions calculated and displayed on www.aroundalone.com from the customized RayTech 4.1 navigational software, supplied by official race partner Raymarine.

Class 2

Boat Lat Lon AvgBsp AvgHeading DTF

1. Spirit of Canada 32 44N 069 01W, 10.2 kt, 302 °T, 247 nm


Around Alone Overall Rankings
Go to official website homepage for Leg and Overall Rankings Tables

Class 1

1. Bobst Group – Armor Lux: 49 points / 115 days 17hrs 27m 23s

2. Solidaires: 45 points / 118 days 12hrs 51m 48s

3. Tiscali: 35 points / 159 days 19hrs 53m 11s

4. Pindar: 33 points / 131 days 19hrs 45m 49s

5. Ocean Planet: 30 points / 159 days 5hrs 41m 42s

Class 2

1. Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America: 50 points / 148 days 16 hrs 54m 42s

2. Everest Horizontal: 44 points / 169 days 23hrs 6m 28s

5. BTC Velocity: 30 points / 202 days 10hrs 9m 52s

TBC: Spirit of yukoh: 36 points / 180 days 0hrs 6m 25s

Around Alone Awards

Around Alone 2002-03 Class 1 Winner’s Shield Bernard Stamm

Around Alone 2002-03 Class 2 Winner - Shuten Doji Award Brad Van Liew

Harry Mitchell Trophy for the fastest Open 40 Kojiro Shiraishi

Raymarine Communication Awards – Class 1 Emma Richards

Raymarine Communication Awards – Class 2 Brad Van Liew

Dry Creek Vineyard 24hr Distance Record – Class 1 Bernard Stamm

Dry Creek Vineyard 24hr Distance Record – Class 2 Brad Van Liew