No Wind ... ECOVER in EDS Atlantic Challenge

by Susan McKeag on 24 Aug 2001 ECOVER IN THE EDS ATLANTIC CHALLENGE
DAILY REPORT NO: 41 (Day 10) Leg 5
DATE: Thursday 23rd August 2001

NO WIND…

The three lead boats are now due south of the Irish coast sailing in
testing conditions, the wind having died out almost completely. Hunting
for the elusive breeze has become the name of the game. In today's Radio
Chat Conrad Humphreys spoke to Race headquarters from on board ECOVER
'…Our boat speed has jumped from under one knot, to just over two knots
since we started speaking. There is not much wind out here.' He also
explained the latest strategy on board 'We have altered our course to the
south for two reasons; we are looking to find some wind from a small low
off the coast of France, and we are also worried about Sill coming up from
behind. We have to beat them in this leg to be second overall.'

Italian boat Fila has slipped past ECOVER into the lead and skipper Andrea
Scarabelli also spoke of their concern regarding what is happening further
back down the fleet. 'While it's nice to be back in front again, we are
of course concerned about the boats behind catching up to us. They are
bringing more wind with them.' Sill particularly have halved their
distance to the leader in the last 24 hours - it should be remembered too
that they are sailing into their home waters where their 'local knowledge'
will no doubt be a useful tool! The latest position report (13:37:02 GMT)
shows Fila leading with 307 miles to the finish - they have managed only 3
miles since the previous position report 3 hours earlier. ECOVER is 10
miles behind now, then Kingfisher a further 7 miles back. Sill is now 69
miles off the leader and recording 5.2 knots to Fila's 3.4 knots.

Josh Hall and his Gartmore crew reported this morning that at around 0400
hours GMT they hit something in the water which broke off their port
rudder. Hall assured race organisers that no one was hurt and the boat
though obviously badly damaged is now sound and that they will continue
racing to St Malo. Even damaged Gartmore is the fastest boat out there at
the moment at 10.9 knots and they have covered an impressive 86 miles in
the 3 hours since the last report.

As far as ETAs are concerned Race HQ is anticipating a finish 'sometime
Friday' and in these conditions it is anyone's guess who will cross the
line first!




Mike Golding and his crew are sponsored by ECOVER, producers of natural
cleaning and washing products for household and industrial uses. ECOVER
manufacture their products from their Ecological factory in Belgium.
Twenty years of dedicated research and development have enabled ECOVER to
produce washing and cleaning products, made from plant based ingredients
and minerals, with a performance equal to conventional cleaning products,
but which do not damage the environment and are safer for the skin.

ECOVER is the fastest growing brand of its' type and the sponsorship of
Mike Golding
and his crew in the EDS Atlantic Challenge will reinforce the natural link
between ECOVER and sailing - harnessing the power of nature to achieve
powerful performance.



Free use photos from on board ECOVER and by Jacques Vapillon are available.
High resolution photos free of rights for press use only on
www.pixsail.com Short cut address to ECOVER page:
www.pixsail.com/eng/ecover


Contact: MPR - Susan McKeag
Tel: + 44 (0) 7941 639670
Email: waterforduk@compuserve.com