Team Veritas tackles the Southern Ocean

by Babs Day on 12 Dec 2000 Team VERITAS made a promising start in the third leg of the BT Global Challenge which sees the twelve yachts heading for Cape Horn and the Southern Ocean to Wellington in mid January.

In 25 knot winds and choppy seas on the River Plate by the Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires, Team VERITAS crossed the start line on starboard and, accompanied by Save the Children and Compaq, held that course while the rest of the fleet headed off on port tack. This drastic action paid off as one hour after the start, Team VERITAS was secure in the front half of the fleet.

Harsh weather conditions are expected as the crew round Cape Horn and head into the Southern Ocean, but it appeared they might face inclement weather well before then. Just after the race started spectator craft were advised to return to the marina as huge black clouds piling up on the horizon sped closer and visibility was dropping.

Skipper Will Carnegie is aware of the challenge which faces him in crossing the Southern Ocean, and is confident that Team VERITAS will perform well. He commented:

'I am optimistic in this leg because the boats are made for tough conditions and I am very comfortable with heavy weather. We are a physical team, and we have proved we work very well in extreme weather conditions, so this is the leg in which I think we will come into our own.

For the first time I have seen the crew really nervous, and it is due to two words - Cape Horn. Although this apprehension is natural, the atmosphere on the boat is predominantly one of rising excitement that we are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.'

Team VERITAS is in seventh place overall, only nine points behind the leader LG FLATRON.

To read highlights straight from the crew, log on to www.veritas.com/btchallenge

Overall positions:

1. LG FLATRON 28
2. Quadstone 25
3. Compaq 24
4. BP 23
5. Spirit of Hong Kong 22
6. Logica 20
7. VERITAS 19
8. Isle of Man 17
9. Olympic Group 15
10. Team SpirIT 12
11. Save the Children 11
12. Norwich Union 10