Global Challenge - close racing and medical evacuations

by Rachel Anning on 16 Dec 2004 Lead yacht Spirit of Sark was approximately 480nm from Waypoint Alpha this afternoon. Designed to keep the fleet away from the worst of the ice, which can break up and drift north at this time of year, it will also be a key psychological and tactical turning point.

In the expanse of the Southern Ocean, it has served as a target for the crews: a more tangible bull's-eye than Wellington, still more than 3000nm away.

‘First big news is that we are now only 300nm from half way,’ writes Simon Walding, a crew volunteer aboard Pindar today.

‘Although this point of rolling sea will look identical to all the others, it will have great significance for the crew, because we will finally be heading in rather than out; closer to the ones dear and the things we miss rather than further away from them.’

In tactical terms, the waypoint will also prompt a choice for the skippers and their onboard tacticians. At present the fleet is heading for the mark in a procession, trying to squeeze every possible knot of boat speed from their sails.

‘The tactical game can start again once we have rounded Waypoint Alpha,’ explained Dee Caffari, skipper of Imagine It. Done, ‘and the fleet will split north and south again for the remaining 2600 miles. We will have nothing to lose so we can afford a flyer if the weather window arrives.’

David Melville, skipper of BP Explorer, thinks the psychological aspect is more significant.
‘You feel like you’ve arrived somewhere,’ said David this afternoon, ‘and we’ll have less miles to go than we have already sailed.’

He also described the conditions today: ‘30 knots, hard on the wind on a port tack and bashing along – a fairly typical day down here really!’

The wind is expected to back to the southwest, which will benefit the leaders lying further west first. Spirit of Sark has forged a lead of at least 70nm over the majority of the fleet, but shaking off their nearest rivals, VAIO in 2nd, BP Explorer in 3rd and BG SPIRIT in 4th, is proving difficult as they too capitalise on wind shifts as a result of their westerly position.

Chasers to the east may have a chance to regain lost ground when the low-pressure system currently generating the south-westerly breeze tracks past the fleet, leaving a patch of light airs between systems. The leaders may slow up if they hit the predicted light patch first.


Quotes from the Fleet

Eero Lehtinen – SAIC La Jolla

‘Wind is (as expected) picking up and backing. Tacked early morning back to port tack and stayed on the making tack. I have made some calculations over the night based on the polar data and B&G numbers available to try and optimise our apparent wind angle in relation to VMG Waypoint and true wind direction. Seems that we need to dare to sail wider angles and keep speed up at all costs of course.

'Time will show if this will help us to catch up again. Sensitivity for added risks will be increasing as we go further. Halfway now and no rush to play all our cards yet, but for sure will we not be covering 9th place, so something even more radical will be done to give the front runners the best shot we can. So far we remain patient.'

James Allen – Me to You

‘We continue towards waypoint Alpha tacking on the regular wind shifts with a slight bias to the southerly tack to try and work our way to the left side of the fleet which looks to be favorable in the upcoming Westerly winds.’

TEAM STELMAR MEDICAL EVACUATION UPDATE

After a discussion between Sir Chay Blyth, the race management team and skipper Clive Cosby this afternoon, Team Stelmar has decided to wait for a weather update tomorrow morning before making a final decision as to which port will be the best choice.

They are currently heading for the west coast of Chile and are expected to arrive on Friday.

The options open to Clive and the team after crew volunteer Tim Johnston has been put ashore for medical treatment have also been discussed today and it is thought a decision will be reached tomorrow. Further news will be released as soon as possible.


Fleet Positions

Due To Finish

Spirit of Sark 3,103nm

VAIO 3,134nm

BP Explorer 3,146nm

BG SPIRIT 3,152nm

Me to You 3,174nm

Team Save the Children 3,179nm

Samsung 3,196nm

SAIC La Jolla 3,200nm

Imagine It. Done 3,256nm

Pindar 3,426nm

Team Stelmar Ceased Racing

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