BG Spirit romps away in Global Challenge

by Rachel Anning on 2 Jun 2005 An eventful few days in Leg 5 of the Global Challenge with BG Spirit reaping the rewards of an earlier easterly standing, putting a staggering 201 miles between themselves and the rest of the fleet.

BG Spirit’s closest rival is VAIO, which has a relatively comfortable lead of 76 nautical miles over third placed SAIC La Jolla. The leader’s confident flyer though, has put them further ahead in the race and created the most significant lead yet seen in this race.

Competition between fourth and eighth places however, is back to typical Global Challenge racing, with just 13 miles between the chasing pack of four yachts. Those crews must now be wondering if they can ever catch up with the bold movers at the front.

There will also be understandable concern about the overall leaderboard, as another leg win by BG Spirit and possibly another podium place for VAIO, will shake up the positions, confirming yachts’ overall rankings after five legs.

A win in this leg by the current leader will put the yacht in the overall lead if BP Explorer - current overall race leaders - finish in sixth place or worse and Spirit of Sark, currently in second in the standings, finish fourth or worse.

This afternoon, BP Explorer was in fifth place and Spirit of Sark 3 miles astern in sixth.

Pindar's crew are finding themselves struggling at the back of the fleet, having taken a westerly flyer which did not pay dividends in the same way BG Spirit’s gamble did.

They are 681 miles behind the leader and, whereas the rest of the fleet look like they will get strong headwinds in the next 24 hours, Pindar look set to stay in their own wind hole.

Cal Tomlinson, Challenge Business’ sailing manger said, ‘right now the fleet will start encountering the effects of yet another low pressure system.

‘There have been several low pressure systems that developed over the last eight days from around the Cape Hatteras area.

‘These unseasonal low-pressure systems have upset the normal weather pattern for the North Atlantic at this time of year and have played havoc with the fleet in terms of racing tactics.’


BG Spirit 565 (distance to finish)

VAIO 201 (distance to leader)

SAIC La Jolla 277

Barclays Adventurer 293

BP Explorer 299

Spirit of Sark 301

Imagine It. Done. 305

Team Stelmar 306

Me to You 375

Samsung 426

Pindar 555

Team Save the Children 881

www.globalchallenge2004.com

*Amended by Sail-World