Last of BT fleet arriving in Capetown today

by BT Global Challenge Event Media on 20 Apr 2001 With the rest of the fleet already moored, VERITAS is only 34 miles from the finish line and is leading
Olympic Group by 15 miles. VERITAS looks likely to take tenth place, however they have been caught with no winds
and are currently lying 4 miles south of Cape Point.

Weather report

Wind: Southwest force 4

Swell: Moderate

Barometric Pressure: 1016mb

Air Temperature: 16C - 61F

Sea Temperature: 14C - 57F

Forecast

A small area of low pressure has developed near Cape Town and this is bringing lighter more variable winds and the
possibility of some rain. For VERITAS and Olympic Group this small area of low pressure has slowed them
considerably as they are both near its centre which has very light winds in it. The wind has dropped and swung
around to a mainly south-westerly direction and although it appears that they can still head in the right direction they
are now beating again at a much slower speed.

As the day progresses and they approach Cape Point the wind should build from the south increasing to a force 4 or
even 5 near the Point before decreasing a little as they head north to Cape Town. With the wind from the south the
route should not be influenced too much by the wind shadow created by Table Mountain which usually affects the
approach to Cape Town.

Latest Race Update

VERITAS are almost becalmed just 4 miles south of the Cape of Storms headland, whilst Olympic Group keep
sailing at 4 knots, 22 miles behind. A trough of low pressure is directly overhead and although it is expected to move
away for the wind to pick up as the day progresses it looks like it may create a close finish.

Yesterday, as the yachts rounded Cape Agulhas, both had strong south-easterly winds which were accelerated near
the headland. As a result, they closed to about 2 miles from the land, the first they had seen since leaving Tasmania
behind. Once past, however, the wind slowly dropped and they started to slow down, giving Olympic the opportunity
to close up from 35 miles behind 24 hours ago to 15 miles now.

If the wind picks up this morning, as expected, we should see a late afternoon or evening arrival for VERITAS and
Olympic Group.

Quotes from the Fleet

Matthew Hunt, crew volunteer, Olympic Group
[Our position] is demoralising, but as I keep forcing myself to acknowledge, we have crossed an ocean, and a mighty
one at that. Does it really matter that we took a few days longer than others did? Yes it does, to me anyway, for now
at least. I know once we're in, it will quickly become irrelevant, but the sense of achievement will still be there. It
grates though. The race becomes your whole focus. There is nothing but the race when you're on board this boat.
Basically, it is good to win (I know we haven't yet, but a close second felt pretty good!), especially when you have put
everything you have into it. We have expended every last bit of effort we have. We have put our blood, sweat and
tears into the last 6 weeks, and the prize has eluded us.

I look back at all I have seen and felt in the last 6 weeks, and I can be happy in the knowledge that I have given it my
all - I am bruised, bloody and exhausted (and hungry - our food ran out two days ago and we are living on
cup-a-soup), but ultimately happy. I wouldn't have missed a single moment of it for the world. Also, a new milestone -
the Cape of Good Hope lies off to starboard, so we will shortly have the three capes, Horn, Leeuwin, and Good Hope
under our belts. It feels pretty good.

Race Positions

As at 0800 GMT (distance to finish in miles)

1. LG FLATRON (finished)

2. Norwich Union (finished)

3. Quadstone (finished)

4. BP Explorer (finished)

5. Compaq NonStop (finished)

6. TeamSpirIT (finished)

7. Isle of Man (finished)

8. Logica (finished)

9. Spirit of Hong Kong (finished)

10. VERITAS (34)

11. Olympic Group (49)

Save the Children (Arrived fifth, but not competing due to alternate start location)