Dalton forced to stop in New Zealand

by Tim Kelly on 29 Jan 2007 Graham Dalton, the New Zealand solo skipper racing his Open 50 A SOUTHERN MAN AGD in the VELUX 5 OCEANS has pulled into the port of Bluff, New Zealand, at the southern-most point of the South Island. The experienced sailor suspended sailing at 16:30 GMT on Saturday January 27 as he arrived back on home soil.

Dalton was forced to make the unwanted pit stop after he discovered that one of his diesel tanks had leaked after leaving Fremantle and contaminated around one third of his food stores, making the food inedible.

Arriving in the early hours of the morning in New Zealand, Dalton was tired and concerned about the rocky approach to port, but successfully navigated the boat to land where he will await the delivery of food to replace the ruined stores. Dalton will have to respect the 48 hour time penalty in the race rules for receiving outside assistance, meaning he can re-commence racing at 16:30 GMT on Monday January 29.

Graham Dalton is still ahead of Unai Basurko (ESP) and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR) in third position in the second leg of the round the world race, but the 48 hour pit stop will most likely push the Kiwi skipper to the back of the pack.

Bernard Stamm (SUI) continues to lead the fleet on CHEMINEES POUJOULAT, with Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN) on SPIRIT OF YUKOH 768 miles back in second. Following Dalton’s pit stop, the three back markers will be bunched together, although they will trail the leader by over 1,700 miles.

The second leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS is one of the most challenging in solo ocean racing, covering over 14,000 miles from Western Australia to Norfolk, Virginia (USA). The fleet are already battling the freezing expanses of the Southern Ocean before rounding Cape Horn and heading north through the Atlantic.