BT Challenge / Team VERITAS News

by Babs Day on 10 Sep 2000 Team VERITAS got off to a smooth start in the BT Global Challenge, which
got underway at 12.05 BST today. With a Force Two Easterly wind providing a
downwind start for the fleet, VERITAS was the first yacht to hoist her
spinnaker as the fleet headed for the line between Fort Gillkicker and the
Bretagne ferry.

As both a following wind and a favourable tide pushed the 12 yachts towards
the line, the fleet started conservatively, wary of being over the line at the
start. VERITAS, with Skipper Will Carnegie at the helm, crossed at the
offshore end of the line sailing at 3 knots, a few seconds behind Spirit of Hong
Kong.

The scene for the hundreds of spectator boats was stunning, as the fleet left
the East Bramble Buoy to port before heading towards Hurst Narrows and the
Needles. In the light and fluky winds the lead constantly shifted between the
leading pack of five yachts, which included VERITAS.

VERITAS left the dock at 8am this morning, with an exclusive fanfare provided
by the Royal Marines Brass Band. Former Pans People dancer Babs Powell
described the team as "focused and raring to go." Team Medic Fiji Goss also
conveyed the team’s optimism "We’re ready to go, this is what we’ve spent
two years preparing for."

Crewmember Charlie Bottrell explained before the start that the team was
anticipating the light conditions. "We’re expecting light winds for a few days,
so we’ll take it as it comes. We could do with a bit of wind as we had these
conditions for the qualifying sail and it was slightly frustrating. We need to get
past the Needles, before the tide turns at 4pm."