Race leader going tropical in Aircalin Auckland to Noumea race

by Emails from the Auckland to Noumea race on 27 May 2002 Email from Philippe Coste aboard Rogntudjuuu, Aircalin Auckland to Noumea race, received 10.43

'After one and a half days of 30 knot winds from the SW and big seas we are now into 10 knot winds from SSE. It has enabled us to go up the mast and fix the VHF antenna and windex.

We are now drying out and in t shirts.

We are impatiently waiting for wind and have 400 miles to go.'

Email from Mustang Sally

We had a good run up the coast and were neck and neck with Bodacious along with 3 others inside the Poor Knights but come yesterday morning our furler broke and we spent the next 22 hours with only storm jib as head sail until we effected temporary repairs this am.

Lost a lot of ground on our companions of the night before but are now back up to speed. Apart from that, a still malfunctioning refrigeration system and a bit of mal de mer amongst some of crew, alls well.

Conditions are moderating and the sun is out (lat 31.35 S).

Regards

Warren Batt