illbruck Challenge Starts Strong in Volvo Ocean Race Finale

by Press Release on 9 Jun 2002 Skipper John Kostecki and the illbruck Challenge race crew powered off the starting line today to take an early lead in the final 220 mile leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Escorted by an armada of spectator boats, illbruck Challenge led the fleet through the narrow channel to gain the initial advantage in the showdown sprint to Kiel that will determine the overall winner of the nine-stage Volvo Ocean Race.

The weather for the penultimate leg of the Volvo Ocean Race is shaping up
to be light and tricky. While Swedish sailing fans gave the fleet a spectacular send-off under sunny skies, the light and erratic breeze made the start challenging for the teams.

The fleet set starboard pole spinnakers early for a clean downwind start
in a patchy eight to 12-knot easterly breeze, illbruck setting themselves
up directly to windward of Assa Abloy. Initially, illbruck was in the lead just ahead of SEB, with djuice, Amer Sports One and Tyco all in close contention at the head of the fleet. The challenge was finding clear air in the narrow channel, with the fleet constantly gybing down the track, followed by the enthusiastic flotilla of supporters in a dying breeze.

As the Volvo Ocean Race fleet made its way towards the Trubaduren light, at the outer limit of the archipelago, it was illbruck just over a mile ahead of SEB, the rest of the fleet locked together in a tight group, but all struggling for wind.

The leg presents some difficult inshore sailing with many navigational problems and variable winds, according to illbruck Challenge meteorologist Chris Bedford. After leaving Gothenburg, the fleet will race southwest across The Kattegat off northeastern Denmark. This bit of sailing is more analogous to sailing on a very large lake than the open ocean. The waves are minor in this protected area of water, but local geography will play havoc with the winds, and sea breezes will keep the wind changing all the time. From The Kattegat, the fleet enters a narrow channel weaving between the islands of Denmark. Strong currents and fluky breezes will be found here before a short sprint across Kiel Bay to the finish.

While the leg is the shortest in distance of the nine-stage around-the-world race, the course as well as the expected light winds will provide huge challenges for the race crews. “We knew these last few legs had the potential to be quite light, so we’ve made some changes to the boat, to the sail inventory, to the way we’re sailing the boat, to adjust for lighter air,” Kostecki said. “We’re all really focused and ready to go,” Kostecki said before the start in Gothenburg.

The illbruck Challenge crew looks forward to an enthusiastic reception in
Kiel from friends, family, illbruck employees and customers and the thousands of German sailing fans who have been following the team since the around-the-world race started on September 23, 2001.

illbruck retains a five point margin over closest rival Assa Abloy, the only competitor in the fleet other than the German team with a chance at the overall win. illbruck Challenge, winner of Legs 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the around-the-world race, remain overall leader of the Volvo Ocean Race with 54 points. The overall standings going into Leg 9: Assa Abloy, 49 points; Amer Sports One, 40 points; Team News Corp, 40 points; Team SEB, 29; djuice, 25; and Amer Sports Too, 11.

The illbruck Challenge race crew for Leg 9: Ed Adams, tactician; Stu Bannatyne, Watch Captain; Stu “Waffler” Bettany, bow; Mark “Crusty” Christensen, Watch Captain; Richard Clarke, trimmer/helmsman; Ray “Hooray” Davies, trimmer/helmsman; Dirk “Cheese” de Ridder, trimmer; Jamie Gale,
mast; Ross “Rosco” Halcrow, trimmer and Sail Program Manager; Tony Kolb,
bow; John Kostecki, skipper; and Juan Vila, navigator.

The illbruck team’s progress can be followed on the Internet at
www.illbruck-Challenge.com.