Pressemitteilung der illbruck Challenge am 7. Tag der 4. Etappe des Volvo
Ocean Race
2. Februar 2002
„illbruck“ übernimmt Führung im Eismeer
„News Corp“ gleichauf / „Amer Sports One“ im Norden zurückgefallen
Die Leverkusener Hochseeyacht „illbruck“ hat am Sonnabend Vormittag die
Führung in der vierten Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race von Auckland nach Rio
de Janeiro übernommen. Dabei lag die Crew um Skipper John Kostecki zwar
nach verbleibenden 5.110 von insgesamt 6.700 Seemeilen gleichauf mit der
australischen „News Corp“, jedoch nach exakter Position etwas vor. Auf
Rang drei zwölf Seemeilen zurück folgte die „Amer Sports One“
(Finnland/Italien), die ihre Führung vom Vortag als nördlichstes Boot
wieder abgeben musste. Die Bedingungen waren rau : Windstärke neun bis
zehn, Wellenberge bis über 13 Meter hoch und die zum ersten Mal seit dem
Ritt von Kapstadt nach Sydney wieder Eisberge in Sicht.
Es waren zwar meist nur kleinere abgebrochene Schollen, doch die
sommerliche Treibeisgrenze der Antarktis scheint dieses Jahr besonders
weit nördlich zu liegen. Derzeit segeln die Yachten zwischen dem 55. und
58. Grad südlicher Breite. Obwohl das Wasser noch acht bis neun Grad
Celsius warm war, mussten die Crews schon Obacht geben, die teils
gefährlich scharfen Eistücke nicht zu rammen. Bei den derzeitigen
Bootsgeschwindigkeiten 18 bis 20 Knoten (ca. 35 km/h) kann das bereits zu
Schäden zum Beispiel an der Ruderanlage führen. „An Bord ist es alles
andere als gemütlich“, berichtete die „illbruck“-Crew, „das Wasser fliegt
wieder waagerecht übers Deck.“ Nun müssen die Besatzungen vor allem nachts
über Radar auch noch Eiswache gehen. Sie dürften übers Wochenende bis
unter den 60. Breitengrad nach Süden abtauchen.
Mit dem Zwischenstand war die Mannschaft um Skipper John Kostecki jedoch
hochzufrieden. Die Taktik ihres härtesten Verfolgers in der Gesamtwertung,
der Zweitplatzierten „Amer Sports One“, frühzeitig vom Südkurs Richtung
Osten nach Kap Hoorn abzudrehen, war nicht aufgegangen. Eine kurzfristige
Führung schmolz über Nacht dahin, und Skipper Grant Dalton sowie der
eigens für diese Etappe engagierte Taktiker Paul Cayard (Sieger 97/98)
litten im Norden der anderen Schiffe bald unter schwächerem Wind und
holten erst nach dem Morgengrauen wieder auf. Während die „Tyco“ (Bermuda)
nach einem Kurswechsel als Viertplazierte 14 Seemeilen zurück zunächst am
besten mit der Spitze mithalten konnte, waren die Boote in der Mitte, „SEB
“, „Assa Abloy“ (beide Schweden) und „djuice“ (Norwegen) alle langsamer
und verloren an Borden. Sie lagen am siebten Tag rund 28 Seemeilen hinter
der „illbruck“. Die Frauen der „Amer Sports Too“ verloren schon 176
Seemeilen und dürften den Anschluss an das Feld bereits verpasst haben.
Mit einer Ankunft der Sieger in Brasilien wird nicht vor dem 19. Februar
gerechnet.
Weitere Informationen:
Andreas Kling
Tel: 0064/21/184-7474
(0172/2578817)
akling@illbruck-Challenge.com
http://media.illbruck-Challenge.de
http://www.illbruck.com
Southampton, England, February 2, 2002 1600 GMT
Wind and ice
ASSA ABLOY, News Corp, SEB and djuice have now all reported sightings of
ice and conditions are becoming tougher all the time with high winds and
rough seas for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet. News Corp has taken the lead
by just one mile from illbruck. Ross Field wrote from News Corp earlier
that he had never seen so much ice in the Southern Ocean, “Never seen so
many icebergs and growlers in all my sailing in the Southern Ocean…. we
passed within 20 feet of growler.”
Amer Sports One is converging towards the fleet from the north in around
37 knots of wind, and illbruck, ASSA ABLOY, djuice and Tyco are now on a
more easterly course towards Cape Horn, some 2,750 nautical miles away.
SEB appears to have lost a little wind in the south as she is now sailing
in around 20 knots, but she and News Corp are both continuing to push
further south.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 7, 1554 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 NEWS 57 44.52S 158 35.40W 05016 105 17.0 396 0 0 19 FEB 02 24
2 ILBK 56 48.56S 157 13.00W 05017 090 20.1 420 1 +1 19 FEB 02 28
3 AONE 56 22.72S 157 02.64W 05029 104 17.0 390 13 +1 19 FEB 02 24
4 TYCO 57 08.52S 158 14.00W 05030 095 18.8 416 14 0 19 FEB 02 17
5 TSEB 57 56.68S 160 20.12W 05051 108 15.2 380 35 +8 19 FEB 02 15
6 DJCE 56 52.16S 158 51.04W 05056 097 16.1 397 40 +12 19 FEB 02 13
7 AART 56 44.80S 158 49.48W 05060 086 17.8 390 44 +16 19 FEB 02 17
8 ATOO 55 14.56S 162 11.08W 05204 102 15.6 350 188 +12 20 FEB 02 6
Southampton, England, February 2, 2002 Day 7
Ice watches for the V.O.60s
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet are now on constant alert for ice. Whether
they are watching for larger icebergs on the radar or growlers and small
fragments while they are on deck, the crews must remain extra vigilant
especially at night. With SEB furthest in the south, she has reported
multiple sightings of small free-floating fragments and growlers, as well
as larger ones on the radar. ASSA ABLOY, News Corp and djuice have also
made sightings. As the boats are currently sailing with spinnakers and
maintaining average speeds of up to 20 knots, this can be extremely
dangerous.
Ross Field reported earlier from News Corp, that there was concern in the
crew and that they were now on full ice alert, “Never seen so many
icebergs and growlers in all my sailing in the Southern Ocean. Spotted our
first one and then all of a sudden sighted many others with growlers
everywhere. We were sailing thru, surfing at 23 knots, small bits of ice
and at one stage we passed within 20 feet of growler. Global warming????
I say yes, there is ice breaking off the ice cap all the time. I have
never seen ice on this leg of the race before.”
“I am seriously worried now with night approaching. We have the radar on
full time and praying like hell we miss. Those jokes 'the ice bergs go
away at night' have disappeared and there is real concern,” continued
Field.
John Kostecki wrote from illbruck that they were sailing in strong winds
and he was also concerned about spotting ice at night, “We are seeing ice,
getting strong winds and having rough seas. Many boats today reported
growlers, small bits of ice, which were not showing up on the radar
screen. This is scary. What do you do at night? Good question..... we do
not have an answer, except hang on and hope for the best.”
illbruck were still pushing on with the spinnaker up in 40 knots of wind,
but were keeping an eye on the situation for any changes in wind speed,
“We also had some strong breeze today gusting to 40 knots. It is a bit
much with the kite up at times, but you just ride it out. You have to play
the averages. Keep an eye on the average wind speed over a period time,
which gives you the trend. If the trend is up, over 35-40 knots, then it
might be time to drop the kite.... But are the other guys doing that? We
don't know, but we do know that everyone is pushing these boats to the
limit.”
The off watch crews are now even sleeping in their foul weather gear, in
case they are required on deck in a hurry for sail changes, “This is the
whole thing about 'stand by'! I'm actually off watch, typing this report
and getting ready to nap, but every second off watch I’m on 'standby'. If
it's really rough, the 'standby' will sleep either in their full wet
weather gear on the sails downstairs or with their boots and gear down
around your ankles, but in a bunk, for easy and fast dressing” came back
from djuice.
SEB has now set herself up as the southernmost boat in the fleet, with
Amer Sports One in the north and converging towards the other boats.
illbruck and News Corp currently share the lead.
Southampton, England, January 2, 2002 1000 GMT
News Corp And illbruck Share Lead
SEB the southernmost boat recorded multiple ice sightings and two small
icebergs, News Corp reported “ice sightings all the time, large and
small”.
Amer Sports One was the fastest yacht over the last six hours, just under
20 knots of average boat speed in up to 47 knots of wind. The waves built
up as well and the onboard wave height sensor recorded a 13,45 metre high
mountain.
ASSA ABLOY, Tyco and djuice started to level out on an easterly course,
while illbruck, SEB and News Corp still head further south towards 60
south. This will give them a shorter course, but extreme temperatures as
well.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 7, 0946 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 56 49.44S 160 56.80W 05110 111 18.8 392 0 -4 19 FEB 02 29
2 NEWS 57 17.76S 161 42.64W 05110 109 18.2 380 0 +0 19 FEB 02 23
3 AONE 55 57.92S 160 04.32W 05122 113 19.7 375 12 -10 19 FEB 02 24
4 TYCO 56 57.80S 161 43.44W 05124 104 19.3 388 14 -1 19 FEB 02 17
5 TSEB 57 27.96S 163 05.36W 05137 113 17.2 361 27 +4 19 FEB 02 15
6 AART 56 52.36S 162 08.36W 05138 104 18.4 367 28 +4 19 FEB 02 18
7 DJCE 56 40.56S 161 50.48W 05138 109 18.8 382 28 -2 19 FEB 02 12
8 ATOO 54 54.92S 164 54.52W 05286 111 16.2 328 176 +12 20 FEB 02 6
Southampton, England, January 2, 2002 0400 GMT
Fragments And Growlers
The first ice was sighted on this leg of the Volvo Ocean Race and Nick
White, navigator and meteorologist aboard News Corp described it as “many
small growler and fragments”. The yachts must have reached the northern
boundaries of the summer ice, as the water is still relatively warm with 9
degrees C.
Amer Sports One is sailing under small spinnaker in 25 knots of breeze
under an overcast sky with sunny spells. Air temperature has dropped to 10
degrees C. illbruck has moved up another place and is just four miles
short of News Corp’s lead. Tyco left the southerly position, eased the
sheets and moved north, losing a mile, while SEB did exactly the opposite
and gained nine. ASSA ABLOY, djuice and Amer Sports Too continue straight
on their southeasterly course.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 7, 0400 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 NEWS 56 44.48S 164 40.68W 05205 119 17.3 360 0 +0 19 FEB 02 24
2 ILBK 56 11.76S 163 56.64W 05209 123 17.5 372 4 -3 19 FEB 02 28
3 TYCO 56 30.72S 164 55.40W 05220 111 17.9 362 15 +1 19 FEB 02 18
4 AONE 55 15.28S 163 05.84W 05227 122 15.0 339 22 +13 19 FEB 02 23
5 TSEB 56 50.88S 165 50.36W 05228 133 18.2 335 23 -9 19 FEB 02 15
6 AART 56 26.52S 165 11.44W 05229 119 16.4 339 24 +6 19 FEB 02 18
7 DJCE 56 05.44S 164 51.00W 05235 112 17.9 357 30 +0 19 FEB 02 12
8 ATOO 54 22.96S 167 21.96W 05369 105 14.6 302 164 +27 20 FEB 02 6
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