12.01.2006
Pirates’ Drama
Overnight, Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) was overtaken by movistar when the crew noticed cracks in the area of its keel support structure. Water was coming into the boat from those cracks and still is. The rate of water flow is manageable at this time. Paul Cayard has sent this report:
”Sail was immediately reduced. Photos and video of the cracks were recorded and sent to the designer of the boat.
”Several hours were spent discussing this issue with the designers of the boat. A certain level of comfort was achieved and we proceeded, with reduced sail, east at 12 knots through the night.
”This morning we have reviewed the drawings of how this area was designed. It is not clear to us if this is structural damage or superficial. The fact that water is coming into the boat is not reassuring. We have a made a new video and photos in the daylight, and sent them off to the designers.
”We have run tests with 0, 20 and 40 degrees of cant while inspecting the area. 40 degrees is definitely alarming. The cracks open and close as the loads change and the water flow is more and less accordingly. 20 degrees seems tolerable.
”It is not clear to us, and probably will never be clear to us or anyone, how serious this damage is until we reach land. We simply can't properly inspect the area out here.
”On the weather side, the best winds to help us make the progress toward Australia are during the next 30 hours. We currently have winds from the northwest. Eventually, we will fall "of the back" of this system and be hit with less favourable winds from southeast. There is danger in being out here for long time.
”Therefore, considering all of the above, I have decided to run the boat up to 80% of full speed at this time, with a maximum of 20 degree of cant, to make as much progress as reasonably possible in these conditions.
”Naturally we are taking all precautions necessary for any eventuality.
”In general, all is well and stable onboard the Black Pearl.”
LEG TWO DAY 11, 12.1.06, 1000 GMT POSITION REPORT
YACHT
LAT
LONG
DTF
SMG
24 Hour Run
24 Hour Speed
DTL
DTLC
SGPTS
LPTS
TLPTS
RPTD
ETA
OVERALL
1
ABN1
42 30.56S
093 45.49E
02554
19.5
513
21.4
00000
+00000
3.5
7.0
10.5
25.5
19/01/06 __:__:__
1
2
ABN2
41 56.50S
088 44.84E
02767
21.7
529
22.0
00213
+00013
3
6.0
9.0
21.0
20/01/06 __:__:__
2
3
MOVI
41 20.77S
086 07.45E
02881
21.0
510
21.3
00327
+00010
2
5.0
7.0
13.0
21/01/06 __:__:__
4
4
POTC
41 51.92S
085 01.38E
02932
16.7
417
17.4
00378
-00017
2.5
4.0
6.5
11.5
21/01/06 __:__:__
6
5
AUS1
41 33.26S
067 35.28E
03712
12.4
274
11.4
01158
-00040
0
3.0
3.0
8.0
28/01/06 __:__:__
7
6
BRA1
40 11.77S
037 07.19E
05083
19.0
396
16.5
02529
-00001
0
2.0
2.0
14.5
02/02/06 __:__:__
3
7
ERIC
33 57.56S
025 37.90E
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ABN1 ABN AMRO ONE
ABN2 ABN AMRO TWO
AUS1 ING Real Estate Brunel
BRA1 Brasil 1
ERIC Ericsson Racing Team
MOVI movistar
POTC Pirates of the Caribbean
DTF: distance to finish, SMG: Speed made good, DTL: distance to leader,
DTLC: distance to leader change; the difference between the distance from the boat to the leader taken at the time of the last six hour poll, and the distance from the boat to the leader at the previous poll
SGPTS: points scored at scoring gates on this leg to date
LPTS: projected leg points
TLPTS: projected overall leg points including actual points from scoring gates
RPTD: projected overall points including actual points from scoring gates
OVERALL: projected position in race overall if yacht maintains current position
Lizzie Green Press Officer at race headquarters:
Tel: +44 1489 554 832, Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Sophie Luther Press Assistant at race headquarters
Mob: +44 7956 285548 email: sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.org
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