Dismastings and damaged sails
As the Volvo fleet plug south the retirements have started in the Hobart Race
Sydney, 27.12.2001
Die Volvoflotte im Tornado vor der Küste
Ein heftiger Wirbelsturm im Gewitter und zehn Meter hohe Wellen
hoch am Wind vor der australischen Küste südlich Sydneys waren die äußeren
Bedingungen der ersten 24 Stunden der dritten Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race.
Sie beutelten vor allen die Teilnehmer der traditionellen Regatta von
Sydney nach Hobart, von denen mehrere mit Materialschäden aufgeben mussten.
Doch die Weltumsegler, allen voran die Crew der Leverkusener Yacht
„illbruck“, trotzten dem Unbill. Skipper John Kostecki und seine Mannen
hatten zur Halbzeit des 630 Seemeilen langen Klassikers, der den ersten
Teil der Etappe nach Auckland/Neuseeland bildet, eine hauchdünne Führung
in einer Vierergruppe erkämpft.
26.12.2001
Start Sydney-Hobart-Race 2001
Today, in the early morning coolness, Darling Harbour, Sydney, was a hive
of activity as the crews starting leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race made
their final preparations and bade their last farewells.
It was a more sombre occasion than the usual razzamatazz of restart
mornings, a request made by the teams, and heightened when the boats
formed a semi-circle in front of the Pyrmont Bridge. The crews stood
quietly together and then threw wreathes into the water, in memory of Sir
Peter Blake, a man who meant so much to so many of the competitors who are
racing today.
The skippers then turned their boats towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge and
the Opera House, and motored towards the start line situated just east of
Bradley’s head and north of Shark Island. A southwesterly 6 – 8 knot
breeze was blowing straight down the racetrack, the sky hazy with smoke
from the still-burning bush fires, the air pungent and heavy with ash.
At 1300 local time, the start gun for the 57th Sydney Hobart yacht race
and leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race was fired. For the first time in
history, both fleets started simultaneously, the boats racing in the Volvo
Ocean Race starting 200 metres in front the other 75 yachts which were
contesting the CYCA Sydney Hobart.
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