Oceanracing 2001 - Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002

Volvo Ocean Race 2001/2002

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Southampton, England, October 4, 2001 22.00 GMT
From Zero to Hero
Team Tyco may once again lead the Volvo Ocean Race this evening but her crew, like most in the fleet, has spent the day languishing in little breeze. At the other end of the spectrum, Team SEB (seventh overall) continue on their course for one of the most remarkable come backs in ocean sailing, elevating themselves from zero to heroes.
Gunnar Krantz’s crew, who just three to four days ago were not considered a threat, have joined an expressway south that could yet allow them to steal the show.
In the last six hours, they have extended their southerly advantage to over 70 miles (which includes 21 miles to the west) as they run downwind at around 10-12 knots.
Conditions for the rest of the fleet are frustratingly identical to the last 4-5 days, with wind and boat speeds anywhere from 2-7 knots. “Today was one of those days where working hard means sitting still and keeping movement to a minimum,” explained Dirk De Ridder, onboard second placed illbruck.
The estimated time of arrivals into Cape Town continue to be pushed back, with Grant Dalton on Amer Sports One fearing an extra 5-10 days of sailing. “When I look out now to the future, I still see the doldrums, the South Atlantic high and the prospect of a time between 35 and 40 days,” said Dalton, who is qualified to make such judgments, as this is his seventh circumnavigation.
Despite crawling along this evening, Knut Fostad and the djuice crew are still eyeing possibilities to get back into the race and join the virtual re-start all the skippers are predicting in the doldrums. “We have so far been in a hopeless situation where it always less wind in the north and therefore we had no chance of catching up from behind unless the leaders made fatal mistakes,” said Frostad.
“We could only push the boat as hard as possible, which we have (be sure...). The result has at least been that by being fast at any time we have made small gains when the leaders have made mistakes. Over the last 36 hours we have made some serious progress. We have now changed strategy compared to the leaders, based on our analysis, showing a no wind area developing to the south west of us. The interesting part is why the leaders have not reacted to this. I can only believe that they are so focused on staying together that no one dares to leave the pack and try to escape,” added Knut.
Frostad is also keeping an open mind on SEB’s progress and positioning, commenting. “We have models showing them 300 miles ahead of everyone in a week, and other models showing them 100 miles behind”.

Southampton, England, October 4, 2001 16.00 GMT
SEB The Come Back Kings
An interesting six hours lie ahead for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet as the latest leader board shows that it is currently anyone’s business to be at the top.
After a classic piece of one design strategic sailing, John Kostecki’s team on illbruck had manoeuvred themselves nicely between Team News Corp, Amer Sports One and the next waypoint of Arq. de Fernando de Noronha off Brazil.
Although illbruck technically has the lead, Steve Hayles has directed Tyco onto a flyer to the west that has brought them level with illbruck and sailing at double the pace.
ASSA ABLOY navigator Mark Rudiger summed up the snakes and ladders scenario this afternoon, joking: “At one point (last night) we just had to stop and laugh. Otherwise you would go nuts”. They are currently third, three miles adrift of Tyco but with an extra half a knot of boat speed to their credit.
However, while a week ago the fleet were only keeping a loose eye on SEB’s progress to the east, her performance over the last six hours will undoubtedly be a hot topic of debate.
Gunnar Krantz’s crew may be last overall, but they seem to have found the entrance to the highway they were looking for as they speed south at over 10 knots - at times double the speed of the rest of the fleet. They are currently 50 miles south of illbruck, but still have over 350 easterly miles to overcome.

Volvo Ocean Race Leg One Position Report, Day 12, 16.00hrs GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C PO ETA
1 ILBK 20 58.96N 025 04.56W 05217 221 03.8 127 00000 00.0 8 24-Oct-01
2 TYCO 21 12.32N 025 51.68W 05217 209 06.9 126 00000 02.2 7 24-Oct-01
3 AART 21 11.28N 025 36.44W 05220 207 07.3 130 00003 02.0 6 24-Oct-01
4 AONE 21 12.88N 025 22.00W 05225 195 08.7 117 00008 01.8 5 25-Oct-01
5 NEWS 21 10.32N 025 00.92W 05229 212 04.2 118 00012 00.5 4 25-Oct-01
6 ATOO 21 34.80N 024 34.28W 05259 186 02.2 176 00042 01.3 3 25-Oct-01
7 DJCE 21 36.84N 023 30.04W 05281 195 02.9 135 00064 -00.3 2 25-Oct-01
8 TSEB 20 03.00N 019 08.64W 05299 185 12.1 187 00082 05.9 1 25-Oct-01

Southampton, England, October 4, 2001 1000 GMT
Drink Mate, Drink
Illbruck is still heading on a more westerly course to get between the other leading yachts and the next waypoint. Amer Sports One slowed down most a they lost the breeze an were becalmed for some hours as Grant Dalton wrote: “Totally becalmed all night and the dawn has come with an oily ocean and the promise of a very hot day in the direct sunlight. Lets hope the other boats have had a similar night. We are simply trapped by a hole that has developed and come over the fleet.”
The all female crew on Amer Sports Too is still catching up with double speed to Amer Sports One, now only 30 miles behind their next competitor. Assa Abloy, Tyco and News Corp are on same distance to the finish but separated from each other by approximately 20 miles. Team SEB and djuice dragons are trying to catch up after their damage to the headboard cars last week.
Nutrition is becoming an important factor in the tropical heat with little wind and the temperatures rising. To secure that the crews are drinking enough different schemes were introduced like drinking on command led by the skipper or medic and all sailors are encouraged to look after their mates. Normally people are advised to drink two litres per day, in the heat and when working hard it can rise to eight litres. Some crews are using supplements in their drinking water to provide the necessary minerals. All teams have been working with nutritionists during the preparation for the Volvo Ocean Race. Water is produced on board with water makers, which convert salt water to fresh water with up to 40 litres per hour.
Southampton, England, October 4, 2001 0400 GMT
Coming Up From Behind
During eight hours last night, Illbruck gybed 16 times, trying to gain on every wind shift. ASSA ABLOY and Tyco eventually split after ASSA ABLOY gybed to find her own way 20 miles further to the east. Grant Dalton on Amer Sports One is positive how things are going for him, as he is able to keep up with the narrower Farr designed yachts with larger sails. Before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race, he expected to have a slight disadvantage in the conditions the fleet experiences for five days in a row.
Amer Sports Too Crew and djuice made more big gains on the leading group and are now just 60 miles away and closing. Team SEB still sails her easterly course along the African coast. The fleet is now 270 miles north of the Cape Verde Islands.