Southampton, England, February 9, 2002 Day 14
Tales Of The Notorious Cape
Rounding Cape Horn (or Cape Hoorn as originally named) is still the
ultimate achievement for every sailor on the planet. No other stretch of
water on this planet has cost so many lives of brave seaman, has
challenged and broken the best and rewarded the ones who succeeded with
the highest honours. Rounding Cape Horn is regarded as the pinnacle of
round the world racing in the days when the shipping lanes of the world
prefer to lead through the Panama Canal. The crews in the Volvo Ocean Race
are the heirs of the sailors of the old days, “when the ships were of wood
and the men of steel”.
The sailing history of Cape Horn started less than 30 years after
Christopher Columbus succeeded in his first Atlantic crossing. Spain’s
King Charles approved Magellan's plan to get to the Spice Islands by
sailing west and granted him generous funds on March 22, 1518. In
September 1519, he set sail with 270 men, crossed the Atlantic and
followed the South American coastline to Patagonia. There he spent the
cold winter months and finally in the latter half of August 1520, Magellan
decided it was time to move south to look for a passage. Eventually in
October, the fleet sighted a strait and started through it. Magellan named
it the Strait of All Saints, but it later was named after him. The strait
was a tricky passage that took the fleet 38 days to pass through. While
sailing at night, the crew saw countless fires from distant Indian camps.
They called the land Tierra del Fuego (land of fire). During the last week
of November the three ships emerged from the strait to the open sea of the
Pacific. On September 6, 1522, almost three years from the day it began
its historic journey, the Victoria and 18 crew members, (without Ferdinand
Magellan, who was killed in the Pacific Ocean) arrived in Spain. It was
the first vessel to circumnavigate the globe.
50 years later, Francis Drake set sail from England in [1577] with 165
crewmen and five ships for the first English led circumnavigation. Drake's
voyage helped to give a more accurate picture of the true geography of the
world. During the course of the voyage, Drake discovered that Tierra del
Fuego, the land seen to the south of the Magellan Strait, was not part of
a southern continent as had been believed previously, but an archipelago,
or group of islands. Francis Fletcher, the chaplain on Drake's ship
described it like this:
In passing along we plainly discovered that same Terra Australis to be no
continent, but broken islands and large passages amongst them....
This meant that if the American continent was not connected to a southern
continent, the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans met at Cape Horn. It should
be possible to sail ships around the bottom of South America, south of
Tierra. This was the Cape Horn route, eventually discovered in 1616. The
Dutch navigator Willem Cornelis Schouten, the first to sail around the
cape (1616), named it for his birthplace, Hoorn, Netherlands.
While Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe, sailing along a more
southern course, James Cook and his "Resolution" safely rounded the cape
and continued its journey to explore Oceania. The stretch of water around
Cape Horn became really crowded from the start of the Gold Rush in
California until the completion of the railway lines. The clippers sailed
one after the other along the New York-San Francisco route, the same route
followed by the best sailors today. That was the era of the "cap horners",
of those who had rounded the terrible Cape Horn. Many vessels have
rounded the cape, but many others have failed. William Bligh, who later
demonstrated to be an able seaman when captain of the Bounty, failed to
round the cape in 1788. He reached Polynesia by rounding the Cape of Good
Hope.
The four-masted vessel "Edward Sewall” rounding of the cape lasted from
March 10th to May 8th in 1904. "Cambronne" took 92 days to go from one
to the other ocean. The rounding of this Cape has not been more perilous
than other well-known capes around the world, yet the passage from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean is complete only after having sailed the
1,000 miles or so that separate the Falkland Islands from Wellington,
along the Chilean coast. Whoever arrived from the Pacific Ocean had to
overcome the danger represented by the false Cabo de Hornos as the
Chileans, who own the area, call it. This cape is sighted twenty miles
ahead and, when surrounded by big breakers and foamy waves that carry
powered snow along their crests, it may confuse the helmsman who may
choose the tragically wrong route.
Joshua Slocum onboard "Spray" was not the first yachtsman to round the
cape, he preferred to go through the Magellan's Strait despite the
difficulties and the hostile natives. The first yachtsman who really tried
circumnavigation was the Australian Clio Smenton who, as a prize after the
wreckage of his "Pandora", received a copy of Slocum's boat. The first
yachtsman who really conquered the great Cape Horn was Connor O'Brien, who
rounded it with three friends on board the 42-footer "Saoirse", during the
circumnavigation between 1923 and 1925 becoming the first cap-horner in
history.
Prior to the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973 -74, less than
10 private sports yachts had ever rounded Cape Horn successfully. But
thanks to the Royal Navy the racers were not entirely alone. HMS Endurance
was stationed nearby to keep a watch on the racers as they rounded the
Horn. Happily, she wasn't needed. One by one the battered Whitbread boats
made their way past the treacherous Horn and headed north. By the time the
entire fleet had rounded they had more than doubled the number of sporting
yachts to do so.
In the 1977 - 78 race GBII (Great Britain II) had the honour of rounding
the Cape first, being pushed from astern by a Force 7 gale. Flyer was
next, rounding in a blinding snowstorm. By 18 January, most of the fleet
was safely around the Horn and heading for Rio. The Roaring 40s weren't
ready to quit, though, and 33 Export had no sooner rounded than she got
another blast. Whilst running under a spinnaker the boat suddenly
broached. Water surged across her decks, slamming crewman Eric Letrosne
against life-rails with such force it fractured his leg. It was an ugly
break. When the call for medical help went out, Japy-Hermes, with Dr.
Sarbarly aboard, responded. When it proved too rough to transfer Letrosne
to Japy-Hermes, Sarbarly swam through the ice cold water to 33 Export to
treat him.
The next race saw the first modern maxi yachts battling around Cape Horn.
Flyer, the yacht of the eventual winner Cornelis van Rietschoten rounded
the Cape Horn in January 13, 1982 just 30 minutes in front of his index
rival Ceramco with Peter Blake in charge. They raced the leg from Auckland
to Mar del Plata within sight of each other for most of the time.
In 1985 -86, The first boat to round Cape Horn was UBS Switzerland, on 4
March. One by one they rounded. In order were Cote d'Or, Atlantic
Privateer, Drum and Lion New Zealand. As they sailed north toward Punta
del Este, the boats were rewarded for the ordeal thy had to endure through
the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn with such natural wonders as Halley's
Comet, and hundreds of dolphins, from which streamed green trails of
phosphorescence at night.
In his last Whitbread Round the World Race, Peter Blake crowned his
historic victory with leading around Cape Horn. The two New Zealand yachts
Steinlager II and Fisher & Paykel rounded Cape Horn on 22 February. The
other Maxis followed a day behind, and three days behind them came Maiden
and Esprit de Liberté. It was a uneventful rounding by Cape Horn
standards. The weather, though mostly grey and cold, was not its usual
vicious self.
When the boats finally reached the dreaded Cape in the 1993 -94 race, it
failed to live up to its fearsome reputation. In fact, the fleet
experienced some of the best weather of the trip so far. The sun was out,
and winds were moderate. NZ Endeavour rounded the Cape first, with Tokio
the first V.O.60, then called the Whitbread 60 in history three miles
behind. Yamaha with Ross Field as skipper was the second V.O.60 to round.
In the last edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1997-98, Paul
Cayard described "Cape Horn is my Mount Everest. It came out of the fog,
this rugged land with waves crossing in different directions. The mystery
of the Cape evaporated as we sailed from the Southern Ocean into the South
Atlantic."
- - ends - -
Southampton, England, February 9, 2002 2200 GMT
Competition Heats Up For The Horn
In the lighter conditions illbruck is proving once again her ability to
change gears extremely fast and take miles out of the pursuing yachts,
securing the safety cushion to Amer Sports One and News Corp. Tyco and
ASSA ABLOY are decreasing their separation to the south continuously.
Toward Cape Horn the wind will swing to the north and increase.
“Tactically, illbruck and News Corp should continue to gain with this
situation and Tyco, ASSA ABLOY and djuice will lose miles,” analysed Paul
Cayard.
On djuice, the crew prepared the yacht for rounding the notorious cape,
double checking the equipment and bringing up more guys for the manoeuvres
to be safe in case of surprises the waters around Cape Horn holds for
them. Amer Sports Too is heading further to the northeast and will
approach Cape Horn, now 750 miles to the east, on a northerly route. SEB
has managed to increase the boat speed as a front with stronger winds has
already passed through.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 14, 2154 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 57 15.88S 071 37.48W 02416 077 17.4 372 0 +0 18 FEB 02 29
2 AONE 57 10.96S 073 10.84W 02461 070 16.4 351 45 +5 18 FEB 02 25
3 NEWS 57 16.68S 073 35.72W 02476 075 16.5 371 60 +4 18 FEB 02 22
4 TYCO 58 00.80S 073 32.08W 02491 067 16.9 324 75 +1 18 FEB 02 17
5 AART 58 06.88S 074 15.72W 02514 065 15.9 326 98 +6 18 FEB 02 19
6 DJCE 57 28.64S 075 59.24W 02553 067 15.2 315 137 +12 19 FEB 02 13
7 ATOO 57 09.96S 090 02.52W 03005 085 11.6 332 589 +34 20 FEB 02 7
8 TSEB 55 52.72S 095 44.76W 03203 075 06.5 162 787 +67 28 FEB 02 12
Southampton, England, February 9, 2002 1600 GMT
Volvo Ocean Race Fleet At Cape Horn Tomorrow
Illbruck gave an extremely good pace for the fleet, only sustainable for
News Corp who cut off two miles off their distance to the leading German
yacht. All other yachts had to accept losses, most in two digit figures.
News Corp's performance cannot be valued high enough after being put back
at the end of the table when they hit the iceberg and steadily climbed
back the leader board since after. From the current position, illbruck has
to sail 250 miles to Cape Horn.
Paul Cayard from Amer Sports One, lying on second position reported: “The
last six hours have seen the wind go right from 270 to 300 and increase
from 20 to 30 knots. That changed us from a full size running spinnaker
to a jib top and a reef.”
While the leading three yachts storm towards Cape Horn in a 30-knot
westerly wind, djuice in the west and Tyco and ASSA ABLOY further to the
south are sailing in 10 knots less. SEB has slightly slowed down in
lighter air on her way to Punta Arenas.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 14, 1554 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 57 39.32S 074 45.60W 02518 087 17.6 337 0 +0 18 FEB 02 29
2 AONE 57 44.80S 076 00.84W 02558 083 16.0 323 40 +7 18 FEB 02 25
3 NEWS 57 41.64S 076 32.68W 02574 087 17.6 349 56 -2 18 FEB 02 22
4 TYCO 58 40.40S 076 28.72W 02592 078 13.4 293 74 +24 18 FEB 02 17
5 AART 58 46.36S 077 01.12W 02610 075 13.5 305 92 +22 19 FEB 02 19
6 DJCE 58 03.48S 078 36.48W 02643 060 12.4 297 125 +31 19 FEB 02 13
7 ATOO 57 16.20S 092 08.20W 03073 099 14.5 336 555 +14 20 FEB 02 7
8 TSEB 56 03.04S 096 51.44W 03238 086 06.1 159 720 +66 28 FEB 02 12
Southampton, England, February 9, 2002 1000 GMT
Final approach into Cape Horn
illbruck and Amer Sports One have now almost reached News Corp’s line from
her northerly approach and appear to be on the port layline into Cape
Horn. Tyco and ASSA ABLOY are further to the south, allowing a more
heated angle into the Horn or alternatively this could present them with
an opportunity to pass well outside the Falkland Islands on their line up
towards the finish in Rio de Janeiro, thus avoiding the light winds that
could affect them further inshore. djuice is keeping her options open
right between the three boats to the north and the two to the south.
With winds forecasted for the leaders to back into the west and then veer
round into the north for a short time later and increase, the fleet are
waiting for the answer as to who made the correct approach. The boats
all appear to be agreed on the fact that the race is extremely likely to
start again, once they have rounded the corner in the second stage of this
leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 14, 0958 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 57 43.96S 078 00.44W 02620 081 14.3 309 0 0 18 FEB 02 29
2 AONE 57 55.84S 078 59.64W 02653 081 13.4 296 33 +5 18 FEB 02 25
3 TYCO 58 57.00S 078 58.76W 02670 071 12.3 282 50 +12 19 FEB 02 18
4 NEWS 57 47.44S 079 48.96W 02678 086 14.1 321 58 +3 19 FEB 02 21
5 AART 59 06.72S 079 32.64W 02690 074 13.6 292 70 +5 19 FEB 02 19
6 DJCE 58 40.16S 080 38.92W 02714 068 12.7 287 94 +11 19 FEB 02 13
7 ATOO 57 02.64S 094 48.44W 03161 097 14.4 298 541 -1 20 FEB 02 7
8 TSEB 56 05.92S 097 58.80W 03274 082 07.2 164 654 +46 28 FEB 02 12
Southampton, England, February 9, 2002 0400 GMT
Snow angels to suntans in 3 hours
Just six hours ago, the boats were reporting intermittent large amounts of
snow had fallen; djuice is now reporting that the top layers are peeled
off and the crew are enjoying exposing their skin to the rays of the sun
for the first time since they encountered the rigours of the Southern
Ocean. “Had an accumulation of a few inches on deck during the last
squall and I took the opportunity to do a few snow angels on deck.
Probably made quite a sight, big green snow monster flapping its arms and
legs on the deck,” wrote Richard Clarke from illbruck at 2115 GMT
yesterday.
At 0015 GMT today, Anthony Nock from djuice reported, “It has snowed every
day for the past 4 days, but this morning sun has come out and half an
hour after the last snowfall, I was grinding the spinnaker in a semi nude
form, working on my tan.”
As the boats continue to track north, the long awaited comfort of the
sunshine will improve. The wind has already made its way into the west
and is due to increase, giving the leading boats up to around 30 knots.
Tyco and ASSA ABLOY are to the south, with djuice in the middle of the
fleet and Amer Sports One, illbruck and News Corp to the north. Amer
Sports Too and SEB are more likely to feel stronger westerlies than the
rest of the fleet.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 13, 0358 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 57 56.92S 080 39.36W 02706 071 13.3 305 0 0 18 FEB 02 29
2 AONE 58 07.92S 081 29.44W 02734 073 13.0 287 28 +1 18 FEB 02 25
3 TYCO 59 21.00S 081 15.16W 02744 066 11.8 280 38 +9 19 FEB 02 18
4 NEWS 57 53.36S 082 25.88W 02761 075 14.0 312 55 -5 19 FEB 02 21
5 AART 59 29.00S 082 05.28W 02771 063 11.5 286 65 +11 19 FEB 02 19
6 DJCE 59 08.68S 082 54.52W 02789 077 12.4 285 83 +4 19 FEB 02 13
7 ATOO 56 51.88S 097 28.08W 03248 095 14.9 292 542 -9 20 FEB 02 7
8 TSEB 56 12.08S 099 14.72W 03314 072 07.3 169 608 +43 28 FEB 02 12
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