Pressemitteilung der illbruck Challenge am 17. Tag der 5. Etappe des Volvo
Ocean Race
25. März 2002
„illbruck“ platzte Spi – Vorsprung schmilzt
21 sm vor „Assa Abloy“ und 22 vor „Tyco“, die wieder die Plätze getauscht
haben
Miami – Das Finale der fünften Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race scheint
nochmals spannend zu werden. Die Leverkusener Hochseeyacht „illbruck“
büßte in der Nacht zu Montag einige Seemeilen ihres Vorsprungs ein und
führt knapp 500 sm vor dem Ziel in Miami/USA nur noch mit 21 sm vor der
„Assa Abloy“ (Schweden) und 22 sm vor der „Tyco“ (Bermudas), die wieder
die Plätze getauscht haben. Der Grund dürfte unter anderem in einem
geplatzten Gennaker liegen, den das deutsche Boot in einer Regenböe
vollständig zerriss und verlor. Dieses große, asymmetrisch geschnittene
Vorsegel war in den herrschenden leichten bis mäßigen Winden schräg von
hinten besonders wichtig.
„Wir hatten die dunkle Wolkenwand schon kommen gesehen und wollten auf
einen schwereren Spi wechseln“, berichtete Steuermann und Segeltrimmer Ray
Davies. „Aber kurz vor dem Manöver, mit dem wir gleichzeitig auch eine
Halse fahren wollten, nahm der Wind dann wieder ab.“ Doch genauso schnell
legte er auch wieder zu und erwischte die „illbruck“ mit dem zu dünnen
Tuch auf dem falschen Fuß. Davies: „Er teilte sich erst horizontal in zwei
Stücke, und dann blieb am Ende nicht ein einziger Fetzen davon zurück.“
Zunächst sah es danach aus, als sollte die gesamtführende „illbruck“
diesen Verlust unbeeindruckt wegstecken können. Sie vergrößerte die
Distanz zu den Verfolgern sogar noch, die mutmaßten, es sei vielleicht ein
zweites, baugleiches Segel dieser Art an Bord. Doch inzwischen scheint
sich der Missstand im Inventar doch bemerkbar zu machen. Die Gegner
wittern Morgenluft und knabbern an der Distanz zum grün-weißen Boot. Bis
zum Zieleinlauf, der am späten Dienstag Abend Ortszeit, also in der Nacht
zu Mittwoch in Deutschland erwartet wird, soll es weiter taktisch
schwierige Bedingungen mit wechselhaften Winden geben.
Unterdessen werden auch die Positionskämpfe weiter hinten im Feld unter
höchster Konzentration mit vollem Einsatz weitergeführt. Dabei hat die
„News Corp“ (Australien) hinter der „SEB“ (Schweden) den fünften Platz von
der „Amer Sports One“ (Finnland/Italien) zurückerobert. Am Ende
verteidigen die Frauen der „Amer Sports Too“ weiter erfolgreich den
vorletzten Rang gegen die „djuice“ (Norwegen), die 171 Seemeilen hinter
der „illbruck“ zurückliegt.
Southampton, England, March 25, 2002 1600 GMT
Sailing Ballet
ASSA ABLOY and Tyco are currently 23 miles east of San Salvador, the
island where Columbus is said to have landed more than 500 years ago when
discovering America. Their sailing is completely synchronised, like in
ballet, gybing at the very same moment. Both yachts are still neck and
neck in hot pursuit of illbruck. As the wind is forecast to become light
and straight from astern after entering the Providence Channel, they will
see their chance to roll over illbruck.
After choosing different lanes this morning when they split tacks, djuice
and Amer Sports Too met again. They are both 536 miles from Miami and will
put all they can into coming out of this battle ahead of the other
competitor.
Further gains have been made by News Corp in conditions, where frequent
clouds changed the wind conditions. They left Amer Sports One behind and
started challenging SEB, cutting away 10 miles of SEB’s lead and leaving
them only seven miles in front.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 17, 1556 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 24 28.72N 074 21.80W 331 306 11.2 290 0 0 26/03/02 21:58 37
2 AART 24 08.68N 074 06.16W 353 299 10.8 299 22 +1 26/03/02 23:59 27
3 TYCO 24 09.12N 074 04.44W 354 300 10.6 295 23 +2 27/03/02 00:05 24
4 TSEB 23 38.20N 073 20.68W 405 291 11.7 285 74 -2 27/03/02 04:40 17
5 NEWS 23 30.32N 073 16.08W 412 308 13 301 81 -12 27/03/02 05:25 23
6 AONE 23 22.52N 073 10.36W 421 302 12.5 288 90 -10 27/03/02 06:15 25
7 DJCE 22 54.48N 071 03.04W 536 286 10.6 240 205 +4 27/03/02 16:38 19
8 ATOO 22 53.28N 071 02.80W 536 300 10.7 237 205 +3 27/03/02 16:36 8
Southampton, England, March 25, 2002 Day 17
Discovery of America
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet is back in historic waters. Racing around the
world on the tracks of their ancestors Columbus, Magellan and Cook, the
heirs of the tradition will spare a thought when they pass San Salvador,
one of the Bahamas’ islands. After crossing the equator twice, passing all
the great capes of the southern hemisphere it is now San Salvador, the
first landfall site of Christopher Columbus on his initial voyage of
discovery in 1492. Four separate monuments mark the exact spot Columbus
came ashore, however, it is generally regarded that he landed at Long Bay
where a big stone cross stands. Called Guanahani by the native Lucayan
Indians, Columbus renamed the island San Salvador or "Holy Saviour".
After landing on a small island on Oct. 12, 1492, in what he believed were
the Indies, Columbus sailed along the coast of Cuba, certain that he had
finally reached the continent of Cathay. He searched in vain for the
magnificent cities Marco Polo had described, hoping to deliver a letter
from the Spanish monarchs to “the great Khan,” the Chinese emperor.
“Afterwards,” Columbus wrote on Oct. 21, “I shall set sail for another
very large island which I believe to be Cipango, according to the
indications I receive from the Indians on board.” Columbus's Japan proved
to be the island of Hispaniola.
While John Kostecki reindexs favourite to earn another triumph, the four
contenders lying between second and sixth place will be trying every trick
in the book to gain an advantage in the approach to Miami.
Illbruck was lucky last night that the wind backed slightly to the east,
giving them a wind-angle that suits the downwind sails that are left on
the boat after the loss of the light air gennaker yesterday. Still, Tyco
and ASSA ABLOY were able to close the gap to just 21 miles, which equals
less than two hours sailing in the current conditions.
The difference between second and third in this leg could prove decisive
for both Team Tyco and ASSA ABLOY, who are currently fighting it out for
runners-up place. Each sked brings a new development and each email hints
at the intense rivalry that exists between the two boats.
Steve Hayles, navigator on Tyco wrote: “We were holding them [ASSA ABLOY]
off, when our full size heavy masthead chute blew up and left the whole
crew scrabbling to get the pieces down and a new replacement spinnaker
onto the bow. It did not take too long to sort out, but when the
opposition is moving at 15 knots and you are doing 10 they cover ground
pretty fast and they ended up directly abeam of us to weather. We hung on
ok with our undersize reaching chute for some time, but the breeze has
lifted now and we are desperate for the repair to be finished. It’s about
an hour away at present by which time we will be 1.5 miles behind them.
The battle continues and is likely to do so until the end, ASSA ABLOY is
without question very fast and have an edge in a variety of conditions but
we will keep pushing and we know that the reindexder of the leg is far from
simple which will really put the pressure on them.”
Amer Sports Too and djuice have split on different tacks this morning.
Amer Sports Too sailed towards the west into the favourable Antilles
Current. Djuice stayed on a northwesterly course, which took them faster
to the finish - for the moment. As a result they have swapped positions on
the leader-board, leaving Amer Sports Too in last place.
SEB, News Corp and Amer Sports One are sailing their own race for fourth
place with just 24 miles between them. As all three are sailing in
different lanes, fourth place is within reach of each of them.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 17, 1000 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 23 49.20N 073 22.48W 397 305 14.7 278 0 0 26/03/02 22:03 37
2 AART 23 37.04N 073 04.56W 418 310 14.8 283 21 0 26/03/02 23:54 27
3 TYCO 23 37.40N 073 04.24W 418 310 14.6 282 21 -1 26/03/02 23:54 24
4 TSEB 23 12.64N 072 09.76W 473 305 13.8 274 76 +6 27/03/02 04:57 17
5 NEWS 22 42.40N 072 10.04W 490 306 13.4 282 93 +8 27/03/02 06:28 23
6 AONE 22 42.88N 072 00.48W 497 308 12.6 273 100 +13 27/03/02 07:05 25
7 DJCE 22 37.20N 069 57.16W 598 285 9.9 240 201 +30 27/03/02 16:17 19
8 ATOO 22 22.08N 070 04.40W 599 267 10.3 239 202 +34 27/03/02 16:27 8
PS – Position; DTF – Distance to Finish; CMG – Course made good; SMG –
Speed made good; TFHR – 24 hours run; DTL – Distance to leader; DTL-C –
Distance to leader change; ETA – Estimated time of arrival; PO –
accumulated Points
Southampton, England, March 25, 2002 1000 GMT
Look Over Your Shoulder, Kostecki
Illbruck was lucky that the wind backed slightly to the east, giving them
a wind-angle that suits the downwind sails that are left on the boat after
the loss of the light air gennaker yesterday. Still, Tyco and ASSA ABLOY
were able to close the gap to just 21 miles, which equals less than two
hours sailing in the current conditions.
Amer Sports Too and djuice have split on different tacks. Amer Sports Too
sails towards the west into the favourable Antilles Current. Djuice stayed
on a north-westerly course, taking them faster to the finish - for the
moment. Currently they have swapped positions on the leader-board, leaving
Amer Sports Too in last place.
SEB, News Corp and Amer Sports One are sailing their own race for fourth
place with just 24 miles between them. As all three are sailing in
different lanes, fourth place is within reach of each of them.
2002-03-25, 04:00
Back markers lose out.
The fleet leaders are now 150 nautical miles south east from the island of
San Salavador. This island was previously called Watling Island, until and
act of the Bahamas Parliament restored the name of San Salavador in 1927.
It is thought by many to be the first island in the New World to feel the
footprints of Columbus on its beaches.
At the moment our fleet are experiencing moderate seas with a breeze of
sixteen knots from the east. The skies are reported to be partly cloudy,
the water temperature twenty-six centigrade and the air eighty five
Fahrenheit.
Tyco has lost second place to ASSA ABLOY who is now one mile ahead of them
and Amer Sports One has lost its hold on fifth place to News Corp who is
currently two miles in front of their rival. The back markers Amer Sports
Too and Djuice lost out hugely to the leader 19 miles and 17 miles
respectively.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 17, 0412 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 22 59.12N 072 03.88W 485 303 12.9 239 0 0 27/03/02 00:03 37
2 AART 22 39.92N 071 50.92W 506 306 13.8 250 21 -3 27/03/02 01:57 27
3 TYCO 22 40.56N 071 49.36W 507 305 13.5 249 22 -1 27/03/02 01:53 24
4 TSEB 22 25.84N 070 56.48W 555 309 12.5 250 70 +3 27/03/02 06:27 17
5 NEWS 21 55.32N 071 00.08W 570 308 13.3 268 85 -2 27/03/02 07:47 23
6 AONE 21 57.08N 070 56.16W 572 307 13.1 265 87 0 27/03/02 07:56 25
7 ATOO 22 25.04N 068 56.48W 653 314 10.4 999999 168 +19 27/03/02 15:17 9
8 DJCE 22 21.60N 068 55.32W 656 313 10.5 241 171 +17 27/03/02 15:36 18
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