Southampton, England, May 1, 2002 Day 4
World Speed Sailing Record For illbruck
At 1534 GMT yesterday it looked as though illbruck had broken the 24 Hour
Monohull World Record by covering a huge 473 nautical miles, just a few
hours later the crew has pushed even harder and, subject to confirmation
and ratification by the International Sailing Federation, she has achieved
a staggering 484 nautical miles. This was achieved between 2002 GMT on 29
April and the same time today, 30 April 2002. As focused as ever,
skipper John Kostecki, said: “It feels great going fast and we also had
the benefit of the Gulf Stream pushing us, so it is great to get the
record.
We have about 25 to 30 knots of wind and we have our masthead spinnaker up
and probably for the last eight or nine hours we had our smaller reaching
spinnaker up. So it is the combination of two or three sails that broke
the record for us. We kept the watch system the same, we are trying to win
this leg of the Volvo Ocean Race and it just happens that we are going
fast enough to break the world record.
The atmosphere was extremely happy when we heard that we have broken the
record. But we were soon back to business and really racing hard.”
For several 10-minute periods illbruck has averaged 27 knots of boat
speed. Deducting the three-knot push of the Gulf Stream still leaves 24
knots through the water. Impressive by any means. The previous record was
held by Bernard Stamm on the Open 60 Armor Lux (467.70 nautical miles,
19.49 knots average speed) since January 2001, sailed in the Gulf Stream
as well. EDS has sponsored a trophy for the record.
The presence of waves big enough for the V.O.60s to surf makes a big
difference to boat speeds. A top helms person is vital in surfing
conditions, as they can make a big difference by holding the boat on each
surf that tiny bit longer.
Whilst leading the fleet, illbruck has managed to hold onto a lead of 14
nautical miles ahead of the second placed yacht, ASSA ABLOY. ASSA ABLOY
has managed to pull slightly ahead of Tyco into second place.
illbruck is not the only V.O.60 yacht to have broken the both the class
and world records, again subject to confirmation and ratification, it
looks very likely that Tyco has achieved a 24 hour run of 474 miles, ASSA
ABLOY 471 miles and SEB just squeezing in at 468 miles. These high speeds
are certainly making for an exciting dash across the Atlantic.
Since leaving Chesapeake Bay illbruck have done nothing radical and had
boats each side of them throughout. Just prior to the passage of the index
cold front, illbruck made a slight course alteration to get to the strong
northwesterlies and made a relative gain. Skirting to the north has helped
SEB who have slowly moved up from sixth to second in the last 18 hours.
"It seems our record from leg two will disappear because it is such an
enormous help with the current," commented SEB’s Gurra Krantz before the
record was broken. "With the current conditions the breeze is at about
20-25 knots, reaching and running we are easily averaging 19-20 knots and
plus that. I believe particularly illbruck can take the record from us. We
are probably looking at 465-470 miles, if the wind stays as it is for the
next six hours. We're just on the edge, we might not make it because we're
just a bit further to the west. But illbruck is furthest to the east where
there is more pressure". Afterwards he talked about his feelings:
“illbruck has taken our record away from us. That was really painful. It
is funny how we all felt that it was our record and nobody else’s. With
the help of the Gulf Stream we have all done big miles.”
Two fellow sailors were the first ones to congratulate: “Congratulations
to illbruck for her clean break of the 24-hour record, even if a big part
of her record contain a good help from the Gulf Stream. She has again been
sailed very skilled and fast in reaching conditions, which she really
likes,” wrote Roger Nilson from onboard Amer Sports One. Knut Frostad from
the pink djuice wrote: “Congratulations to illbruck with their new speed
record...wish it was ours...”
With the wind still easing, yachts behind could close some miles on
illbruck, where southernmost boats SEB and News Corp made the biggest
gains. Djuice is still troubled by sail damage and their onboard
sailmakers are working hard to get a blown out Code 5 spinnaker put
together. Only in the lighter conditions they are currently experiencing,
they will not need the sail.
Southampton, England, May 1, 2002 2200 GMT
Amer Sports Too loses her mast
Amer Sports Too has lost her mast in Atlantic on leg seven of the Volvo
Ocean Race. The incident occurred at approximately 1645 GMT at 3914.90N
05821.53W. No one was hurt when the rig fell and the yacht is not in
danger. They are just over 400 miles east of Canada.
Skipper Lisa McDonald reported the crew had recovered the rig and sails
and had lashed the mast to the deck. The mast broke just above the second
spreaders. A 10-metre section of the 26-metre mast is still standing.
Lisa said, at the time of the incident they were sailing under spinnaker
in only 12 knots of southwesterly breeze. "There was a loud bang and the
mast came down. We don't know why it broke. Once we have sorted ourselves
out and got underway again we will take a very close look. There's enough
mast left to set up a reasonably effective jury rig."
"We also need to assess our options from here. We have been talking to
the shore crew and syndicate management to see what's feasible. They're
working through the possibilities now. One option is to turn around and
head for Halifax / Nova Scotia and ship the yacht to France where the
spare rig can be stepped,” she continued.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 4, 2150 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 39 43.52N 054 33.20W 02368 081 13.0 324 0 +0 10 MAY 02 49
2 AART 39 46.36N 054 50.24W 02381 079 13.8 333 13 -5 10 MAY 02 41
3 TYCO 39 44.92N 054 56.92W 02386 082 13.5 324 18 -4 10 MAY 02 33
4 TSEB 39 28.00N 054 58.52W 02390 076 13.2 330 22 +0 10 MAY 02 26
5 NEWS 39 21.48N 055 03.96W 02394 078 12.9 326 26 +0 10 MAY 02 35
6 AONE 39 29.64N 055 18.56W 02405 082 13.8 324 37 -5 10 MAY 02 35
7 DJCE 39 28.64N 055 46.20W 02426 088 16.1 328 58 -18 10 MAY 02 23
8 ATOO 39 44.04N 058 05.12W 02530 036 06.4 274 162 +50 11 MAY 02 10
Southampton, England, May 1, 2002 1600 GMT
Recovery Time For V.O.60 Fleet
After accepting losses last night and earlier today, illbruck is once
again stretching the bungee that connects her with the rest of the fleet.
Over the last hours the wind shifted from the northwest to the southwest
and Amer Sports One was the first yacht to gybe onto starboard, followed
by djuice soon after.
The leading yachts illbruck, ASSA ABLOY and Tyco got the wind shift just
two hours ago and are now sailing on the same tack as the rest of the
fleet. SEB has caught up with Tyco and is keen to prove their potential
after several unsuccessful legs. Amer Sports Too was the only yacht to
gain on the leading yachts.
Even though the speeds dropped to around 10 knots, the whole fleet is on
track for a quick crossing. After the wild rides of the last two days,
Amer Sports One, djuice and Tyco have to repair heavy air sails for a
stronger breeze at the weekend. The southern limit of the ‘ice box’, the
exclusion zone set up to avoid icebergs is 240 miles in front of illbruck.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 4, 1552 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 39 31.20N 056 12.44W 2445 76 10.5 362 0 0 10/05/02 12:30 49
2 AART 39 30.88N 056 34.92W 2463 78 9.9 363 18 +4 10/05/02 14:00 41
3 TYCO 39 34.20N 056 40.88W 2467 74 9.6 364 22 +6 10/05/02 14:21 33
4 TSEB 39 08.36N 056 36.72W 2467 77 10.1 365 22 +2 10/05/02 14:25 26
5 NEWS 39 05.40N 056 41.24W 2471 80 10.2 363 26 +1 10/05/02 14:43 35
6 AONE 39 18.08N 057 03.88W 2487 85 9.1 354 42 +8 10/05/02 16:06 35
7 DJCE 39 25.68N 057 50.36W 2521 73 8.5 342 76 +12 10/05/02 19:04 23
8 ATOO 39 12.96N 058 34.52W 2557 91 13.6 344 112 -18 10/05/02 22:11 10
Southampton, England, April 30, 2002 1000 GMT
Congratulations to illbruck
Congratulations are regularly dropping into Volvo Ocean Race HQ to be
forwarded to illbruck. First was djuice’s Knut Frostad, adding “...wish it
was ours...”, followed by Amer Sports One’s navigator Roger Nilson,
writing “she has again been sailed very skilled and fast in reaching
conditions which she really likes.”
SEB’s skipper Gurra Krantz was not so happy seeing the V.O.60 class record
taken away: “illbruck has taken our record away from us. That was really
painful. It is funny how we all felt that it was our record and nobody
else’s.”
With the wind still easing, yachts behind could close some miles on
illbruck, where southernmost boats SEB and News Corp made the biggest
gains. Djuice is still troubled by sail damage and their onboard
sailmakers are working hard to get a blown out Code 5 spinnaker put
together. Only in the lighter conditions they are currently experiencing,
they will not need the sail.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 4, 0956 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 39 15.80N 057 30.24W 2507 86 13.1 428 0 0 10/05/02 11:57 49
2 AART 39 18.68N 057 49.20W 2521 74 15 429 14 -11 10/05/02 13:10 41
3 TYCO 39 18.68N 057 51.88W 2523 81 13.8 430 16 -5 10/05/02 13:20 33
4 TSEB 38 54.92N 057 52.48W 2527 82 15.6 430 20 -16 10/05/02 13:41 26
5 NEWS 38 54.36N 057 57.96W 2532 81 15.4 427 25 -15 10/05/02 14:04 35
6 AONE 39 13.72N 058 13.72W 2541 80 14.2 417 34 -6 10/05/02 14:50 35
7 DJCE 39 11.16N 058 52.88W 2571 71 14.6 406 64 -8 10/05/02 17:30 23
8 ATOO 39 15.04N 060 19.48W 2637 73 13.2 371 130 0 10/05/02 23:10 10
Southampton, England, May 1, 2002 0400 GMT
Still Pushing Hard.
After the excitement of the earlier record breaking speeds amongst the
Volvo Ocean Race fleet, things have started to quieten down a little, all
the yachts have slowed up to an average of under 18 knots, in comparison
to the earlier average speed of just over 20 knots. The wind speeds are
also on their way down – in some cases to as little as 10 knots of breeze,
although this will be making uncomfortable living conditions onboard, as
Roger Nilson onboard Amer Sport One described the sea state as still being
rough. It seems that the last 24 hours has taken its toll in many ways
around the fleet, with everyone pushing hard to obtain that last bit of
speed, Amer Sport One, djuice and SEB have all managed to push a little
too hard and have been frantically mending blown out sails, trying to get
them back in good order, only to go through the whole pattern of pushing
to the limit once again.
One thing is consistent though, illbruck has managed to increase her lead
once more, she is now 21 miles ahead of Tyco in second place, who in turn
is still managing to squeeze ahead and gain a little more distance over
ASSA ABLOY. Further back djuice has lost another 11 miles on the leaders,
and is currently 72 miles behind illbruck, whereas the girls on Amer Sport
Too have again lost the most miles and are 130 miles behind the leaders.
With the wind due to stay light for the leaders, maybe there is a chance
that the fleet will close up once again and make for an interesting dash
into La Rochelle.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 4, 0403 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 ILBK 39 09.68N 059 10.80W 2585 84 17.6 464 0 0 10/05/02 12:44 49
2 TYCO 39 05.48N 059 36.84W 2606 83 17 461 21 +3 10/05/02 14:32 34
3 AART 38 54.16N 059 40.00W 2610 83 17 454 25 +4 10/05/02 14:56 40
4 TSEB 38 42.68N 059 50.80W 2621 90 16.5 444 36 +9 10/05/02 15:52 26
5 NEWS 38 40.28N 059 54.76W 2625 91 16.1 440 40 +12 10/05/02 16:11 35
6 AONE 38 59.24N 060 01.00W 2625 79 16.9 446 40 +3 10/05/02 16:14 35
7 DJCE 38 42.40N 060 38.36W 2657 85 15.8 416 72 +11 10/05/02 19:01 23
8 ATOO 38 52.32N 061 56.36W 2715 70 14.4 388 130 +20 11/05/02 00:01 10
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