27. Mai 2002
Sechs Boote mit „illbruck“ dicht zusammen
Nur zwei Seemeilen trennen den Pulk an der Spitze / Ankunft schon Mittwoch Nacht?
Dover – Die vorletzte Etappe des Volvo Ocean Race Round the World könnte
spannender kaum sein: Sechs der acht Yachten lagen am Montag Mittag
ausgangs des Englischen Kanals hinter Dover dicht zusammen. Die führende
„Tyco“ (Bermudas) trennten nur zwei Seemeilen von der „SEB“ (Schweden) auf
Platz sechs. Mitten drin segelte die gesamtführende Leverkusener „illbruck
“, allerdings knapp hinter ihrer härtesten Verfolgerin, „Assa Abloy“ aus
Schweden, die sich nach schlechtem Start in der zweiten Nacht auf See nach
vorne gekämpft hatte. Bei weiterhin starken Winden hatten die Teilnehmer
nur noch gut 600 Seemeilen nach Göteborg in Schweden vor sich, wo sie nun
bereits in der Nacht auf Donnerstag eintreffen könnten.
„Der Windgott meint es gut mit uns“, hieß es unisono von den
Hochseeyachten. Die frische Brise sollte am Dienstag aus Süd bis Südost
wehen und einen ausgezeichneten Vorwindkurs durch die Deutsche Bucht nach
Norden bieten. Das heißt weiterhin hohe Geschwindigkeiten und
höchstwahrscheinlich eine vorzeitige Ankunft am Etappenziel. Im Süden der
norwegischen Küste wurde zwar noch eine Wendemarke gelegt, bevor die
Yachten dann direkten Kurs auf Göteborg nehmen. Doch mehr als fünf Tage
dürften sie nach dem Start am Sonnabend Nachmittag kaum brauchen.
In den starken Gezeitenströmungen bei Dover hatte es zahlreiche
Positionswechsel gegeben. Die lange Zeit führende „Amer Sports One“
(Finnland/Italien) von Designer Mani Frers konnte offenbar von der
Geschwindigkeit besser mit den von Farr Yacht Design gezeichneten Booten
mithalten als bislang. Allerdings steuerte Skipper Grant Dalton sein Boot
weiter links im Fahrwasser, während vor allem „Assa Abloy“ rechts dichter
unter der französischen und später Benelux-Küste Boden gutmachte. Die
„illbruck“ unter Skipper John Kostecki mit dem Münchner Vorschiffsmann
Tony Kolb an Bord blieb mit vorsichtig konservativer Taktik auf
Tuchfühlung mit allen Konkurrenten.
Southampton, England, May 27, 2002 Day 3
Navigators’ Challenge
“Since rounding Ushant off the north coast of France, ASSA ABLOY has done
well to play the right hand side of the track picking up better current
and better breeze,” wrote navigator Mark Rudiger from on board,
continuing, “we were a little miffed as to why the fleet kept pushing left
and put a loose cover on them just in case the left hand shift won out.
But fortunately we stuck to our guns and now lead by a mere mile over our
old sparing partner Tyco.“ In fact ASSA ABLOY rounded the island in sixth
position and made good five places to lead the fleet neck and neck with
Tyco at 0400 GMT this morning.
The North Sea with its many sandbanks is challenging the navigators’
skills. Tyco in the lead has to find the way in the quest for the best
trade off between sailing angles and less adverse or most favourable tide.
The least adverse tide can be usually found in shallow water, which is a
nerve-wracking circumstance for the navigators as grounding would be
disastrous. Campbell Field, navigator on News Corp explains the situation:
“Currents have to be negotiated here, however each yacht is using the same
materials and tools for modelling tides and currents, and very similar
weather sources, so each yacht will be making similar decisions. The small
shifts in wind are where the gains are to be made and lost.
“Gone are the days of rounding countries and continents, we now have to
negotiate buoys, and on top of that, a small lighthouse on a Norwegian
island just south of Arundel, with very limited room to manoeuvre.
Hopefully we will pass through in fair conditions during daylight, as
there are a number of unlit marks and hazards. Thank god for modern day
GPS and digital charting to aid navigation. Even so, it could be extremely
hazardous to pass through these areas with bad weather and darkness, and
with such a highly competitive race, not entering and missing a mark
resulting in disqualification is definitely not an option”, Cam continued.
SEB’s skipper Gunnar Krantz reported some technical problems: “Two
technical problems the first day. First we broke a jib halyard, which was
easily fixed. Then we found problems with the wind instruments. It became
very evident when rounding Ushant that something was wrong. We had no
accurate numbers on the wind at all. It seemed to be the cable in the mast
that was the problem. We have two cables run, one as a spare, and both are
damaged somehow. Most likely it was when we broke the halyard that the
cables got damaged. Still working on the problem, maybe we can find a
solution.”
As the leg to the next waypoint, the oil-rig platform NSR-M1 in position
5344.72N 00233.35E will become lighter and straight downwind for several
hours it could be the decisive part of the leg. Between Tyco and ASSA
ABLOY who are sharing the lead and sixth placed SEB there is just two
miles in it, with Amer Sports One, News Corp and illbruck neck and neck.
The yachts have just passed the North Foreland and are about to pass the
Thames Estuary.
Djuice has passed Dover this morning and skipper Knut Frostad is
concentrating on the navigation, letting other guys run the boat on deck.
He wrote from his navstation: “Again it will be some very long hours in
the nav station. I must say I miss the fresh air on deck. Had some hours
drive in the breeze today, and that helped.”
Amer Sports Too is trailing the fleet by over 100 miles, most of the
distance was lost last night, when the all female crew around skipper Lisa
McDonald went closer to the English coast, while the other yachts stayed
well offshore. With the area of low pressure over the British Isles, the
wind got less the closer they sailed to the coast. This morning they were
close enough to the Isle of Wight to spot the white rocks of the island’s
coast. New Zealander Campbell Field from News Corp reported on the
feelings of his English crew mates: “Some of the Poms [English] on board
are glad of the sight of old blighty off the port bow, some even twitching
at the thought that we were within 55 nm of the Pier View [Pub] in Cowes,
could almost taste the beer.”
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 3, 1304 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 AONE 52 00.92N 001 42.64E 568 11 12.6 315 0 -1 29/05/02 16:33 44
2 AART 52 01.56N 001 38.16E 568 8 12.7 319 0 0 29/05/02 16:32 48
3 ILBK 52 00.76N 001 41.96E 568 11 12.8 317 0 -1 29/05/02 16:33 55
4 NEWS 52 00.76N 001 40.36E 568 10 12.7 318 0 -1 29/05/02 16:34 39
5 TSEB 52 00.40N 001 41.88E 569 12 12.7 318 1 -1 29/05/02 16:37 30
6 TYCO 52 01.00N 001 38.04E 569 7 12.3 318 1 +1 29/05/02 16:35 36
7 DJCE 51 47.40N 001 45.88E 580 18 12.8 316 12 -1 29/05/02 17:40 25
8 ATOO 50 41.88N 000 18.92E 670 83 10.9 255 102 +7 30/05/02 01:49 11
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
Another Waypoint Ticked Off.
The majority of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet have just rounded another
waypoint on route from La Rochelle to Gothenburg, the oilrig platform
NSR-M1, and with the current conditions are now heading further downwind,
and continuing to make good speed for the next waypoint, the Torungen
Lighthouse on the Norwegian Coast. The leading pack of yachts have less
than 340 miles to go to this waypont, and only 449 to run on this leg.
Although the lead hasn’t changed in the last few hours, the first six
yachts are as tightly packed together as ever, Tyco is still holding onto
a very marginal lead, whilst less than one mile separates SEB, ASSA ABLOY,
News Corp, illbruck and Amer Sports One, all hot on each others heels.
Djuice and Amer Sports Too have fallen further behind once more, djuice is
holding onto seventh position 24 miles from the leading pack, whilst the
girls having had a frustrating day are now 145 miles behind.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 3, 2210 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 TYCO 53 53.92N 002 41.74E 449 16 12 269 0 0 29/05/02 14:52 41
2 TSEB 53 54.32N 002 40.24E 449 14 12.1 269 0 -1 29/05/02 14:53 33
3 AART 53 53.08N 002 41.88E 450 16 11.9 267 1 0 29/05/02 14:56 47
4 NEWS 53 53.16N 002 41.32E 450 17 12 268 1 0 29/05/02 14:56 39
5 ILBK 53 52.76N 002 40.36E 451 15 11.9 268 2 +1 29/05/02 14:58 53
6 AONE 53 51.00N 002 40.72E 452 18 11.6 266 3 +1 29/05/02 15:07 39
7 DJCE 53 32.28N 002 26.88E 473 10 11.3 249 24 +2 29/05/02 17:00 25
8 ATOO 51 34.60N 001 39.56E 594 10 7.7 185 145 +14 30/05/02 04:01 11
Southampton, England, May 27, 2002 1600 GMT
Oil Rigs Ahead
As the yachts are so closely packed the lead is changing with every little
wind shift or tidal advantage. Currently they are getting a 2.5 knot push
from the tide, a gift that will turn against them in about one hour time.
If they stay so close together all the way to Gothenburg, ASSA ABLOY can
seriously challenge illbruck for the overall top position and the race for
third will be between Tyco, News Corp and Amer Sports One.
Tonight they have to pass the large Indefatigable oilfield of the North
Sea, with oil-rigs and platforms scattered around. A short while ago the
fleet cleared Lowestoft, a ferry port on England’s east coast in 18-20
knots of southerly wind.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 3, 1554 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 AART 52 39.68N 002 08.28E 526 26 14.1 298 0 0 29/05/02 15:45 49
2 TYCO 52 39.36N 002 09.00E 527 26 14.4 297 1 0 29/05/02 15:44 40
3 TSEB 52 39.05N 002 08.48E 527 23 14.1 296 1 0 29/05/02 15:48 32
4 ILBK 52 38.92N 002 07.88E 527 23 13.8 295 1 +1 29/05/02 15:49 54
5 NEWS 52 38.96N 002 06.40E 527 23 13.8 296 1 +1 29/05/02 15:50 38
6 AONE 52 38.92N 002 06.44E 527 21 13.7 293 1 +1 29/05/02 15:50 39
7 DJCE 52 22.12N 001 59.08E 545 13 11.9 283 19 +7 29/05/02 17:25 25
8 ATOO 50 53.84N 000 59.48E 643 65 9.4 238 117 +15 30/05/02 02:18 11
.
Southampton, England, May 27, 2002 1000 GMT
Navigators’ Challenge
The North Sea with its many sandbanks is challenging the navigators’
skills. Tyco in the lead has to find the way in the quest for the best
trade off between sailing angles and less adverse or most favourable tide.
The least adverse tide can be usually found in shallow water, which is a
nerve-wracking circumstance for the navigators as grounding would be
disastrous.
As the leg to the next waypoint, the oil-rig platform NSR-M1 in position
5344.72N 00233.35E will become lighter and straight downwind for several
hours it can be the decisive part of the leg. Between Tyco and ASSA ABLOY
who are sharing the lead and sixth placed SEB there is just two miles in
it, with Amer Sports One, News Corp and illbruck neck and neck. The yachts
have just passed the North Foreland and are about to pass the Thames
Estuary.
Djuice has passed Dover and Amer Sports Too the Isle of Wight, lying just
35 miles southeast of Southampton.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day 3, 0956 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 TYCO 51 24.92N 001 30.64E 605 34 10.3 326 0 0 29/05/02 16:53 41
2 AART 51 24.36N 001 30.16E 605 33 10.1 326 0 0 29/05/02 16:57 48
3 AONE 51 23.72N 001 30.80E 606 36 10.5 326 1 -1 29/05/02 16:59 42
4 NEWS 51 23.72N 001 30.24E 606 35 10.4 326 1 -1 29/05/02 17:00 39
5 ILBK 51 23.40N 001 30.00E 606 33 10.5 325 1 -1 29/05/02 17:02 53
6 TSEB 51 23.00N 001 29.16E 607 31 10.8 325 2 -1 29/05/02 17:05 29
7 DJCE 51 11.28N 001 27.40E 618 53 12.7 317 13 -6 29/05/02 18:08 25
8 ATOO 50 37.88N 000 31.52W 700 73 6.5 241 95 +12 30/05/02 01:34 11
Southampton, England, May 27th, 2002 0400 GMT
Close Encounters
The leading yachts are still making steady progress up the Channel, and
are currently 5 miles south of Beachy head, with just 50 miles to run to
Dover. They still have several hours of adverse tide to contend with as
they negotiate the Dover Straits, arguably the busiest stretch of water in
the world. At the moment, the fleet is on course for an early arrival in
Goteborg, possibly as early as Wednesday night.
The leading 6 boats still seem to be drawn together as if by invisible
bonds, with just 4 miles between them. The slender lead changes by the
hour, and currently ASSA ABLOY leads the pack, but has Tyco and Amer One
breathing down her transom from one mile astern. Illbruck the overall race
leader is in 5th place, but only 3 miles off the pace.
Volvo Ocean Race Position Report, Day -28, 0414 GMT
PS Yacht Latitude Longitude DTF CMG SMG TFHR DTL DTL-C ETA PO
1 AART 50 41.72N 000 20.88E 669 49 11.2 268 0 0 29/05/02 16:57 49
2 TYCO 50 41.56N 000 20.44E 669 48 11 266 0 0 29/05/02 16:59 40
3 AONE 50 41.40N 000 19.76E 670 49 11 266 1 +1 29/05/02 17:04 42
4 NEWS 50 40.84N 000 19.00E 671 53 11.3 265 2 +1 29/05/02 17:06 39
5 ILBK 50 40.60N 000 16.92E 672 48 11 261 3 +1 29/05/02 17:12 53
6 TSEB 50 40.40N 000 15.00E 673 52 10.9 264 4 +2 29/05/02 17:18 29
7 DJCE 50 33.20N 000 09.36W 690 66 9.3 247 21 +8 29/05/02 18:50 25
8 ATOO 50 22.32N 001 30.28W 741 79 6 216 72 +19 29/05/02 23:27 11
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