Oceanracing 2002 - Around Alone, das Highlight des Jahres

Datum: 14. Sep 2002 02:07
Around Alone fleet set off for New York under perfect skies
Hexagon first off the line but ‘Garnier’ flies into the lead offshore
headwinds for the fleet, ETA in New York noon Friday 13th
First full position report Friday morning GMT
Newport, RI - 12th Sept 02 - The 13 yachts participating in the 160m crewed Prologue Race of the Around Alone are off to New York. They left the Newport Shipyard pontoons early in the afternoon and paraded past the Newport International Boat Show before heading out into the harbor. At precisely 4pm the Governor of Rhode Island, Lincoln Almond, together with the Mayor of Torbay, England fired the cannon and the yachts crossed the start line off Fort Adams and sailed out of Newport Harbor under a 15 knot steady breeze and perfect skies. On the water a variety of spectator craft jostled for position to get the best look at these spectacular sailboats.

New Zealander Graham Dalton sailing Hexagon was first to cross the start line and treated a gathering of spectators standing on land to a breath-taking site as he sailed within feet of the shoreline. The steep cliffs and manicured lawns dropped sharply into deep water allowing Dalton to scream past at 14 knots. Unfortunately he found a private hole in the wind allowing the other yachts to catch up. Garnier sailed by Belgian Patrick de Radiguès seized the moment and took the lead, and late in the afternoon when the yachts were a mere silhouette on the horizon, Garnier was still out front.
The most impressive performance of the day was Open 40 Spirit of Canada. Canadian Derek Hatfield must have been delighted to find himself up with the leaders sailing well ahead of the rest of his class. He held onto his lead for the first few miles until American Brad van Liew on Open 50 Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America powered past. Despite the different size boats Spirit of Canada was hanging in there leaving the other two forty footers in his wake.
The forecast is for the wind to settle into the southwest providing headwinds for the boats, an uncomfortable point of sail for these Open designs. Luckily the predicted seas left over from Hurricane Gustav had settled down and dinner on board might be a reasonable affair. It’s certain that the night is going to be a spectacular one for all the sailors.
The first boats are expected to cross the finish line off lower Manhattan by noon tomorrow with the prize giving in New York slated for tomorrow evening, with the prize for the Prologue winning boat donated by the Newport International Boat Show.
ENDS
The New York Media Centre is in the Essex Room at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. Media need to ensure they bring their business card or press pass with you for ID in order to enter the Museum. There are 30 workstations for media to use and the opening times are from 0930 – 1930 on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September.
NOTES:
For more information on Around Alone 2002-03, contact:
Mary Ambler, Media & Race Communications Manager
T (USA): + (401) 524 3513
Email: mambler@clipper-ventures.com
Around Alone 2002-03 departed for a crewed prologue race from Newport, RI to New York at 4pm on 12th September 2002. The start will be given on Sunday 15th September 2002 from New York. The race takes the fleet from New York to Torbay (England), then Cape Town (South Africa), Tauranga (New Zealand) and Salvador de Bahia (Brasil), before returning to Newport in April 2003. The official entry list of competitors consists of 13 competitors from 10 different nationalities; 7 in Class I and 6 in Class II.
Visit the official web site: