LEG 1 START
15th September 2002 New York Cit
12:40 The wind is freshening from the south as the yachts approach the Verazano Narrows Bridge. Derek Hatfield still leads class 2 with Brad van Liew just ahead of Kojiro Shiraishi on Spirit of Yukoh.
12:30 Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group has taken the lead with Hatfield second and Garnier third. The fleet is short tacking under the Statue of Liberty with helicopters overhead and spectator craft all around.
12:25 Derek Hatfield sailing Sprit of Canada rocketed into the lead and isclear ahead of the fleet. Bobst Group is second. Tiscali in third.
12:15 The gun has fired. BTC Velocity crossed the start line first on starboard tack with Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America second and Bayer Acensia third.
12:10 Five minutes to go until the start. There is a huge spectator fleet with a number of helicopters in the sky. The sun has come out just in time for the start of the 2002 Around Alone Race.
12:00 The first gun has just fired - there is 15 minutes to go until the start. The skippers are alone on board. Some of the boats are setting headsails and reaching back and forth across the startline.
11:45 All the shore teams have left the boats. Meaghan van Liew has just stepped off Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America.
All the yachts are in the start area with sail up - the wind is blowing 15 knots from the south. The skies are overcast with low clouds, but no rain.
Around Alone is a Clipper Ventures plc event
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