Torbay, England, 25th September - After 2500 miles of hard ocean racing it has become a horse race to the finish between Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm sailing Bobst Group-Armor Lux, and Frenchman Thierry Dubois on Solidaires. In a frantic effort to reel in Stamm, Dubois has been pushing his yacht to its limit and in doing so has set a new 24 hour distance record for the Around Alone. Between 1500 UTC Sunday and 1500 UTC Monday Dubois sailed an incredible 400.7 miles averaging 16.69 knots for the period. He has ridden the edge of a small low pressure that appeared seemingly for his own private benefit while Stamm could only look over his shoulder in amazement and disbelief. "Thierry has been spicing things up and that's something I could do without," Stamm told race officials.
Stamm goes for a new solo monohull transatlantic record
It has just been confirmed that Stamm is going for a yet to be established solo monohull transatlantic record. Bobst Group-Armor Lux is expected to pass the Lizard Point at around midnight Wednesday evening. Officials from the World Speed Sailing Record Council are timing him at the Lizard and will then have to ratify the start timing made by the US Coastguard at Ambrose Light off New York. Don’t forget, this same boat already holds the monohull crewed transat record.
ETA of leading boats in Around Alone 2002-03:
At 0500hrs Bobst Group-Armor Lux was at 51 02.3N 10 45.4W. The wind is due to back round to the north, and as it does he will tack and then be freed off so will move much faster towards his destination. Even at 12 knots he is unlikely to be at the Lizard before midnight tonight. As the finish line is 78 miles from the Lizard, the current ETA in Torbay is from @ 0700hrs local time on Thursday 26th September. Solidaires is 60 miles behind the leader and so is expected to arrive 6 – 8 hours later.
Watch the finishes in Torbay
The finish line for the yachts is off the Berry head Hotel in Brixham. The boats will cross the line and then be towed into the pontoons at the Brixham Yacht Club. From there the skipper will be escorted to the public platform in the Race Village at the Brixham Yacht Club to hold interviews and be welcomed by the Torbay community.
For Media wishing to go out in a boat to watch the finishes, or interview skippers or race organisers on arrival, please contact: Mary Ambler, Media Manager on +44 (0)7887 643 583 or Loretta Spridgeon on +44 (0)7773 818586.
Additional information, updated ETA’s and commentary on the finishes will be available online at www.aroundalone.com around the clock
LOOP Communications Media Centre
The Media Centre in Torbay is sponsored by Westcountry based LOOP Communications, who are providing an ISDN 30 with 24 channels enabled for the media centre. Media will have unhindered internet access and only need their own ISP to connect. A Pre-pay Phonecard system will operate and a LOOP representative will be on site selling the phonecards and assisting with connections.
Any local media enquiries for 25 – 26th September initial opening period – please contact: Loretta Spridgeon on +44 (0)7773 818586 in Torbay.
Event Calendar in Torbay (all times are local):
30th September Reflex 38 South Western Championships in Torbay
09:00 – 16:00
1st – 15th October Five historic yachts will be berthed at the Brixham Yacht Club,
including Jester, Lively Lady, Suhaili, British Steel and Group 4
5th October
16:30 Red Devils Parachute Display in Torbay
5th October Herald Express Dinner, Imperial Hotel, Torquay
19:00 For tickets email: mpugh@westcountrypublications.co.uk
11th October Press Conference & Photocall at the Berry head Hotel, where the
11:30 – 12:30 skippers are introduced to the media
11th October House of Commons and House of Lords Sailing Challenge
11:00 Reflex 38 yachts
11th October FICO lunch at the Berry head Hotel – media requesting invitations
12:30 – 14:00 are to contact Mary Ambler via email by October 7th:
mambler@clipper-ventures.com
11th October Around Alone Awards Dinner, Imperial Hotel, Torquay
19:00 – 00:00 Please contact Louise Knight for tickets:
lknight@paramounthotels.co.uk
World Leisure is selling Official Around Alone Race Merchandise in the Race Village and online at: www.worldleisurewear.com/aroundalone
www.aroundalone.com : Don't forget to refresh your screens every day for all the news on the Around Alone 2002-03 Official Race Website. Media & General public can register online for race updates, buy merchandise, and subscribe to the 3D Race Viewer 'Voyager 2020'. More information on the Torbay stop over is also online in the Race Route section under Torbay.
Around Alone 2002-03 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.
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