26.09.2002
BOBST GROUP-ARMOR LUX SETS NEW SOLO MONO TRANSAT RECORD
LIZARD POINT: 07:42H 22 SECONDS (SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION)
FINISH ETA: 14 - 1500hrs local time 26th September
Torbay, England, 26th September - Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm sailing Bobst Group - Armor Lux has established a new transatlantic record whilst leading the Around Alone fleet on leg 1 into Torbay. This morning at 07:42:22 UTC (08:42:22 local time) he sailed past Lizard Point off the southwest coast of England. His official time for the crossing from Ambrose Point to Lizard Point will be ratified by the World Speed Sailing Record Council later today, but his unofficial time was 10 days, 11 hours, 57 minutes and 19 seconds. This establishes a new solo monohull transatlantic record and will become a benchmark record for all future solo monohull Atlantic crossings.
Stamm enjoyed excellent conditions since leaving New York a week ago Sunday, and he has pushed and coerced every bit of performance from his boat. With dogged determination he has held the lead since passing under the Verazzanno Narrows Bridge, and looks certain to win Leg 1 of this Around Alone.
ETA: Stamm sailing Bobst Group - Armor Lux is due to finish in Torbay between 2 and 3 pm local time today. French skipper Thierry Dubois sailing Solidaires is 109 miles behind the leader and so is expected to arrive in the early hours of Friday morning.
Three hundred miles behind are a pack of four boats all closing in on each other so it is anyone's guess who will take the 3rd podium spot for leg 1: currently Belgian skipper Patrick de Radigues on Garnier is in third, with Italian circumnavigator Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali just 4 miles behind, and then 50 miles further back British sailor Emma Richards on Pindar has come up to just 6 miles from Hexagon, sailed by New Zealander Graham Dalton. They are provisionally due to arrive over the weekend but in what order? Stay tuned to find out..
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.
Additional information, updated ETAÂ’s and commentary on the finishes will be available online at www.aroundalone.com around the clock
Event Calendar in Torbay (all times are local):
30th September 09:00 – 16:00Reflex 38 South Western Championships in Torbay
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 19:00 Herald Express Dinner, Imperial Hotel, Torquay
For tickets email: mpugh@westcountrypublications.co.uk
11th October 11:30 –12:30 Press Conference & Photocall at the Berry head Hotel, where the skippers are introduced to the media
11th October 11:00 House of Commons and House of Lords Sailing Challenge Reflex 38 yachts
11th October 12:30 –14:00 FICO lunch at the Berry head Hotel – medi a requesting invitations 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@paramount-hotels.co.uk
For more information contact:
Media Relations: Mary Ambler, Media Manager - Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237 088 - Mob: +44 (0) 7887 643 583 - Email: mambler@clipper-ventures.com
Loretta Spridgeon - Tel: +44 (0) 2380 237 088 - Mob: +44 (0)7773 818586
Email: lspridgeon@clipper-ventures.com
Finish and Restart images distributed by Marinepics:
Ali McKichan - Email: info@marinepics.com - Tel: +44 (0) 1489 573753
Official Schools' Programme: HSBC Glocal Education Challenge - www.education.hsbc.com
Contact: Patricia Juarez - Tel: +44 (0)1489 575227 - Email: patriciajt@mhlpp.com
World Leisure Wear 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.
|
