Oceanracing 2002 - Around Alone

Absender: "Aroundalone"
Datum: 16. Dec 2002 16:23
LEADING OPEN 40 AT HEELS OF GIANT 60'S
CLASS 1: SPLIT FLEET AS SOLIDAIRES LEADS TO THE EAST
CLASS 2: OPEN 40 IN LEAD SNAPS AT HEELS OF GIANT 60'S
BAYER ASCENSIA ANCHORS IN STRUIS BAY TO FIX EQUIPMENT

Cape Town, South Africa Â– 16th December:The split, which emerged yesterday between Thierry Dubois on Solidaires & Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali in the East, and Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group-Armor Lux and the rest of Class 1 in the South has lead to interesting developments on the Around Alone race track. The Frenchman, perhaps realising that given the same conditions, StammÂ’s boat may have an edge, headed off Eastwards on his own course in hope of finding a tactical advantage, and was soon followed by Bianchetti. DuboisÂ’ lead may be short lived however, as his Swiss rival dove South and is now sailing downwind in 25 - 30 knots of breeze going one knot faster.

Derek Hatfield legt Tempo vor

In third place, Emma Richards on Pindar is heading in a more South Easterly direction than Stamm, and is being tailed by Graham Dalton on Hexagon and Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet just 30 miles behind her. Richards is level in terms of DTL with Bianchetti on Tiscali, but the British skipper is in 5 Â– 10 knot s more wind slightly further South, so averaging 2 Â– 3 knots more boatspeed.
The real story so far is the incredible performance being put in by Derek Hatfield on the Open 40 Spirit of Canada. Since winning the start Derek has kept up an amazing pace and at last check this morning at 0600hrs GMT he was a mere 13 miles behind Ocean Planet and 18 miles behind Hexagon, both Open 60s. He has even managed to open up a gap of 48 miles on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, something that must have Brad van Liew frustrated, as he was only 1 hour and 45 minutes late in starting. This delay for Van Liew and the fact that Spirit of Canada is a rocketship in light winds have both played to HatfieldÂ’s advantage, but nothing should be taken away from his own skill in indextaining this lead. It will be interesting to see how long he can hold onto it as Van Liew is now clocking nearly 3 knots more boatspeed than Hatfield.
Meanwhile John Dennis on Bayer Ascensia has anchored in Struis Bay on the sout h coast of South Africa to fix his communications equipment. He sent a short email: "I am repairing my Iridium telephone, my Inmarsat system, and my running backstays. For both safety and family I need the phone." Currently the part he needs is on its way to him by land and he should be away later today.
The Cape Town stop-over has been sponsored by AFROX - many thanks to them, and everyone in Cape Town who supported the Around Alone race!
POSITIONS AT 06:00GMT 16TH DECEMBER 2002
Track the Around Alone fleet with Raytech Navigator 4.1 Â– go to www.aroundalone.com positions page and follow the link at the top of the chart.
Class 1
Boat Time Lat Lon AvgBsp Avgheading DTF
1. Solidaires 36 59.550 S 22 40.360 E 9.37 kt 144 Â°T 6956.21 nm
2. Bobst Group / Armor Lux 38 55.520 S 1 9 47.300 E 10.85 kt 161 Â°T 7015.35 nm
3. Pindar 37 18.780 S 20 34.200 E 10.27 kt 122 Â°T 7032.19 nm
4. Tiscali 36 17.480 S 21 19.430 E 7.50 kt 126 Â°T 7033.56 nm
5. Hexagon 37 36.070 S 19 36.100 E 10.61 kt 140 Â°T 7062.82 nm
6. Ocean Planet 37 06.050 S 19 51.410 E 10.57 kt 111 Â°T 7067.93 nm

Class 2
Boat Time Lat Lon AvgBsp Avgheading DTF
1. Spirit of Canada 36 51.180 S 19 43.380 E 5.88 kt 143 Â°T 7081.18 nm
2. Tommy Hilfiger 36 38.260 S 18 43.050 E 8.40 kt 144 Â°T 7129.06 nm
3. Bayer Ascensia 34 47.070 S 20 03.550 E 0.00 kt 0 Â°T 7134.63 nm
4. Spirit of yukoh 36 19nbsp; &nb sp;
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