Absender: "Mary Ambler"
Datum: 23. Dec 2002 22:19
LEG 3: JOHN DENNIS ON BAYER ASCENSIA RETIRES FROM AROUND ALONE
Southampton, England – 23rd December: Canadian skipper and diabetic, 58 year old John Dennis, affectionately known as 'Pops' to the rest of the Around Alone competitors, today sadly announced his retirement from Around Alone 2002-03. Late on Saturday 21st December, while sailing Leg 3 of the race, he turned the bow of his Open 50 Bayer Ascensia and set a course back to Cape Town. In an initial email to the Race HQ he explained that the bearings on the alternator shaft and ballast pump had ceased to work, and that he felt it would be unsafe to continue to New Zealand if he was unable to charge batteries or pump water ballast.
The next email from John confirmed his course of action: "It is with great regret and enormous disappointment that I announce my retirement from the race. From the start I've experienced equipment issues, and it's now too late for repairs to get to New Zealand safely and in time for the next leg. I want to thank Bayer Diagnostics for all their support and sponsorship, and Grant International and other supporters for their help and encouragement. I have tried hard to complete this voyage. I am personally defeated, devastated, and disappointed also for my sponsor. To my wife Penny and children Stephanie and Frank I love you and treasure you and I am so sorry for the hardship I have caused you. To all those following me, I am sorry too. My diabetes did not defeat me -- diabetics can compete."
Race Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said in a brief statement: "We are very sad to hear John's news. He has been a great competitor and his compassion will be missed. Race rules state that a competitor must sail to the next port in order to reindex officially in the race. If John were to restart from Cape Town he would be trailing the fleet by thousands of miles and many days, and therefore would have no realistic safety cover in the Southern Ocean. He would also unlikely make it to New Zealand in time for the next leg. Retiring from a race like Around Alone, the longest competition for an individual in any sport, takes a certain courage and we commend him for making a tough decision."
Every skipper who starts Around Alone is a winner considering that half the battle is making the start line in the first place. It was literally hours before the final entry deadline when John signed up his sponsor, Bayer Diagnostics, and became an official entrant in the Around Alone on his Open 50 named 'Bayer Ascensia'. His message was compelling: To raise awareness for diabetes worldwide and to inspire other people with diabetes to actively self-manage their condition and to live a full life. The slogan on his hull said it all: "Your Life. Your Way." John spent much time in each port talking to school and hospitals groups, and everyone who passed his boat always left with a lasting impression of a dedicated sailor. On the race course he came a creditable 4th in Leg 1, and in Leg 2 he finished just 20 minutes behind Alan Paris on BTC Velocity on the water in 6th place, but was reinstated to 5th position after penalties. He was lying joint 4th with Spirit of yukoh in Class 2 overall rankings after two legs.
Bayer Diagnostics released the following: "We salute John Dennis, his dream, and the epoch journey we were fortunate enough to embark upon with him over the past six months. John came to us with his life-long dream, to participate in a single-handed global sail, and he wasn't going to let his diabetes limit him. And it was that determination that made Bayer decide to sponsor John as skipper of the Bayer Ascensia. Ascensia means to "ascend and achieve," and in John's case, it's been just that - a journey of achievement and effort. John's sheer participation in this race - becoming the first person with diabetes to set records for both crossing the Atlantic and finishing the Cape Town leg - speaks volumes to the mental and physical obstacles he had to overcome and ultimately the winning attitude that got him here today. We're honored to be associated with John for not only making history, but for serving as an inspiration to people with diabetes worldwide about what can be achieved through active self-management."
John will arrive in Cape Town late on Christmas Eve where he'll spend the holiday with close friends, conducting necessary repairs. Ongoing conversations ensue with Around Alone as to his further role as an honorary race participant, continuing to communicate the importance of diabetes self-management.
For more information on Bayer Ascensia campaign and John Dennis, contact:
Kristen Spensieri
Chandler Chicco Agency
347-922-3230
Amy Samaha
Bayer Diagnostics
914-355-1816
POSITIONS AT 14:00GMT 23rd DECEMBER 2002<
Track the Around Alone fleet with Raytech Navigator 4.1 – 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. Bobst Group-Armor Lux, 49 23.034 S, 75 22.410 E, 13.38 kt, 94 °T, 4560.82 nm
2. Solidaires, 48 46.190 S, 71 22.290 E, 14.67 kt, 135 °T, 4721.75 nm
3. Hexagon, 47 03.400 S, 66 02.410 E, 10.89 kt, 76 °T, 4953.53 nm
4. Ocean Planet, 44 35.480 S, 64 47.050 E, 11.37 kt, 120 °T, 5048.39 nm
5. Pindar 48 00.140 S, 63 04.360 E, 8.77 kt, 109 °T, 5054.29 nm
6. Tiscali 49 14.120 S, 61 55.500 E, 12.64 kt, 126 °T, 5079.41 nm
Class 2
Boat Time Lat Lon AvgBsp Avgheading DTF
1. Tommy Hilfiger 45 16.580 S, 61 33.290 E, 12.86 kt, 121 °T, 5163.55 nm
2. Spirit of Canada 45 31.860 S, 52 11.740 E, 9.30 kt, 123 °T, 5524.71 nm
3. Everest Horizontal 48 07.070 S, 50 35.060 E, 10.85 kt, 108 °T, 5527.48 nm
4. Spirit of yukoh 45 06.580 S, 50 16.530 E, 10.26 kt, 118 °T, 5609.04 nm
5. BTC Velocity 43 19.460 S, 47 16.380 E, 7.92 kt, 131 °T, 5771.86 nm
6. Bayer Ascensia 35 38.070 S, 21 18.220 E, 6.91 kt, 335 °T, 7021.00 nm
International Media Relations:
Mary Ambler - Email: mambler@clipper-ventures.com
Tel: +44 (0)7887 643 583
Official Photography - Marinepics
Distribution: Ali McKichan - Email: info@marinepics.com - Tel: +44 (0) 1489 573753
Absender: "Aroundalone"
Datum: 23. Dec 2002 13:40
TROUBLE DOWN SOUTH
The Southern Ocean is dishing up its usual dose of difficult conditions and they are taking their toll on the Around Alone fleet. Strong winds continue to lash the yachts as they dive deeper south and the relentless conditions have taken their first casualty. John Dennis, skipper of Bayer Ascensia, announced this morning that he was turning back for Cape Town with more problems to the boat.
"I have diverted and I am now heading to Cape Town as the bearings on the shaft for the alternator and ballast pump have ceased," he wrote in a brief email to race headquarters. "I feel that it is unsafe to proceed if I am not able to charge batteries or pump water ballast. I would like assistance in looking into shipping to Australia or New Zealand so that I can do the last two legs." In his typically abrupt manner John Dennis made a major announcement and promptly turned his boat around to point once more in the direction of South Africa. "Once I get to port I will take stock of the situation and decide then what the best course of action might be." Race rules require the yachts to be sailed between each port for the competitor to reindex an official entrant, so in order for John to reindex in the race he will need to fix the boat and set off once again for New Zealand. ItÂ’s a blow to his campaign. Dennis is a terrific sailor and a great competitor, and to be let down by faulty mechanics is a harsh blow at this stage of the race.
John Dennis is not the only competitor having a difficult time. Early this morning Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal sent a short email: "I have a major problem. Every battery on the boat is dead and I cannot start the engine. That means I will have no electrical power. I will see if solar panels can provide enough power to start engine once daylight arrives." Without any means of charging his batteries Kent would be forced to stop to make repairs. Open Class yachts are fairly simple sailboats, but they do require power for electronics and more importantly, for the autopilot. A few long hours passed until we received a second email. "Hi guys," it read. "Well, the longest hours I have had since the race began are over - the motor is running and I have electricity again. If I had not installed those solar panels in Brixham it would be another story altogether." A phone call to the boat confirmed that Tim was back up and running and raring to cat ch the yachts ahead of him.
While John and Tim deal with mechanical problems, the rest of the fleet are dealing with the strong winds. "ItÂ’s rather scary right now," wrote Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet. "Wind gusts to 45 knots. Third reef in index only, but speed sometimes steady at 20 knots. Howl of keel deafening. Consequences of wipeout nerve-wracking." Fortunately the wind is from behind and Ocean Planet is careening along on the edge of control while Schwab prepares for a long day ahead. Alan ParisÂ’s report from BTC Velocity was even more to the point. "Two knockdown to 90 degrees in the past 3 hours as wind dies to 30 knots from 40 yet sea state is way up !! All OK just a little messy."
The strong winds are forecast to moderate in the next 24 hours, and the next front is quite far to the west. This should allow the yachts time to regroup and to sort out the mess on board. We will keep you posted on John DennisÂ’s situation and bring you any important news as it happens.
--- Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net
|
