- zur Übersicht Absender: "Aroundalone" Empfänger: redaktion@segel.de Datum: 16. Jan 2003 07:36 SPECTACULAR FINISH FOR OCEAN PLANET Latest News 15:07hrs local time - Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America has crossed the finish line in real style at 15:05:56 local time (02:05:56 GMT), broad reaching at 10 knots, coming in first place in Class 2 for the third leg running. A spectacular performance, as American skipper Brad Van Liew has put over a thousand miles between his boat and his nearest rival in Class 2. If you are in Tauranga, come to the Press Conference in the WesternBay Finance Race Village at 17:00 to meet the four skippers who have arrived in the last day... Bruce Schwab auf Ocean Planet mit Zuschaueryacht Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America is looking stunning, speeding in wearing full red, white and blue colours from top to bottom. Brad Van Liew is spruced up in a new set of Tommy Hilfiger clothing for the occasion, and there could be no greater right now - the boat is flying towards the finish, 2 miles to go, under full sail, the weather is perfect, a fair breeze pushing the boatspeed to 12 knots, as Brad gybes and sets a headsail for the final few metres... With Pindar now safely docked Emma was welcomed with great applaud and she popped the Champagne Mumm cork, spraying the amassed crowd of media, spectators, friends and family. Brad has just called to say he has caught the breeze and is going at 6 knots now, expecting to cross in an hour. Emma is now coming through the channel on Pindar, her official finish time was 12:51:12 local time 16th January, or 23:51:12 GMT on the 15th January. Brad Van Liew is 10 miles away, parked up still waiting for the sea breeze to fill in where he is. Average speed is only 1.7 knots - instantaneous speed was a big zero! He'll be sure to get into the breeze soon and we hope he will be coming across the line within the next hour or so. There will be a press conference, which the public are welcome to attend, at the WesternBay Finance Race Village at around 3pm this afternoon, just after Brad Van Liew arrives at the pontoons. Simone Bianchetti will also join the 3 skippers in this presentation... Latest News 12:51pm local time - Emma's finished! Lots of cheering, screaming and clapping from friends, family and followers... 1/2 mile to go, she's rocketing in, surrounded by a gaggle of spectator boats. Emma Richards has 3 miles to the finish, sailing Pindar with full sails at 10 - 12 knots, looking beautiful in the sunshine - the boat of course... Bruce Schwab has much to be happy about, and judging by the size of the smile on his face as he crossed the finish line in Tauranga this morning, he knows he should be happy. What started as a dream many years ago is now more than a reality. Schwab not only built the boat of his dreams, but he is competing in the race of his dreams and is now more than half way around the world. In bright sunlight, and with all sails flying, Schwab sailed Ocean Planet across the finish line looking spectacular. It was a fitting finish to what had been a frustrating few days of sailing. Earlier in the leg Bruce had sailed up to Emma Richards on Pindar and the two skippers sailed side by side. "It was just fantastic to see Emma," he said. "We were waving madly at each other, but we also knew that we were in a race so we kept on racing hard. It was great to see another person, especially Emma." The wind has been "on the nose" since the Tasman, at times blowing hard, and Schwab, slowed by not having ballast for stability, made gradual progress towards the finish. Then the wind died altogether and Bruce witnesses a beautiful sunrise over a glassy ocean. Five miles from the finish line he parked up again and waited for the spectator fleet to sail out to greet him. When it was obvious that he was not going to be going anywhere fast, Bruce pulled out his guitar and sang for the crowds. His singing also brought on some wind and with the new breeze Ocean Planet scooted across the finish line to take fifth place in Class 2. His official finish time was 10:17:22 local time (21:17:22 GMT on January 15) --- Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE