Betreff: AN APRIL FOOLS DAY COMPETITION Absender: "Aroundalone" Datum: 01. Apr 2003 17:29 AN APRIL FOOLS DAY COMPETITION Today is April Fools day, and while we did for a brief moment think of putting up a bogus story in the hope that you would fall for it, we realized instead that the followers of this great race are an intelligent bunch and rather than falling for a ruse we knew you would rather rise to the challenge of a quiz. So we have taken some of the ideas we originally had for April FoolÂ’s jokes and included among them a real story. You have to decide which is the real story, and to make it just a touch more interesting, the winner, chosen randomly from among all the winners, will receive the first copy off the press of my new book which is due to hit the bookstores early next week. Story 1 – Dubois and Stamm to change boats for Leg 5 – Tired of getting needled by Thierry Dubois who has insisted since Cape Town that he would be winning the race if he was sailing Bobst Group Armor lux, Bernard Stamm finally agreed to switch boats for the last leg to Newport. There is nothing in the race rules that prohibit this. The rules state only that a skipper must finish on an Open 60 if he is a Class 1 entrant. While Bernard lives in France he is not really accepted as a top Open 60 sailor because he is Swiss. "I see this as a way to prove to the French sailors that I can beat them at their own game and on a French sailboat," Stamm told a newspaper reporter here in Salvador. Dubois is delighted. "Now at last I will be able to beat Bernard boat for boat," he said. "Everyone knows that Bobst Group is the fastest Open 60 in the world." Bruce Schwab with a small recording contract in Salvador? Photo: Brian Hancock photo Kojiro with new Feng Shui ankle straps and magnetized cones from his new sponsor - Mary Ambler photo Story 2– Race organizers mandate that the finishes in Newport be during daylight hours – Because of the huge media presence expected in Newport for the finishes, Race Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston today announced that the boats would only be allowed to finish during daylight hours. "One of the reasons we decided to race this race on a point system was so that there would not be any pressure on the competitors to finish during the night," Sir Robin said. "Our television deals require footage of all the boats finishing during the day. It will be better for the press, the competitors and the sponsors. So far none of the competitors have objected." Story 3 – Japanese skipper Kojiro Shiarishi announces new Feng Shui sponsor – Today Kojiro Shiraishi announced a new sponsorship agreement with Sev Marine Max, a Japanese company that specializes in Natural energy products for the marine industry. The president of the company, Mr. Masayaki Sakamoto will arrive in Salvador on Friday to personally position the new products which are guaranteed to make Spirit of yukoh sail faster. These products range from magnetic plates that will be placed on the hull to attract the negative ions in the water and dispel them as well as energy strips that Kojiro has already sewn onto his clothing and into his indexsail above the battens to make his sails perform better. "I want Brad to know in advance why it is I am going to beat him on the next leg," Kojiro said. Story 4 – Bruce Schwab lands a recording deal in Salvador – Salvador is the musical heartbeat of Brazil and Californian skipper Bruce Schwab has landed a small recording contract. After playing each night at an open mike night in Pelhorinho Square, a talent scout for Bahia Records noticed the Around Alone skipper jamming with a local singer by the name of Iuri Viera. "I guess they liked the mix between my folk style and IuriÂ’s samba beat and they have asked me to record three new songs for IuriÂ’s new album," Bruce said. "ItÂ’s not a lot of cash, but every little bit helps." If you think you know which of these stories is for real, drop me an email and tomorrow I will announce the winner. Who said the Around Alone was not an exciting event? --- Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE