Oceanracing 2002 - Around Alone, das Highlight des Jahres

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Leg 5 - Bahia - Newport/USA

Leg 1
New York - Torbay

Leg 2
Torbay - Kapstadt

Leg 3
Kapstadt - Tauranga/NZ

Leg 4
Tauranga - Salvador

Große Fotos in der
Gesamt-Fotogalerie

31.05.2003
SPIRIT OF CANADA CLOSES THE LOOP

Around Alone 2002-03 Overall Rankings & Awards
Around Alone 2002-03 Media Contact: Mary Ambler - Email: mambler@clipper-ventures.com - Cell: +1 401 595 6614 until 3rd June 03 UK Cell from 4th June 03: +44 (0) 7887 643 583
Newport, RI USA – 31st May 03. The quiet Canadian, skipper Derek Hatfield on board Open 40 Spirit of Canada, closed the loop on Around Alone 2002-03 when he crossed the finish line off Castle Hill at 10:56:25 local time (14:56:25 GMT) in Newport RI. The ocean off Rhode Island undulated lazily with a slight swell under a hazy summer sky as Spirit of Canada slipped through the water towards the finish in a light southwesterly breeze. Hatfield now confirms his 3rd place on the podium for Class 2 with 37 points, despite an overall elapsed time of 245 days, 15 hrs, 44 mins, 45 secs.

Derek Hatfield’s Around Alone effort is the human endeavour story of this race. When all seemed lost after the devastating pitchpole and dismasting at Cape Horn on March 7th during Leg 4, Hatfield’s courage and tenacity kept the project going and his finish in Newport this morning is a testament to the strong will and never-give-up attitude that epitomized this campaign. In Derek’s final email from Spirit of Canada he thanked two key people that helped him get back on track. “To Al Power of Decoma International and Andrew Pindar of Pindar Group, thank you very much for your kind generosity and belief in Spirit of Canada. Without you, we definitely would not have been able to attain the goal that we set out to do.”
When Spirit of Canada approached the finish line, Hatfield glanced over to the committee boat and noticed a diminutive figure standing alongside his own parents. Three months ago when in Tauranga, Derek had met a 7yr old boy called Bryce Holmes, who had welcomed him at the dock and became his biggest fan. Derek had no idea that Bryce had made the trip to the US to witness his arrival, and the delight on Hatfield’s face was a sight to behold. Small moments like that one make the worst storm fade instantly into a distant memory.

Around Alone 2002-03 Overall Rankings
Go to official website homepage for Leg and Overall Rankings tables
Class 1
1. Bobst Group – Armor Lux: 49 points / 115 days 17hrs 27m 23s
2. Solidaires: 45 points / 118 days 12hrs 51m 48s
3. Tiscali: 35 points / 159 days 19hrs 53m 11s
4. Pindar: 33 points / 131 days 19hrs 45m 49s
5. Ocean Planet: 30 points / 159 days 5hrs 41m 42s

Class 2
1. Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America: 50 points / 148 days 16 hrs 54m 42s
2. Everest Horizontal: 44 points / 169 days 23hrs 6m 28s
3. Spirit of Canada: 37 points / 245 days 15hrs 44m 45s
4. Spirit of yukoh: 36 points / 180 days 0hrs 6m 25s
5. BTC Velocity: 30 points / 202 days 10hrs 9m 52s

Around Alone 2002-03 Awards

Around Alone 2002-03 Class 1 Winner’s Shield Bernard Stamm
Around Alone 2002-03 Class 2 Winner - Shuten Doji Award Brad Van Liew
Harry Mitchell Trophy for the fastest Open 40 Kojiro Shiraishi
Raymarine Communication Awards – Class 1 Emma Richards
Raymarine Communication Awards – Class 2 Brad Van Liew
Dry Creek Vineyard 24hr Distance Record – Class 1 Bernard Stamm
Dry Creek Vineyard 24hr Distance Record – Class 2 Brad Van Liew

Tagesberichte

01.06.2003 - A FOND FAREWELL

31.05.2003 - SPIRIT OF CANADA CLOSES THE LOOP

30.05.2003 - A TRIBUTE TO BILLY BLACK

27.05.2003 - SPIRIT OF CANADA IN COUNTDOWN TO FINISH

25.05.2003 - THE LAST WEEK FOR HATFIELD

19.05.2003 - THE AROUND ALONE PRIZE GIVING

16.05.2003 - 5-OCEANS: THE NEW NAME

16.05.2003 - Schulklasse feiert mit AA-Skippern

12.05.2003 - ALAN PARIS FIRST BERMUDIAN CIRCUMNAVIGATOR

07.05.2003 - KOJIRO HONOURS SPIRIT OF YUKOH TADA

05.05.2003 - KENT TAKES 2ND IN CLASS 2

05.05.2003 - DEREK FINISHES LEG 4