16.05.2002
The latest daily news from TEAM KINGFISHER to Dr Krumnacker
Segel.de
Latest news from KINGFISHER in the Regatta Rubicon : LEG ONE
IN BRIEF
* BERNARD STAMM's westerly 'extreme' option at Cape Finistere
is now paying
off as he has touched the new wind coming in from the north west. He could
threaten the leading trio today...just 15 miles from Kingfisher this morning...
* KINGFISHER'S more westerly position relative to leaders SILL and TISCALI
doesn't seem to have paid, as they slip back, SILL taking a 60 mile lead
having stuck to a solid easterly option - "they have nerves of steel - or
they are mad!" commented Laurent Cordelle on TISCALI.
* ELLEN SETTLING IN after (too) many months ashore and once again enjoying
the ocean racing. Teething problems from the many improvements made have
not been a totally unexpected feature of this leg, but good to work through
for the preparation for the Route du Rhum...the focus for the year!
* 400 MILES TO GO - although the wind is filling in it is expected to reindex
light to the finish...plenty of action to come...
LOGBOOK from Ellen below...
well it's great to be out here once more, but has taken a while to get into
the swing of things. I'm sitting here at the chart table feeling more
relaxed than i have in the whole race, and getting used to being out here
again. Hendo and Johnny are on deck - I can here their seemingly endless
run of amusing comments, so things must be ok. Kiny an Bruno are sleeping,
and on the windward side which is fantastic, at last we have wind and are
sailing in the right direction!! We've had dolphins around, and are sailing
at a fantastic speed with our gennaker. A perfectly flat sea - virtually no
wind, but the speed of our beloved kingfsiher is almost 10 knots - it
changes completely the mood on board!
Our attempt to pass further west in the HP system has been a stressful one,
but i only hope with the fall in pressure - and the new breeze that it' a
signal that we are nearly through. A day of hardly moving has been taxing.
but the guys have been great - never ending banter which keeps everyone's
spirit's up, and the ultimate reward was tonight ( and no not johnnys sweet
and sour lamb) but the breeze filling in. we're on fire!!
Kingfisher feels lighter and faster, than ever before, and right now she
feels wonderful. The dolphins have been around us today, the sky has been
changing almost hourly and we had some great cheese sandwiches for lunch.
that's it - just freeze dried left now - i'm sure we will cope!!
we've had the usual teething problems with our new gear, computers and the
engine, which though we replaced has given us nothing but problems as we've
had water in the fuel from an unknown source, and have spent a good few
hours in the engine bay covered in diesel.
we that's about all for tonight from Kingfisher. I feel relief to be out
here once again, and to be moving at last...it's been a stressful and
tactical few days....Lanzarote - here we come!!
ellenx
POSITIONS
Positions at 0900 GMT 16/05/2002
Regatta Rubicon map page : http://193.104.87.4/default_mono60.htm
1. Sill Plein Fruit : Jourdain, 386.2 miles to finish
2. TISCALI GLOBAL CHALLENGE : Simone BIANCHETTI, 50.0 miles behind leader
3. KINGFISHER : MacArthur, 65.9 miles behind leader
4. BOBST GROUP-ARMOR LUX : Bernard STAMM, 75.8 miles behind leader
5. TEMENOS : Dominique WAVRE, 100.8 miles behind leader
6. VIRBAC : Jean Pierre DICK, 104.1 miles behind leader
7. L'Heautontimoroumenos : Antoine KOCH, 124.3 miles behind leader
8. ADECCO-ETOILE HORIZON : Bob ESCOFFIER, Retired due to rudder problems
LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING : Gennaker - this is one of the big sails
that is hoisted up the 27 metre mast when the wind starts to kick in
from behind the boat - from about 100 degrees off the bow to 125 degrees.
It is hoisted up on a furler (ie rolled around itself), and once at the top of the mast is 'unfurled' unleashing massive power to the boat. In the set of sails
it fits between a genoa and a spinnaker...
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