Betreff: Alex Thomson Racing: 2 Nations' Clash as Alex & Bilou go head to head on the Rugby
Absender: "Mary Ambler"
Datum: 13. Nov 2003 15:30
ALEX THOMSON RACING
2 NATIONS’ CLASH AS ALEX & BILOU GO head TO head ON THE RUGBY
Transat Jacques Vabre: Monohull Class 1 – DAY 12
13th November 2003
Leader: Virbac (Dick/Abiven FRA))
11:00hrs GMT Position of SILL: 2nd place, 143.7m to the leader
Conditions: 16 knots from the NE
Location: 1,541m to Brazil! 2 ½ days to the Equator
* On day 12 of the race, the Sill boys are currently reaping the advantages of the Doldrums as they close in on the race leader Virbac, who has slowed up in the unpredictable weather system. Bilou said this morning on the sat phone “Our French rivals ahead are such gentlemen to hang around and wait for us! Actually, it’s more worrying that the English pair behind will also be able to catch up on us when we get into this veritable black hole.” Of course this is the phrase that the French use for the Doldrums, with its fickle winds, violent rain squalls and no-wind zones.
*Alex and Bilou have cleverly lined themselves up directly ahead of Ecover on the same longitude so that in theory, whatever weather slows them up, will in turn slow up the boat just 33m behind. The forecast is that the monohulls should pop out the other side of the Doldrums at 4 North in the same order, but the gaps between them will be reduced, to make for an intense final phase of the race in the SE Trades all the way to Brazil.
Alex Thomson sounded on fine form this morning, although on the shore side we were concerned it would be a black day ahead given the freak meteorological zone they were on the verge of entering…
“Last night we had 16 – 18 knots and so had all the kites up and down like ladies’ drawers! We’ve been hand steering all night, and the wind is now starting to shift to the East. Ecover has been going a little faster than us but we’re catching Virbac – every mile counts. It’s been a bit overcast here, although still humid, but I still managed to burn myself yesterday, and I know what you’re going to say!
“Actually, the Doldrums don’t look that bad after all, so we’re pretty cool about it on board. The one thing that is now distracting us more is the build up to the rugby match on Sunday! Bilou and I are going to wear blue and white T-shirts, write ENGLAND and FRANCE on our foreheads, and I found some American dollars so we’ve got some hard currency to place bets with. The friendly rivalry on board is a good thing, it’s giving us something other than sailing to think about for a change. Bilou has said that in true sporting style we must swap swimming trunks at the end of the match, but the one thing I’m dreading is the forfeit he’s come up with if England lose – I have to eat raw all the flying fish that land on the boat – it makes me want to retch! I can’t repeat what I told him he’d have to do, but the clean version will probably be something like cutting my nails for me or cleaning out the cabin at the end of the race, something smelly and disgusting of course! We’ll be sending you a photo of us ready in our team kit later today, and the video will be out too…
On hearing that this morning their unusual ‘rugby duel’ story got into The Times on the back page of the Sports section, Alex was amazed: “What..? That’s a laugh, I can’t believe it! Well, thanks to everyone for chipping in, because we are looking forward to watching the match online, and we’re going to call into the shore team – and also Grandstand as well – at half time, so you can get some running commentary and onboard atmosphere between us at the nav station from the mid-Atlantic! We’ll have hopefully crossed the Equator Saturday night and be well into the SE Trades by then…by the way, can you email me the match times in GMT as I’ve no idea what day of the week it is still??”
ATR.COM WEBSITE
You can follow Alex Thomson on ‘Sill’ in the Transat Jacques Vabre on a new-look format of the current campaign website at www.alexthomsonracing.com, where Alex’s personal updates & images taken on board, plus the latest race information and boat positions will be posted online. If you wish to make enquiries, sign up to receive updates or send Alex a message of support at any time please register your email through the Quick Enquiries section online or at info@at-racing.com.
The Official Race web site is at www.jacques-vabre.com
ENDS
AT Racing Ltd
Address: Unit 11, Haslar Marina, Haslar Road, Gosport PO12 1NU
Tel: +44 (0)23 9252 4343 - Fax: +44 (0)23 9252 4646
Website: www.alexthomsonracing.com
Sponsorship enquiries: sponsorship@at-racing.com
General enquiries: info@at-racing.com
Media enquiries: Mary Ambler - Email: mary@at-racing.com - Mobile: +44 (0) 7887 643 583
High resolution images of Alex Thomson / Sill (on board & aerial) are available on request and copyright free.
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