Wed, 07 Jun 2006 10:45:55 UTC
The frustrating part about what’s happening to the race
is that there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it. No matter how much money you have spent on your boat, your sails, your whole campaign, you are at the mercy of the winds and the tides. If the wind doesn’t decide to blow, that’s all there is to it, you don’t go anywhere.
Last night the wind took off and even at 1000GMT there were only fitful airs varying between one and three knots. Boat speeds were similarly between one and three knots.
The fleet has split into two with the leading group of ABN AMRO ONE, Brasil 1 and Ericsson working their way up towards the Butt of Lewis tack by tack, inch by inch. ABN AMRO ONE has managed to confound all her critics and stay ahead in the very light conditions, probably more a matter of the skill of the crew, tactician and navigator and the efficiency of her sails than of Black Betty’s innate slipperiness.
Ericsson and Brasil 1 are neck and neck just behind the leader, these two showing considerable speed in light conditions, more than their Farr sister The Black Pearl. It looks as though Paul Cayard has worked so hard on the big wind potential of his boat that he has dropped a little in light weather performance. This lack of ghosting performance could be The Pirates Achilles heel as they need to keep in touch with Brasil 1 to protect their second position overall.
Behind the leading pack, the other three boats are either just 14 or so miles behind, or half a day, depending on how you are going to measure the deficit.
Pirates of the Caribbean and ABN AMRO TWO are still neck and neck, the Race Manager giving Pirates the benefit of the doubt and showing her as fourth. One more mile behind is Brunel, having caught up dramatically since the 2200GMT poll when she was 23 miles back.
Positions
At 1000GMT the positions were ABN AMRO ONE leading by two miles from Brasil 1 and Ericsson who are equal. Then Pirates of the Caribbean and ABN AMRO TWO are at 14 miles, Brunel at 15. Speed made good is only just over three knots and the past 24 hours have all the boats running 200 miles or less. Brunel has the best 24 hour run at 206 miles. The next poll should have 24 hour runs well under 200 miles.
Once the boats get to the Butt of Lewis, it’s another 41 miles to Cape Wrath, then 61 more to Duncansby head. The tide will be a major factor in the Pentland Firth just before Duncansby head, with record speeds of up to 16 knots being recorded at times. More usual is a mere ten knots. There’s still plenty of action left in the next day’s sailing.
There are no emails in from the boats since last night, the crews either being too occupied to attack the keyboard or too despondent. . .
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