8 March, 2007
VELUX 5 OCEANS - Leg 2, Day 54 Report
SIR ROBIN STANDS STILL
* Frustratingly slow progress for Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR)
* Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN) remembers the memory of his mentor Yukoh Tada
* High spirits onboard Pakea for Unai Basurko (ESP)
* Graham Dalton (NZL) north of Rio and pulling away from Sir Robin
In the past 24 hours Saga Insurance has traveled just 66 miles, averaging less than 3 knots boat speed. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is understandably grumpy about his predicament. He is caught by the trade winds, which means as fast he goes forward they push him back which means he is almost standing still in the water.
Kojiro Shiraishi on SPIRIT OF YUKOH is still making the best progress among the four reindexing boats at sea in the VELUX 5 OCEANS. The Japanese skipper is currently on the same latitude as the French Caribbean island of Martinque. While Bernard Stamm's track was to the west of the great circle route to Norfolk, SPIRIT OF YUKOH is almost directly on it. The forecast for the days ahead is for more 'champagne sailing' conditions to propel him north at pace.
Today Kojiro marked the sixteenth anniversary of his great mentor Yukoh Tada's passing away. Enormously respected by Kojiro, who named his yacht after the famous Japanese adventurer, Koji described his great friend as a "Spring Wind", a warm and kind man who taught him many lessons in life and who embraced life and friendship.
Basque Skipper, Unai Basurko onboard PAKEA is in buoyant mood. His tactics to get around the easterly pointing bulge in the Brazilian coastline at Recife have been good and he hasn't been as hard on the wind as his rivals. The forecast ahead for a relatively fast crossing of the Doldrums (usually at 5-10degN) is also looking good. After the Doldrums PAKEA will cross into the northeasterly trade winds of the southern North Atlantic and these should allow him to make fast speed towards the Norfolk, Virginia finish line.
Meanwhile to the south Graham Dalton on A SOUTHERN MAN -AGD continues to be around 260 miles ahead of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's Saga Insurance. Dalton has passed north of the latitude of Rio de Janeiro and is enjoying easterly winds to propel him towards Recife.
Kojiro Shiraishi, SPIRIT OF YUKOH
"The wind is blowing strongly and consistently. Fantastic! This level of great, steady wind is a first for this leg. I'm able to make good distances."
"Today, in Japan, is the 16th (17th in Buddhist terms) anniversary of my great mentor Yukoh Tada's passing. My boat 'Spirit of Yukoh' was named after him. It was thanks to him that I'm even able to participate in the race that he won years ago. In comparison to the great man he was I still have a long way to go. His presence affected everyone and everything he became involved with. I try to think that I'm carrying on the great steps that Yukoh-san first walked. It's important for me to pass this on to the next generation like he did to me. I'm not thinking about helping or bringing on another solo sailor."
"Tada-san didn't necessarily teach me everything about sailing. Instead the invaluable lessons I learnt from him were to hold on to my own identity, always enjoy life and care for my closest friends and family. I learned 'how you can enjoy your life'. Yukoh Tada was a cheerful, warm man that could be described as a 'spring wind'. In response to what I've just written, I could imagine him saying; "Koji, stop talking like that you'll embarrass me, let's go for a drink!'"
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, SAGA INSURANCE:
"At some point the system will stop moving and we'll get through, but it might take a few days. In the meantime the others are into the Trades and moving fast in the right direction and opening up a larger gap between Saga Insurance and them. The poor continue to get poorer. We are out of the race until we can get wind and in fact I find it best not to think about the race, it's too depressing, and this delay has now stretched too long. Today was the worst, we actually stopped completely for an hour, so I took the opportunity to have a swim and check beneath the boat."
Unai Basurko, PAKEA:
"It is the most common and familiar route for us, this highway to America. The sailors from centuries ago, they crossed the Atlantic without difficulty because the current and the waves head for America. So I hope to sail fast and make a good average speed."
Boat Positions as at 15:20 UTC 8 March 2007
Yacht
Skipper
Latitude
Longitude
Course (°)
Speed (knot)
DTL (nautical miles)
DTF (nautical miles)
Dist - last Pos (nautical miles)
Dist - 24h (nautical miles)
Average speed - 24h (knots)
VMG - 24h (knots)
1
Cheminées Poujoulat
Bernard Stamm
FINISHED: 48 days, 22 hours and 59 minutes
2
Spirit of Yukoh
Kojiro Shiraishi
18° 34.12 N
055° 38.76 W
316
15
1546
1546
60.7
317.2
13.22
13.17
3
PAKEA
Unai Basurko
03° 39.54 S
034° 16.69 W
334
8.4
3382
3382
45.1
225.8
9.41
8.36
4
A Southern Man-AGD
Graham Dalton
17° 47.00 S
034° 56.00 W
24
8.4
4215
4215
43.6
222.6
9.27
9.27
5
SAGA Insurance
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
25° 35.24 S
037° 17.76 W
354
2.2
4701
4701
20
61.6
2.57
2.2
- END -
For more information on VELUX 5 OCEANS please visit www.velux5oceans.com, or contact:
Tim Kelly / Justine Ozoux / Kate Fairclough
RACE PRESS OFFICE: + 44 20 7494 1616
E: tim.kelly@pitchpr.com / justine@pitchpr.com / kate@pitchpr.com
About Norfolk, Virginia (USA)
Norfolk, which is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest military station in the world, can host hundreds of vessels at one time including cruise ships, destroyers and submarines and once made history when it berthed five nuclear aircraft carriers at the same time. The port will provide the skippers and ground crews of the VELUX 5 OCEANS with world class facilities.
The City is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Hampton Roads Harbour, one of the most famous sailing areas in the USA which attracts hundreds of thousands of yachts and sailing fanatics to the area every year and has played host to some of the world's major sailing events including the Volvo Ocean Race and the Mount Gay Rum Sailing Week. The situation of the City also makes it an idea venue for the VELUX 5 OCEANS providing unique opportunities to watch the fleet arrive from vantage points on the coast and on the water.
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