30.04.2007
VELUX 5 OCEANS - Leg Three
STRONG WINDS Ahead FOR KNOX-JOHNSTON AND BASURKO
As Bernard Stamm and Open 60 Cheminées Poujoulat race Kojiro Shiraishi on Spirit of Yukoh neck-and-neck through the Bay of Biscay to the finish line, 750 miles behind the leaders in third place, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston studies each position poll in minute detail: "Unai was roughly 280 miles further from the finish last night," he wrote earlier in his daily log from SAGA Insurance. "So there is still a very small chance of getting in ahead of him by 41 hours, but it will need some luck with the weather, and that could go either way of course."
Recurrent positioning data retrieval problems on board Unai Basurko's Open 60, Pakea, have made it impossible for Knox-Johnston to accurately calculate the separation between the two yachts: "He has lost his Sat C as well as his trackers, apparently," Knox-Johnston commented, "so I am not the only one who gets these electronic problems." To clarify Basurko's position, the VELUX 5 OCEANS race office are in constant satellite phone contact with the Basque solo sailor: "Race HQ are due to speak to him later this morning when we will get an update on how he is getting on," he continued.
Knox-Johnston is continuing on his north-east gybe through the North Atlantic between the Azores and Cape Finisterre in demanding conditions: "Heavy blow yesterday morning, with sail right down to avoid ploughing the bow under too often," he reported before predicting the iminent arrival of stronger breeze: "But more wind is on its way, this time from the south initially, but then veering round to the west, not expected to exceed Force 5 [17-21 nautical MPH]. It is westerly at the moment and very light so we are losing time right now SAGA Insurance's ETA is now dependant to what happens to a low forming off Finisterre on the 2nd May and it's a bit too early to know what to make of it except it could produce strong easterly winds along the north Spanish coast, right in our face."
This morning, SAGA Insurance is averaging just under 8 knots and with the prospect of headwinds and a tough beat towards indexland Europe, the British skipper knows that the reindexing 750 miles to the finish line will be hard work: "Spent the day plugging slowly eastwards," he wrote, "No excitement yet at the thought of the finish, there's interesting weather and traffic zones to negotiate before Bilbao comes in sight. Best indication of an ETA is Thursday 3rd May sometime."
As the race leaders approach the finish, Knox-Johnston took time to reflect on the performances of Stamm and Shiraishi during this 29,000 mile circumnavigation: "Bernard should finish to-day, by coming the third person to have won this race twice. It has been a performance marked by good preparation and few errors coupled with single-minded determination. Bernard has to be one of the most experienced Open 60 skippers around now. Kojiro has been closing in at the end which is remarkable. This is Koji's second participation, last time he did it in a 40 footer, this time with a second hand 60 footer, but again well prepared. He is the third Japanese to complete the event after Yukoh Tada and Minouru Saito."
About Bilbao (Basque Country)
Set in the province of Bizkaia, the City of Bilbao, in a joint initiative with the Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia and the Basque Government, has committed to be the official host port for both the start and finish of the 2006/7 VELUX 5 OCEANS. Bilbao is the economic capital of the Basque country in the north of the Iberian Peninsula and has historically strong ties to the oceans. Renowned for its spectacular Guggenheim Museum and having recently undergone significant urban regeneration and development, the city will provide an outstanding backdrop for the race. The race will be based in a new marina and waterfront development at the Port of Getxo, which is linked directly to the city by a new metro system designed by Norman Foster.
www.bilbao.net / www.bizkaia.net
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