Oceanracing - 2006 - Asia Records

Asian Record Circuit 2006 - Leg 1/2
www.teamellen.com - Übersicht Leg1/2

28 Mar 2006 // 17:10
B&Q has been taking shelter from the gale force conditions
in the lee of a Japanese island for the last six hours. The forecast shows another northwestherly storm on the horizon for tomorrow, so the crew will be meeting in the next few hours to discuss the options available. Read the latest phone-call from Ellen below...

28 Mar 2006 // 11:37
After an action packed past twenty-four hours, B&Q is now taking shelter along the coast of a southern Japanese Island until the north westerly front subsides.

28 Mar 2006 // 09:11
It has been an eventful past twelve hours onboard B&Q. After becoming tangled in the fishing line from a local fishing boat, they were forced to change the starboard rudder. This change slowed progress onboard, which meant they were soon caught in gale force conditions caused by the northwest front that has collided with the south coast of Japan. After sailing through 40-48 knots conditions, the crew have made the decision to take shelter in a nearby Island. Current forecast predict the conditions should ease in the next few hours and B&Q will soon be back on track to pass the first gate at Jeju Island, South Korea.

LATEST PHONE-CALL FROM ONBOARD
“The sea was really rough so we have came into the lee of an island (Yaku Shima island) for some shelter to get out of the strong conditions with the wind gusting around 45-50 knots. We have been sailing up and down in the lee of the island for the last six hours. It has been quite hard keeping B&Q on track due to the gusts coming over the top of the island.

The latest forecast shows that there will be a lull after this front has blown through and conditions will ease for a short but then another new northwesterly front is expected with winds between 35-50 knots, will be on top of us for another 18 hours which is not great. So it will be upwind all the way to the gate off Jeju Island, apart from the lull in between the fronts when the wind will swing into the SW, and on to our stopover port in Dalian, on the north-east coast of indexland China. The sea state has been horrendous, with short, steep seas. Loik is sleeping at present, once he is awake we will all discuss the options ahead of us, then we’ll make a decision as to what we’ll do.”
Ellen