Asian Record Circuit 2006 - Leg 4 www.teamellen.com - Übersicht Leg 6 23.04.2006 FINALLY THEY FINISH! 23 Apr 2006 // 05:29 After one of the slowest finishes on this tour - taking 8 hours to cover the final 25 miles - B&Q crossed the finish line of Leg 6 off the coast of Hong Kong at 04:16:32 GMT today [23/4/06]. At 0100 they finally got some wind back, around 3 knots, that built up to 7 knots by the time they crossed the line with full index and Code 0. Ellen and the crew have secured record number 7 of the Asian Record Circuit, establshing a new record in a time of 2 days, 16 hours, 46 minutes and 37 seconds - marginally exceeding the target time they set themselves for this 460 mile leg from Taipei to Hong Kong. Liegeplatz in Hongkong Deep Water Bay Marina Foto: Offshore Challenges Team PAINFULLY SLOW FINISH 22 Apr 2006 // 23:36 The wind has died - since 2000 GMT B&Q has been drifting towards Hong Kong at less than a knot of speed - so near and yet so far, has never been more true. B&Q has only covered 5 miles in the last 4 hours - a frustrating end to this leg and their hopes of securing record number 7 within their own target time of 2 days and 16 hours are dwindling. They would have to cross the line by 0329 GMT to finish within that time, without any new breeze this will be impossible. However, Ellen is hoping sunrise will bring fresh breeze soon [local time GMT +8hrs]. But whatever time they finish, B&Q will nonetheless establish a new record between Taipei and Hong Kong - their seventh on this eight week Asian Record Circuit that began at the on the 25th March. CLOSING ON HONG KONG 22 Apr 2006 // 19:03 Less than 30 miles to go for Ellen and the crew on B&Q to the next stopover port of Hong Kong to finish Leg 6 and secure record number 7, but the wind is dying by the hour - only just over 5 knots showing in latest boat data as they head just north of west on a direct course to Hong Kong. See Ellen's latest email from onboard sent this afternoon that shows this leg has thankfully been less stressful and certainly more enjoyable for the crew even though the strong winds that they had in the early stages of this leg have not continued to the finish. Read full story below... HOTTING UP 22 Apr 2006 // 08:55 There is some breeze but not heaps… Through the night, the wind has been coming from the south-west [or just south of west] keeping B&Q moving along at between 7-10 knots in WNW direction with around 137 miles to go at 0800 BST this morning - upwind sailing but, for now, relatively low stress compared to previous legs. Temperatures start to sore as they close on Hong Kong and latest ETA if they average 10 knots should be around 1900 GMT which will bring the crew home well ahead of their self-imposed target time. See full story below. PICKING UP SPEED 21 Apr 2006 // 19:33 B&Q has been picking up speed since 1600 this afternoon and are now heading WSW as the trimaran reaches along at around 13-15 knots of boat speed in winds from the SSE. Hopefully, the windless zone forecasted for the middle of the Taiwan Strait has not been as bad as expected and that Ellen and the crew will sail towards more wind that is expected closer to the Chinese coast. Latest ETA [see data panel above] is still for midday tomorrow [Saturday] but there is still a long way to go on this sixth leg to Hong Kong. PASSED HALFWAY 21 Apr 2006 // 16:16 B&Q have passed the halfway point on Leg 6 from Taipei to Hong Kong and for now are estimated to arrive in Hong Kong ahead of their self-imposed target time of 2d 16h. But sailing - especially when trying to set records - can be a cruel sport and gradually over the last few hours the wind speed has started to drop knot by knot as they sail into a low wind speed zone in the middle of the Taiwan Strait. The wind direction has rotated from the east into the north-east and is now south of east which keeps them reaching along on a south-westerly course to their destination. No further direct news from onboard B&Q but click on the Position icon above to see where they are or, even better, using Google Earth... LIFE IS GOOD FOR NOW 21 Apr 2006 // 11:20 Ellen and the B&Q crew of Loik, Charlie, Erwan and Elaine have been enjoying some less stressful sailing - not too many other boats and calmer seas - but, unfortunately, it could get too calm as Commanders' warn of the wind disappearing altogether as two opposing winds meet in the middle of the Taiwan Strait [exactly where B&Q are heading] and cancel each other out. See full story and latest photos below. Click on Position icon above to see exactly where B&Q are located. MEET NELSON 21 Apr 2006 // 11:18 Not another crew member but probably would be if he had the chance! Ni-Sheng Liu is Taiwan's first sailor to circumnavigate the globe and is now Chairman of Taipei's Offshore Sailing Association. During the short pitstop in Taipei, Ellen and Nelson had time to compare notes. See full story below. LATEST NEWS FROM ONBOARD... 21 Apr 2006 // 08:03 Latest news from onboard at 0430 GMT: “It is amazing sailing out here today, we are going downwind in calm sees, with full index and the gennaker up. We have seen a few ships and fishing boats so far, but it has been a nice way to pass a morning. We are making good progress down the straits and hope to be able to keep the wind long enough to pass over the bank at the bottom of the straits before dark. If any one was trying to sell sailing, this is the kind of demo sail they'd wish for - so far anyway!”. B&Q are currently heading south-southeast at 12 knots in a northeasterly 13 knots breeze, with a current eta into Hong Kong at 04:50 GMT this Saturday (22.04.06). But, the latest forecast from Commanders’ shows problems ahead, as current conditions are unlikely to hold and B&Q may well face being becalmed in the next 2- 4 hours. Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE