28.06.2005
The decision has been taken this morning by the Offshore Challenges Sailing
Team for the 75-foot trimaran B&Q not to participate in the Royal Navy's
International Fleet Review due to the strong winds and difficult sea state
forecast for today. The combination of a 25 knot easterly wind which will be
blowing against strong tidal conditions in the Solent will produce an
increasingly difficult sea state in which the trimaran can safely anchor in
the 'holding area' off Portsmouth whilst waiting to participate in the
official sail past.
However, Ellen MacArthur will still be participating in the pre-arranged
activities on board HMS Ocean today and on HMS Invincible this evening.
Skipper of the trimaran commented: "It is with real regret that we had to
take this decision not to be part of this great historic spectacle, but
B&Q may be built to race around the globe in gales and big seas but out
on the ocean we have the luxury of open sea," said MacArthur. "In a confined
space with many other craft, trying to anchor a 75-foot boat that is also
50-foot wide which is not designed to anchor, was too big a risk to take for
both our boat and other craft.
Even without the sails up the windage on the
hulls and 100-foot mast is huge in this kind of breeze. The sea state was of
particular concern to us as it is expected to build to over 1m in height
caused by the wind against the tide and the chop created by the spectator and
participating craft - in these kind of conditions we could not be 100%
confident of being able to hold anchor safely."
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Ellen Mac Arthur(MBE) Commander Dame