Peppermint
Well-Known Member
GLOBAL CHALLENGE RACE UPDATE: Leg 2 291104
www.globalchallenge2004.com
NEWS IN BRIEF:
- Leg 2 has started. Next stop Wellington
- Two yachts over the start line early (plain penalty of 720 degrees at Waypoint 1) - 'Samsung' and 'Me to You'
- Yachts racing out of the River Plate - turn right for Cape Horn
- Lone Atlantic rower, Debra Veal, racing aboard 'Pindar'
- 15 miles separate front and back runners, with many neck and neck
- Southern Ocean Leg 1 interview feature now up in the website features section
COMMENTARY AND WEATHER:
Day 2 and an early lead by Duggie Gillespie aboard 'Spirit of Sark' as the fleet reaches out past Samborombom Bay, on the outskirts of the River Plate in north/north easterly winds. At the end of today the yachts should be in deeper water with a stop start for the first 48 hours anticipated.
The yachts would be advised to stay closer to the coast, in the hope of picking up the land and sea breezes. With the current light winds, there could be some big gains across the fleet at the expense of less attentive competitors.
The racing is neck and neck in three distinct packs within the fleet. Spirit of Sark and BG SPIRIT are engaged in a duel for 1st place with neither letting the other go. Me to You and BP Explorer in 4th and 5th are both exactly 3 miles behind the leader. Pindar and Imagine It. Done are exactly 6 miles behind the leader and the last three teams, 1st leg winners Barclays Adventurer, Team Save the Children and Team Stelmar (10th/ 11th and 12th respectively) are all 15 miles off the pace. The competition has well and truly started!
Very heavy winds are forecast to fill in from the southwest from Tuesday evening, making for a brisk ride to the Horn.
QUOTES FROM THE FLEET:
Andy Forbes (BG SPIRIT) in 2nd place: "Tacking away early on saw us into a freshening breeze and good position on the right hand side of the fleet. We were rewarded by reaching waypoint 1 in 1st with BP Explorer and Spirit of Sark hot on our heels.
"It was a fantastic day for sailing and watching the fleet crisscross each other as they tacked down the River Plate reminded me more of a dinghy race rather than the 6400 miles we have to go to Wellington.
"The fleet has spread out a little but we can still see 5 yachts around our current position. If racing on this leg is anything like the last, then rest will be a luxury that needs to be taken at every opportunity.
Amedeo Sorrentino (VAIO) in 8th place: "Very exciting start, for all the people waving us off, for all the sail and motor boats surrounding us, for driving through the middle of all of them, but most of all because of what we are facing. How better to start with sunshine, a flat sea, 12 knots of wind, since we face Cape Horn in less than a week!"
"(We had) quite a good start. We didn't push too hard, as we didn't want to be over the line as some boats were, but we were closest to the committee boat, and just ten seconds behind the line. Yes, quite good!"
What was best about today? "All the boats following us out into the Rio de
la Plata - that was really truly great!"
Eero Lehtinen (SAIC La Jolla) in 9th place: "Here we go again, feels good to be at sea and on our own. Nice start, beautiful weather, enjoying it as long as it lasts. Lost pace slightly with the tide and the shifts, but no panic all lights still in sight... Just rounded waypoint 3 and sheets have been eased after 100 miles of tacking in the River.
"Tomorrow we should see some clearer water coming in the toilets, so far it has been impossible to judge if one's pumped or not... First off-watch - typical sleepless stuff, but I'm sure next one will be good. Not nearly as exhausted as this time on the first leg though! All well on La Jolla, stay tuned!
Dee Caffari (Imagine It. Done) in 7th place: "I was amazed not to see any protests as Samsung tried to barge their way in on the start line by the Committee Boat. We pushed them up and then risked being pushed over ourselves as Barclays Adventurer were next in line. We dipped behind Barclays Adventurer stern and they then had a tussle with Samsung. The end result was a very close start line in which amazingly enough only two yachts were over the line.
"After timing our run from the back of the box to the start line, we decided to try and get it spot on or isolate an area of the start line for ourselves. However, arriving clearly early for the gun and reluctant to sail away from the line again we made a quick circle. Still early we dumped our main and then powered up again at the gun
"Nailing the start we enjoyed the adrenaline rush and shouted some words of wisdom (unprintable!) to Samsung who were early over the line."
RACE POSITIONS:
Distance to finish
1. Spirit of Sark 5,820
2. BG SPIRIT 5,820
3. Samsung 5,822
4. Me to You 5,823
5. BP Explorer 5,823
6. Pindar 5,826
7. Imagine It. Done 5,826
8. VAIO 5,828
9. SAIC La Jolla 5,832
10. Barclays Adventurer 5,835
11. Team Save the Children 5,835
12. Team Stelmar 5,835
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www.globalchallenge2004.com
NEWS IN BRIEF:
- Leg 2 has started. Next stop Wellington
- Two yachts over the start line early (plain penalty of 720 degrees at Waypoint 1) - 'Samsung' and 'Me to You'
- Yachts racing out of the River Plate - turn right for Cape Horn
- Lone Atlantic rower, Debra Veal, racing aboard 'Pindar'
- 15 miles separate front and back runners, with many neck and neck
- Southern Ocean Leg 1 interview feature now up in the website features section
COMMENTARY AND WEATHER:
Day 2 and an early lead by Duggie Gillespie aboard 'Spirit of Sark' as the fleet reaches out past Samborombom Bay, on the outskirts of the River Plate in north/north easterly winds. At the end of today the yachts should be in deeper water with a stop start for the first 48 hours anticipated.
The yachts would be advised to stay closer to the coast, in the hope of picking up the land and sea breezes. With the current light winds, there could be some big gains across the fleet at the expense of less attentive competitors.
The racing is neck and neck in three distinct packs within the fleet. Spirit of Sark and BG SPIRIT are engaged in a duel for 1st place with neither letting the other go. Me to You and BP Explorer in 4th and 5th are both exactly 3 miles behind the leader. Pindar and Imagine It. Done are exactly 6 miles behind the leader and the last three teams, 1st leg winners Barclays Adventurer, Team Save the Children and Team Stelmar (10th/ 11th and 12th respectively) are all 15 miles off the pace. The competition has well and truly started!
Very heavy winds are forecast to fill in from the southwest from Tuesday evening, making for a brisk ride to the Horn.
QUOTES FROM THE FLEET:
Andy Forbes (BG SPIRIT) in 2nd place: "Tacking away early on saw us into a freshening breeze and good position on the right hand side of the fleet. We were rewarded by reaching waypoint 1 in 1st with BP Explorer and Spirit of Sark hot on our heels.
"It was a fantastic day for sailing and watching the fleet crisscross each other as they tacked down the River Plate reminded me more of a dinghy race rather than the 6400 miles we have to go to Wellington.
"The fleet has spread out a little but we can still see 5 yachts around our current position. If racing on this leg is anything like the last, then rest will be a luxury that needs to be taken at every opportunity.
Amedeo Sorrentino (VAIO) in 8th place: "Very exciting start, for all the people waving us off, for all the sail and motor boats surrounding us, for driving through the middle of all of them, but most of all because of what we are facing. How better to start with sunshine, a flat sea, 12 knots of wind, since we face Cape Horn in less than a week!"
"(We had) quite a good start. We didn't push too hard, as we didn't want to be over the line as some boats were, but we were closest to the committee boat, and just ten seconds behind the line. Yes, quite good!"
What was best about today? "All the boats following us out into the Rio de
la Plata - that was really truly great!"
Eero Lehtinen (SAIC La Jolla) in 9th place: "Here we go again, feels good to be at sea and on our own. Nice start, beautiful weather, enjoying it as long as it lasts. Lost pace slightly with the tide and the shifts, but no panic all lights still in sight... Just rounded waypoint 3 and sheets have been eased after 100 miles of tacking in the River.
"Tomorrow we should see some clearer water coming in the toilets, so far it has been impossible to judge if one's pumped or not... First off-watch - typical sleepless stuff, but I'm sure next one will be good. Not nearly as exhausted as this time on the first leg though! All well on La Jolla, stay tuned!
Dee Caffari (Imagine It. Done) in 7th place: "I was amazed not to see any protests as Samsung tried to barge their way in on the start line by the Committee Boat. We pushed them up and then risked being pushed over ourselves as Barclays Adventurer were next in line. We dipped behind Barclays Adventurer stern and they then had a tussle with Samsung. The end result was a very close start line in which amazingly enough only two yachts were over the line.
"After timing our run from the back of the box to the start line, we decided to try and get it spot on or isolate an area of the start line for ourselves. However, arriving clearly early for the gun and reluctant to sail away from the line again we made a quick circle. Still early we dumped our main and then powered up again at the gun
"Nailing the start we enjoyed the adrenaline rush and shouted some words of wisdom (unprintable!) to Samsung who were early over the line."
RACE POSITIONS:
Distance to finish
1. Spirit of Sark 5,820
2. BG SPIRIT 5,820
3. Samsung 5,822
4. Me to You 5,823
5. BP Explorer 5,823
6. Pindar 5,826
7. Imagine It. Done 5,826
8. VAIO 5,828
9. SAIC La Jolla 5,832
10. Barclays Adventurer 5,835
11. Team Save the Children 5,835
12. Team Stelmar 5,835
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