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Around Alone NewsPlans for 2002-03 Around Alone 9 January 2002 The 6th sailing of the Around Alone is becoming more and more official. The race will start 15 September from Newport RI. The first leg will be a trans atlantic one with the finish in Torbay England. This will be the first time a solo round the world race has touched England since 1968! Leg 2 will take the fleet to Cape Town South Africa. Leg 3 will go across the Southern Ocean to a still to be determined New Zealand stop. They'll leave New Zealand in January heading to Salvador Brazil. For the first time Around Alone will have 5 legs with the final leg being to Newport RI with finishes expected mid April of 2003. For the first time Around Alone will be scored on a points basis rather than elapsed time. However, the Around Alone's point system will be more stringent that the Volvo Ocean Race's. For instance if a boat does not finish a leg they will not receive any points. A boat can fail to finish a leg and continue in the race, but will be eligible only for leg prizes and not overall awards. Further unlike Tyco which was shipped to Australia for Leg 3 of the VOR all boats must reach the ports on their own bottom! Rules regarding outside assistance and pit stops are also being formulated. Typically the sailors will have a situation like Yves Parlier in the Vendee Globe where no assistance is allowed. Also time penalties may apply for stops. There will be 3 classes. Class I will be for Open 60's, Class II for Open 50's and 60's with a 3rd class for cruiser racer designs of 40 to 60 feet. Open 40's will compete for the Harry Mitchell trophy named in honor of British competitor who was lost at sea during the 1994-95 race. To date there are 21 entries. 11 are in class one including Atlantic record holder Bernard Stamm, American Bruce Schwab, New Zealander Graham Dalton and Italian Simone Bianchetti who will sail the ex- Whirlppol. Class II has 6 Open 50's including American's Tim Kent and Brad Van Liew. 4 Open 40's are entered including Derek Hatfield and Simon Handley from Canada. As the start of Around Alone conflicts with the Route de Rhum many French campaigns will not compete as this is a crucial race for European sponsors. Links: Around Alone http://www.aroundalone.com Everest Horizontal:http://www.everesthorizontal.com Mission America http://www.oceanracing.org/ Alan Paris http://www.aroundalone2002.com/ Bruce Schwab http://www.oceanplanet.org/ Derek Hatfield http://www.spiritofcanada.net/
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