| Torresen Home | Around Alone News |
| Around Alone History | Around Alone Leg 4 Updates |
| Around Alone Introduction | Around Alone 'STD' |
| Around Alone Series | Around Alone Records |
| Around Alone Results | Around Alone Preview |
Around Leg 3- Auckland to Punta Del Este Uruguay
Saturday will see the start of Leg 3 of the
Around Alone race in the city of sails Auckland
New Zealand. Around Alone is a singlehanded sailing
race for individuals. It the longest race of any type
for individuals, over 27,000 miles.
11 boats will be at the Saturday start. Ahead
will lie 5960 miles of very difficult sailing. Included
in this leg are things like ice bergs, and the rounding
of Cape Horn.
Of the 4 legs, Leg 3 has been the most difficult
and tragic. On average, 1.5 boats have not finished
Leg 3. Reasons for withdrawing include: gear damage,
collision with iceberg, sinking and tragically lost at sea.
In the 1994-95 race English sailor Henry Mitchell
disappeared along with his boat.
If Leg 2 is about the roaring 40's, the leg 3 is
about the furious 50's and the screaming 60's. As with
Leg 2 there is a navigational waypoint to add to the
sailors safety.
This waypoint is described as follows: "For safety
purposes and to minimize the chance of sailing too far
into the ice zone, race organizers have again added a
waypoint for the leg that skippers must honor by sailing
north of it and leaving it to starboard. In the initial
sailing instructions, the waypoint was established at
56 degrees south, 120 degrees west." Prior to the
Saturday start race officials will look at ice reports and
may change the waypoint based on updated information.
After passing this waypoint, the fleet will round
the most famous of landmarks Cape Horn. All of the
class I sailors have rounded this. For most of the
Class II sailors this will be their first 'doubling' of Cape
Horn.
It is during this sail to Cape Horn that racers
are literally on their own. They will sail into areas
where the only rescue possible is by a fellow competitor,
As this is the first time, that Leg 3 has run from
Auckland to Punta Del Este, records will be definitely set.
The question is, what is a good estimate for these records?
The previous race produced average speeds of
10.1 for the class 1 winner and 9.5 for the class 2 winner.
Assuming that the current generation of boats is capable
of meeting these speeds, then 24.5 days is a benchmark
for Class I and 26 days for Class II. Will a Class I boat
reach Uraguay before 1 March? It is possible.
Also, on the record front is the matter of the overall
race record. This was set by Groupe Secta skippered by
Christophe Augin in 1990-91. After 2 legs, Augin's time
was 64 days 18 hours. This year's leader is Isabelle
Autissier sits at 63 days 19 hours. With theoretically
faster boats, it looks like a new race record could be set.
With this background it is an 11 boat fleet that will
start. It is unlikely that all will finish.
Class I is now at 4 boats. The leader is Isabelle
Autissier and PRB. It seems as though the Southern
Ocean is never easy for Isabelle. Still, one expects a
top performance from her. In 2nd is French Sailor
Marc Theircelin sailing Somewhere. Although fast
at times Somewhere has not had a totally
consistent leg. Still, a first is not out the question.
3rd is Leg 2 winner Giovanni Soldini sailing Fila.
It is interesting that Soldini set a Leg 3 record
during the 1994-95 race. That along with his Leg 2
win in this race means he is a Southern Ocean Master.
The 4th Class I boat is Josh Hall on Gartmore. So far,
Josh has finished below expectations. He will be sailing
to make up for Leg 2's disappointment.
So, 3 of the boats will take podiums spots. They
will be: 1. Soldini 2. Autissier 3. Thiercelin.
Class II has 7 competitors remaining. Cray Valley
has sailed 2 fine legs and has a sizable lead. Magellan
has twice squeaked out victories over 3rd place Balance
Bar.
The 40 footer Wind of Change has come very close
to podium territory. Neal Petersen has a reluctant start
to his Southern Ocean sailing. Look for better results
from Neal on this leg. Minouro Saito will be rounding
Cape Horn for the 3rd time. Finally, Neil Hunter will look
to continue his steady performance.
Once the fleet reaches Uruguay, the podium spots
will be going to: 1. Cray Valley 2. Balance Bar
3. Wind of Change.
