Torresen Sailing Site Report From Charleston SC for September 25th

Welcome to the final pre start report from the Torresen Sailing Site in Charleston SC. Final preperations are reallly and truly underway with less than 24 hours to the start. This morning a pre race press conference was held. All of the skippers were present except for Vikto Yazykov, Josh Hall, Marc Theircelin and Mike Golding. In a race where preperation is so important not having time to make this function indicates that these skippers are not as prepared as they need to be.

So, in this final report I will attempt to provide a concise form sheet that will tell you what to expect from each boat and skipper. Seeing as how the race is a 4 legged affair, I will use only 4 sentecnes. For each skipper I will comment on their boat, the sailor, how prepared they are and what this adds up to in terms of epxectations.

Class I Sebastian Reidel-Project Amazon- This is the most unique design in the fleet. Reidel has experience sailing it. His final preperations have been halting due to financial troubles. Expect him to compete, but winning is likely out of the question.

Mike Golding- Team Group 4- The boat is of the new generation of Finot 60's, and appears fast enough. Golding has the nescessary experience, but needs to exercise strategic imagination. A boat yard accident have cut into his development time. Especially in his home country, of Britain he is though to be a winner, but I don't see it due to a lack of development time.

Marc Thiercelin-Somewhere- The boat is also a new Finot 60, similar to Group 4. Thiercelin finished 2nd in the last Vendeee Globe so knows how to make these boats go fast and stay in 1 piece. He too has not been able to undertake a full development program. I think lack of time will hurt, but not as much as Golding and his Open 60 experience make him a contener for victory.

Josh Hall- Gartmore- This new Finot 60 has a conventionally stayded rig,for greater reliability. Hall has finished Around Alone before and has had consistent results in other single handed races. Late start, again had to hurt development program. Should sail at the front of the fleet.

Isabelle Autissier-PRB-. Her Finot 60 is well refined. Autissier has extensive experience in Open class boats, and had a signifigant impact in this Whitbread. From dockside apprearances PRB is fully ready. Along with Soldini, I favor her for overall victory.

Giovanni Soldini- Fila-. Fila has showed tremndous speed in almost breaking the Atlantic record, and dominating Around Alone. Soldini has a dramatic and effective way of taking Open Class boats to the front. Fila is full readiness. I think Fila's spped, and Soldini's imagination will carry Fila to victory

Fedor Konioukhov- Modern Universtiy for the Humanities. MUH is 8 years old, but has news sails and is in sound racing form. Konioukhov has more experience in adventure, and extreme activities than anyone in the fleet and should show a very steady approcach. Although a late arriveal Konioukhov has gotten his boat ready. Because of all of Fedor's experiences his approach to the race differs, but his endurance could propel him to surprising finishes.

Class II
Robin Davie-South Carolina. Finally Davie has gotten 2,000 miles of ocean sailing on his boats and claims its quick anyway you look at it. Davie is a tenascious sailor with 2 previous finishes in Around Alone. His preperations took longer than anyone, leaving no time to fully develop the boat. His 270 + hour penalty makes success unlikely.

Mike Garside- Magellan Alpha. Garside has a Finot 50 which proved fast in the Atlantic Alone. Garside is a prickly fellow, but seems quite competitive. He has had some recent preperation set backs, but has had 3 Atlantic crossings to learn the boat. If he can keep his tactical game together he has the speed to win.

Neil Hunter- Paladin II. His yacht is a Farr 40, which should be reliable if not fast. Hunter is a very organized fellow who will go as hard as anyone. He has handled his dismasting well, and will be ready to race. Not a threat to win Class II, but should be the fastest of the 3 40 footers.

J.P. Mouligne- Cray Valley. Although his boat is not as new as Magellan Alpha, the boats potential has been maximized. Mouligne is a very experienced sailor. With boat having been int he water for several years, it is ready. The best combination of man and boat in Class 2 makes him the Class II favorite.

Neal Petersen- www.no-barriers.com. Boat is in much better condition than 4 years ago. Petersen has as much determination as anyone in the history of this race. He has no barriers in racing form. Not a threat to win, but a finish will be a stepping stone in larger plans he has.

Minoru Saito- Shuten-dohji II. The same boat he has sailed the last 2 Around Alone's in. Saito, knows how its done. He has Shuten-Dojhi ready as she needs to be. Look for Saito to make a slow but steady circumnavigation.

George Stricker- Rapscallion. The boat is the narrowest in the fleet. Stricker has had great success in trans atlantci solo racing. Stricker has a good shore crew and the boat is in good condition. Stricker could well threaten the Finot 50's.

Victor Yazyjov- Wind of Change. This 40 footer, looks more IMS than Open in her hull shape. Yazykov has a number of sailing miles on him including Whitbread time. He also carries a 270 hour plus penalty for bein later in preparing and arriving. Although the boat could be fast, with the lack of preperation reliability must be a worry.

Brad Van Liew- California Challenge-. The boat has been rebuilt, and is almost a new boat- but not quite. Van Liew has shown well in the boat, but without competive results it is hard to say what his real level of skills is. The boat is well prepared, with the man who sailed it last race, Aussie Alan Neabauer in charge of this aspect. Van Liew and Balance Bar are an uknown, but I think better rather than worse is what he is looking for.