Hancock Continues Progress

MARBLEHEAD, MA, JULY 26--Despite a spinnaker wrapped around the forestay for 
much of the night, skipper Brian Hancock and his Class 2 Around Alone Open 50 
Great Circle continued to make fast progress to Bermuda today.

"I spent the night unwrapping the spinnaker from the stay," Hancock reported 
by satellite email. "Its a big sail and when it gets around the headstay it 
has a mind of its own. Fortunately, the seas have been slight and we have a 
following 15-knot tradewinds breeze, so I finally got it free."

Hancock's position on Sunday was 31 deg 51 min North and 40 deg 48 min West.
Great Circle was averaging 8.3 knots. She had covered 171 miles in the 
previous 24 hours in spite of the spinnaker problems.

"I went to church today," he added, with a touch of wry humor. "Now the 
generator is working again." Hancock didn't explain what was required, other 
than divine intervention, to reactivate the lifeless generator which he had 
been working on for three days. 

Hancock expects to take 12 to 14 days on his solo voyage to Bermuda where he 
will continue work on his search for sponsorship before three campaign donors 
join him for the 600-mile leg home to Marblehead. Hanock announced two weeks 
ago that his crew will be the three top donor bidders. He will announce his 
crew after reaching Bermuda. 

Great Circle is expected back in the US mid-August where Hancock will 
continue to seek sponsorship for the Around Alone race which starts on 
September 26 from Charleston, SC.