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MARBLEHEAD, MA, JUNE 7--With two campaign donors as crew, professional sailor
Brian Hancock set out for the Azores on Thursday, June 4, aboard his 50-foot
Around Alone entry Great Circle. The 1998-1999 Around Alone is America's only
race around the world.
After reaching the Azores, Hancock will begin a solo passage back to
Marblehead, completing the requirement for boat and skipper of a pre-race
qualifying voyage over 2,000 miles.
Great Circle departed at noon in a strong northwesterly breeze after a short
delay for last minute work on the boat's autopilot.
Late on Friday, Hancock reported that his custom-built Ebbutt-designed sloop
had logged 240 miles in its first day of sailing.
"It's blowing dogs off their chains and cold. We hit 18 knots a few times
running before this strong northwesterly," Hancock said in a satellite email
message to his home base in Marblehead. "Skipper and crew are holding up OK
under these lively conditions."
Sailing with Hancock on the voyage to the Azores as volunteer crew are
campaign supporters Robert Fellows of Iowa City, Iowa and Wayne Kentner of
London, Ontario, Canada.
At 2100 Eastern Standard Time, Great Circle's position was 40.34N and 65.36W
With the backing of two campaign partners, Comwell - Consultants to
Management and Offshore Sailing School, Hancock has his sights set on the
winner's berth in Class 2, of the Around Alone, open to yachts under 50 feet.
The fifth running of the race (formerly the BOC Challenge), starts from
Charleston, SC, on September 26, 1998.
When the Around Alone entry list closed on March 1, there were 39 competitors
representing 14 different nations. The four-leg, 27,000 mile solo marathon is
known as "the toughest race for an individual in any sport".
One of the most accomplished offshore sailors in North America, Brian Hancock
started his professional sailing career almost two decades ago. He has since
logged over 170,000 miles offshore, including three Whitbread Round the World
Campaigns. He raced as a Watch Captain aboard Alaska Eagle in the 1981/82
Whitbread, as Watch Captain aboard Drum in the 85/86 Whitbread, and as
Sailing Master aboard the Soviet yacht Fazisi in 1989. Hancock is a
widely-traveled public speaker and publishes regularly in international
sailing magazines.
Great Circle is an Open 50, custom designed for solo offshore racing by the
innovative yacht designer Peter Ebbutt. Built by Concordia Custom Yachts in
1994, Great Circle is one of the fastest 50 footers in the world. She is
capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots.
For more information about Great Circle Campaign, visit the web site at
http://www.greatcircle.org Photos for
media use are available upon request.