Around Alone Update for September 30

Soldini Continues Climb

Last update Soldini's bullet like progression through the fleet was noted.  Well, on the fleet's 5th day at sea Fila is still a sea going bullet train.  Soldini now has her at the top of the table for both Class I and the fleet!  His lead over 2nd place PRB is now 13.8 miles, and he gained 16 miles in the last six hour time period.

In Class II Cray Valley and skipper J.P. Mouligne continue their 1st place showing. 1st place in Class II looks like this from on board: "The night has been very peaceful: I have seen a few ships passing by far away but no sign of other competitors since spotting Gartmore yesterday morning."  Magellan Alpha is 2nd, with Balance Bar.  During the last 6 hour time period, Magellan gained 22 miles while Balance Bar moved 13 miles closer to Cray Valley.

The variation in courses had grown today. Two boats in particular are noticeable.  Somewhere is steering 050, or north east. Obviously after losing 35 miles in the last schedule, Somewhere wants to get back in touch. South Carolina is steering 041, and also lost  45 miles perhaps prompting this course change.  Seems as though both are heading north to get more wind.   Both class leaders to the north with good wind are steering more easterly courses which gets them closer to the mark.

Weather wise the northern position is still expected to pay.  A high pressure system is expected to move out from Cape Cod and end up around 30 degrees north.  This makes it look boats on the north side of the fleet will continue to sail extra distance, but a much greater speed (at last report Fila was making 11 knots).   Meanwhile on the south side, Modern University for the Humanities will continue to sail closer to the rhumb line but in much less wind ( at last report 0.9 knots).

Tactically Neal Petersen on No Barriers summed it up: "I should of stayed about forty miles more north."  That in essence is the lesson learned in the first 4 days.   We will see what the next big moves are.