Around Alone Report for October 5

The Worm Turns and Heads South

I closed the last report by wondering if Fila's northern position had finally run its course.  Turns out it has.  For the first time since Wednesday, Fila isn't the race leader.  That position is now held by Gartmore who had been sailing in 2nd. 

3rd place shows us that the southern strategy was as much a winners as Fila's northern one. PRB is now lying 2nd 5.6 miles behind Gartmore. Another 5 miles back Somewhere makes her first leader board appearance.  At last report PRB and Somehwere had boat speed readings in the mid 9's the fleets fastest. 

Meanwhile Giovanni Soldini and Fila are hung out to dry to the north of the new lead trio.  Does Soldini want to get south ?  You bet he does as he is steering a course of 191 degrees and only sailing at 3.9 knots.

Class II's situation is not much changed.  Cray Valley continues to run 1st.  15 miles back is Magellan Alpha.  Still in 3rd place is Balance Bar 85.1 miles back. Although perhaps not as unpredictable Magellan and Cray Valley are definitely pushing each other.  Mike Garside reports on how hard he works to catch Cray Valley:  "I was so tired that I slept most of the night on the floor of the cockpit. He'd won five miles back from me by dawn. I've got to try harder."  It looks like this three could post some gains over their classmates all of whom are still to the north and may not have the breeze to catch up.

Two Class II yachts have effected some repairs.   Neal Petersen on www.no-barriers.com has fixed his spinnaker downhaul problem.  Neal managed to fix this by using webbing to strap the pole down.  Robin Davie has managed to fix both the autopilot and the wind vane steering gear on South Carolina.

The leaders are sailing into the tradewinds.   These are expected to be best around 26 degrees north latitude, and 50-60 degrees west longitude. Most of the Class I leaders look well positioned to benefit from this.   The exception being Fila.  At this point she is neither far enough south, nor far enough west.  This explain Fila's west of south course.  He wants back in the game !