Around Alone Report for October 6th

Different Moods for Different Positions

From his leading position in Class 2 J.P. Mouligne of Cray Valley sends the following happy go lucky sentiments in an e-mail: I read in his {Mike Garside} resume that he was in the British special forces so he is tough. But I am a fiberglass salesman and nobody can outrun a fiberglass salesman!" Contrast this with Fila and Giovanni Soldini. Just a few days ago this combination was as the top of the race table. Now Soldini e-mails: "So, now I am in a big trouble. That is the life." So, there you have it the front of the pack view and the back of the bus doldrums.

At the front of Class I is a 4-boat pack all sailing in a range of 20 to 23 degrees north latitude. This group is making good speed, ranging from 8.9 to 12.1 knots. Meanwhile Soldini is up at 27 degrees north latitude and clunking along at 6 knots. Somewhere leads Class I, with PRB 7.3 miles back, and Group 4 19.2 miles out of first.

As mentioned above that stunningly fast fiberglass salesman J.P. Mouligne is still in the lead of Class II. 18.4 miles back is Mike Garside on Magellan Alpha. How close are these 2 boats? At last report, they both were at the same latitude down to the minute, showed only an 11-minute difference in longitude and only .7 knots separated their speed. Still hanging in 3^rd place is Brad Van Liew and Balance Bar.

This close racing means that Magellan Alpha’s Mike Garside must constantly struggle to keep up with Cray Valley. Does the struggle cause strain to show? Some might think so, but Garside gives this description of himself: "I'm one of the world's greatest pessimists. If it's possible for anything to go wrong, I always believe it will. Oddly enough, I'm usually pleasantly surprised when things turn out the way they do!" So, don’t count him out no matter how bad he makes things sound.

For some of the fleet, the light air has been replaced by trade winds. Class I’s leading boats will be in northerly trade winds as they are south of 25 north. Also, in this trade winds area are Class II’s leading trio.

The rest of the fleet will be in a light air area from 25-29 north. They must transit this area before they get to the good breezes of the trade winds.

Also in the weather outlook is a potential tropical storm. Today’s it’s expected that this storm will be located around 15-19 North latitude and 45-50 W longitude. Wind predictions range as high as 50 to 60 knots. The fleet has been told to stay to the west of this system so as to actually take advantage of the NE winds that are expected.

It looks at this point that as a given yacht sails south conditions improve. For now, the farther south you are the more you lead should grow.