Around Alone Report for October 12

Petersen reintroduces change to Around Alone

The past several reports have seen little change in the order of the Around Alone fleet.  Well, Neal Petersen and www.no-barriers.com have changed this.   Petersen on his 40 footer has passed the 50 footer Shuten Dohji II.  Neal describes his pass this way: "It was a hard night of furling in the genoa, waiting for the rain squall to come with its winds, pass, unfurl genoa, take off again. I did not get much rest, but it paid off. I got Minoro, the first 50 footer I have overtaken. www.no-barriers.com now holds a 13 mile lead over her Class II rival.  And in the distance to finish column a mere 1 mile separates Petersen from George Stricker and Rapscallion III.   Quite a remarkable performance for one of the fleet's smallest boats!

 
Neal Petersen's www.no-barriers.com

On board South Carolina Robin Davie again has had a problem.  At night Davie awoke to a rain squall.  Worse, hatches on South Carolina were open.  Worst of all the chart table and lap top computer had gotten a good soaking.  When Robin powered the machine on the screen did not work.  Without his communication abilities would be hampered.  To fix it he enclosed the machine in a garbage bag with an air hole in the bottom.  He hoped in the enclosed space the head from the machine would in effect dry out the screen.   This method seems effective: "later this afternoon were able to power up the computer and get a faint screen as well - but infact its only legible from an acute angle from above the open door - i.e. from 12 O'clock high as you squint down your  nose .... - and the pictures real streakey - but at least I am able to get, read and send messages.  I have no idea how long for - we'll just hope for the best."

The front of the fleet is also seeing tightening margins.  Somewhere is still leading, but that lead is 33 miles over Group 4 where as yesterday the gap was 94 miles.  Gartmore still occupies 3rd place, but trails by only 71 miles as opposed to 123 yesterday at this time.  These leading yachts are benefiting from steady tradewinds.  Their speeds range from Isabelle Autissiers PRB sailing at 10.0 knots to Fila's 13.3 knots.   As evidence of the steady climate Isabelle Autissier reports: "In these more regular winds, I have started to do a little reading again, "The Way of the World" by Nicholas Bouvier... a very beautiful account of voyages."

Class II's leading trio is still in the same order.  Cray Valley has a lead of 23 miles over Magellan Alpha with Balance Bar 40 miles out of 1st place. 

Mike Garside has been doing some thinking about the merits of his boat.  So far in the light to moderate close reaching and beating conditions he feels that both Cray Valley and Balance Bar are faster than he is.  This despite his swinging keel and their reliance on weight adding water ballast.  Conventional wisdom says that the swing keeled Magellan Alpha is lighter and should be faster.  Boats such as Cray Valley and Magellan are weighted down by their water ballast and should be slower.

According to Garside his practical experience shows:  "I now feel sure the swing keel boat, contrary to the accepted line of thought, has a disadvantage in the conditions we have had in the first two weeks of Leg 1 of the race."  Partial proof of this thesis is the fact that Cray Valley now leads Magellan and has throughout this leg.  On the other hand, Balance Bar trails Magellan.  Further, Garside feels that Magellan will regain her speed advantage in the heavier airs of the Southern Ocean.  However, I feel that the margins are so small that difference is in sailing technique and not design.

Today the leading yachts should have East to East North East tradewinds around 10 to 15 knots.  Further north, there still should be good breeze with an easterly component.  About the only bad weather news comes north of 20 degrees latitude, where "very light winds north of 20N and west of 40W" are expected.  This is the area where both of the late starting 40 footers, Paladin II and Wind of Change are located.