Around Alone Report for October 14

Balance Bar Overtakes Magellan Alpha for 2nd Place in Class II

One change that was expected, Somewhere losing ground in Class I has not occurred.  Another change that was not nescesarially expected, Balance Bar overtaking Magellan in Class II has occurred. 

Somewhere has retained the Class I lead, and lengthened it to 72 miles.  Gartmore has pulled past Group 4 and is in 2nd 72 miles back.  Group 4 ends up in 3rd 74 miles out of 1st. 

Group 4's drop to 3rd place is a symptom of some difficult doldrums sailing.  For one, Group 4 is without mast head wind instruments which make the light air sailing tough.  This has meant an extra degree of effort for Mike Golding.  He describes it this way: "It's a bit of a spiral, you try to stay awake to keep the boat going, get tired, and end up sleeping through the boat slowing down."  Tactically the Doldrums have also negatively effected Mike's plans.  Because he has been pushed west: "it looks as though I will need to tack to clear Recife."  Another look at this difficult sailing is provided by Issabelle Autissier on PRB :"Yesterday was really difficult, alternating between squalls, calms, maneuvers, and hours and hours spent in the sun at the helm."  All of the leaders have made enough westing to in effect cover Fila.  She no longer is much farther west than the rest of the fleet.  This tactical situation may slow Fila's move towards the front.

Cray Valley continues to pace Class II.  J.P. Mouligne has Cray Valley positioned to the west.   Likely he hopes the westing will help him clear Brazil in one tack.  The new 2nd place boat is Balance Bar skippered by American Brad Van Liew.   In a thoughtful e-mail Brad sums up what it takes to be a successful single-handed sailor:

                                            "As far as I can tell the thing that makes a winning singlehanded racer is to always allow the rituals of the day or night,                                                  whether it is eating, sleeping, reading, or even studying weather, to be interrupted by the most important thing. Make                                                  sure the boat is always trimmed for speed! What I mean is take care of the reefs, traveler, water ballast and making                                                  sure you have the appropriate sails up whenever the boat even hints at the need. This has to happen even if you just                                                  got out of your fowl weather gear and lied down for a nap." 

A look up the stick of Balance Bar
Photo Courtesy of the Team Balance Bar Website

In other words, no matter what you other desires 'sail fast' has to be an omnipresent desire.  Brad has Balance Bar positioned in between Cray Valley and Magellan Alpha. Finally of the 3 Magellan is farthest to the east.  It will be interesting to see if this situation holds.

The next group in Class II is led by South Carolina which is 397 miles behind 3rd place Magellan.  Lately South Carolina has been experiencing fine sailing in the north east tradwinds.  Last reported speed was 15.7 knots!  Next is Neal Petersen and www.no-barriers.com .  Neal reports that: "It is blowing about 22 knots apparent and we are bouncing over some fairly large swell. It is like riding a bucking bull.", and that he is under main and staysail.  Next are: Shuten-dohji II, Rapscallion III, Paladin II and Wind of Change.  On Paladin II Neil Hunter is still getting used to his new mast and says: "the boat is now holding up and sailing well."  

Weather wise the leaders are sailing into tradwinds of 12 to 18 knots.  Most of the rest of the fleet should experience good pressure as they sail south, until they too have to deal with the Doldrums, which are ranging as high as 10 degrees north.