Around Alone Report for October 28

PRB retains lead Somewhere falls 1 spot

Isabelle Autissier's PRB has maintained her class I lead while dipping under 1,000 miles to the finish in Cape Town. Group 4 has taken over 2nd place in Class I 23 miles back of PRB. According to Group 4's Mike Golding: "The last three days are a blur of speed, power reaching at up to 24 kts and averaging over 17 kts. I've just clung on, made the sail changes when needed and been able to do little else." Long time Class I leader Somewhere is feeling the effects of both main and genoa problems and has dropped to 3rd place 42 miles out of 1st.  Gartmore is now 4th 186 miles out of 1st.

Group 4 with support crew on board
before Leg 1 Start

The Class I yachts have gotten significantly ahead of Class II.  Even the 5th place Class I yacht Fila (290 miles back of PRB), has only 1221 miles to the finish while Class II leader Cray Valley still has 2156 miles to sail to the finish.  Due to their lead, the Class I yachts are in the range of 35 to 39 degrees south latitude and should cross into eastern longitude reading soon. The southern position of the Class I yachts is illustrated by Isabelle Autissier: "It really looks like the Southern Ocean now, with pretty cirrus clouds, albatrosses, and petrels."  They are steering course from 085 degrees (Group 4) to 108 degrees (Fila).  The Class II leaders are much more to the west.  They are steering courses from 130 degrees (Cray Valley) to 147 degrees (Balance Bar).  The Class I yachts show an ETA of Monday, while the Class II leaders show over a week later Wednesday November 11.

On the western side of the Atlantic the battle for the lead in Class II continues.  Cray Valley still leads Balance Bar by 24 miles.   Cray Valley has developed a mainsail problem: "The bad news is that I now have a bad tear in my beautiful kevlar mainsail at the first reef. The sail split vertically as I was setting the first reef in. I am back to second reef in the main sail and underpowered to ease the load."  J.P. is waiting to talk to shore side sailmakers before fashioning a repair.  Meanwhile as Cray Valley sails south the weather changes: "Outside it feels like fall in New England or in Brittany, not freezing yet but getting a little bit worse everyday."

In 2nd place Balance Bar, Brad Van Liew reports what he hopes are temporary diesel engine problems: "The only problem is that the diesel engine is complaining about sucking air out of the tank again. I hope it is because with the boat being tossed around the fuel became aerated and that it will settle down."  

Mike Garside has sailed Magellan Alpha to within 121 miles of 1st place which is 62 closer than yesterday.  In 4th place is South Carolina Robin Davie is sailing South Carolina down 'Route 33': "Our route south from the equator has been southwards down the longitude line of 33   west, - now there's a good truckin route or you - doesn't quite sound like route 66 - but route 33 sure is a well travelled ditch to be  truckin down - no speed limits, no black and whites, and no deputy dawgs out there with radar scanners and tickets."   Next is Rapscallion III 636 miles out of 1st.   On board www.no-barriers.com Neal Petersen reports: "I am grateful for the stiff SE breeze that is propelling me just slightly west of South."  Shuten dojhi comes next and then Viktor Yazykov on Wind of Change, followed by Paladin 2.

For the first time, Victor has sent an e-mail from on board Wind of Change.  Viktor reports a catalog of troubles that have not slowed him down.  He says both of his elbows and his right knee are injured.  He suffered food poisoning from freeze dried food. Viktor has left the silica moisture absorber in the food. The freeze dried food was donated by Brad Van Liew and Balance Bar.  When this incident was relayed by Mike Garside, Brad said: ""Oh my god!" came the reply. "I gave him all that stuff. He swore blind he could read English and follow the cooking instructions. Glad I haven't killed him!"   Further his autopliot packed up after two days, so he has rigged the boat to steer itself.  All the sails he has left are a dacron delivery main and a small inner jib.  Despite all this Viktor sails on showing a remarkable degree of determination.