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Around Alone Report for November 12

Improvement on MUH's ETA

For the first time Fedor Konioukhov's yacht Modern University for the Humanities projects an arrival time that will meet the November 28th deadline.  Currently that ETA in Cape Town is 2116 November 28th.   This means he would beat the deadline by 2 hours and 44 minutes.  The pressure of this tasks shows in Konioukhov's reports: "I have a task to get in to Cape Town by 28 of November. With this wind speed I doubt my chances. I ran out from the trade winds and have not found yet the western winds. Will pray for them."  Later he reported that his efforts to reach Cape Town are at a maximum level:  "No time to speak, I have to steer all the time to get best performance."  Although it seems the odds are still against Modern University for the Humanities, they are perhaps improving. 

The next boat to reach the Cape Town finish will be George Stricker's Rapscallion III.  This 50 footer is only 399 miles from Cape Town. Current ETA is Sunday morning.

Next yacht is Wind of Change which also leads Class II's 3 40 foot entries.  Wind of Change has 768 miles to the finish.  At last report her speed was 9.6 knots, highest in the fleet.

The 2nd 40 footer, www.no-barriers.com follows Wind of Change by 58 miles.  Neal Petersen continues to push No Barriers, while at the same time thinking ahead to his arrival in Cape Town.  Neal figures he could hit Cape Town as early as Tuesday, with Wednesday a more likely time.  Neal reports: "Arrangements are underway in Cape Town for my arrival, being headed up by Graham Bougardt."  One of the activities Neal plans in Cape Town is: "I am inviting schools in Cape Town to the vessel in groups of 12 students and 2 teachers for a lesson on the applications of knowledge on a vessel and life in general."  This is a reminder that besides being a sailor Neal is also a teacher of life's lessons to the youth of the world.

South Carolina is next in the order.  Without aid of a rudder South Carolina has sailed 105 miles in the last 24 hours.  Robin Davie is conducting fundraising via his satellite phone and website.  Along with a new rudder he wants a diesel cabin heater.  Among other things he wants to use the heater to: "keep the main navigation area of cabin warm and dry, to be able to put a hot air hose into the bunk and bedding to dry it out daily."

Next is Shuten Dojhi II 1097 miles out.  Then comes Paldin 2.  Paladin's Neil Hunter says that: "All's well but the breeze has died and gone ots (on the snotta) so the good miles of the last few days are over for a while."

Note:  Yacht must finish by 28 November to compete in Leg 2.