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Around Alone Report January 8

Battle for Class II's 2nd position

Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.

As with Leg 1, it looks as though Mike Garside and Brad Van Liew will have a close finish in the battle for Class II 2nd position. 

Fleet Round Up:

The last  Class I boat racing  is Modern University for the Humanities which is 3128 miles from the finish.

In Class II Magellan is 244 miles from Auckland.   He is 29 miles ahead of Balance Bar which is a decrease of 30 miles from yesterday.  Currently Magellan is sailing at 7.3 knots.  Whether or not Magellan holds 2nd place, she should be in Auckland tomorrow.

Balance Bar is 446 miles from Auckland.  Brad Van Liew's closing rate on Magellan has slowed.  Brad says: "I am looking forward to leaving this place in the Tas that I have gotten so close to."  Currently, Brad is leaving at .2 knots faster than Magellan.  Balance Bar has closed 30 miles in 24 hours.  Brad will need more than a .2 knot advantage to reverse Leg 1 and take 2nd instead of 3rd.

Wind of Change is 4th, 404 miles from Auckland.  The 40 footer is sailing at 2.8 knots.  Looks like light air has shut Viktor's chance at a Class II podium finish.  Still, Wind of Change should finish as the fleet's first 40 footer on Sunday.

5th is now Shuten Dojhi II 2127 miles from finishing. Minoru Saito reports: "Today I have a not bad day and also not good day, that weather -- NW, very light winds 10-12kts, overcast, just little bit sun-beam."

6th is www.no-barriers.com 2206 miles from the end of Leg 2.  Neal Petersen reports a problem with a water system thru hull that temporarily filled No Barriers cabin with sea water.  After pumping her clean Neal says: "So I have wet feet, socks and boots again, and no heater to get things dry."  Neal is using a gas burner to try and dry his socks and feet and keep his trench foot under control.

7th is Paladin 2 2546 miles from Auckland.  Neil Hunter says that he has been in light condtions with leftover seas from when there was wind and,"The real nuisance in these conditions is the rolling cross swells that never seem to go away and which cause a lot of main flogging and boom banging back and forth."

South Carolina has 4032 miles left of Leg 2.  Robin Davie has been doing some heavy weather sailing with a small inner jib and 4 reefs in the main ? What might his next sail reduction be ?  Well,Robin says: "I guess 3 reefs in the South Carolina flag on the stern might be appropriate."

What does it all mean ?

Chances, are that the finish of order for Class II will be 2nd Magellan and 3rd Balance Bar, just as in Cape Town. 

Cumulative Standings Table

Last Updated: 15-Feb-05 08:40