Around Alone Report January 12

Group 4 will not compete in rest of Around Alone

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

After grounding near the finish of the race, and being towed to Auckland Team Group 4 was disqualified from Around Alone. Still, there was the possibility that Group 4 could have sailed the last two legs unoficially.  This is no longer so.  The damage was such that the only sufficient repair is an entire new keel blade. So, Mike Golding decided:"It is with much sadness that I have to announce my retirement from the 1998/9 Around Alone race. Since our arrival in Auckland, we have investigated every alternative to allow us to continue to race. However, following the advice of the yacht designer - Pascal Conq, my own Project Manager - Merfyn Owen - a qualified naval architect, as well as the insurance company surveyor, we believe we cannot justify the risks involved." 

Group 4 will be shipped back to Europe.  There the Finot 60 will undergo a refit and begin prepeation for the next singlehanded around the world race, the Vendee Globe.

Fleet Round Up:

Of the 5 boats still racing, one is Class I's Modern University for the Humanities. MUH  is 2516 miles from the finish. 

The first Class II boat is now Shuten Dojhi II 1488 miles from finishing. Shuten Dojhi's 24 hour run works out to 167 miles.

Next is www.no-barriers.com 1572 miles from the end of Leg 2.  No Barriers has posted a 9 mile gain on Shuten, with a 24 hour run of 176 miles.  Neal Petersen wants to catch and pass Shuten Dojhi, and feels "If the winds go light in the Tasman Sea, I have a better chance of catching Minoru."

Neil Hunter is next on Paladin 2.  This 40 footer has 1966 miles to sail before finishing.  Paladin is experiencing gail conditions. Still, Neil says,"Got the main sail fixed and back up and working with three reefs in."

South Carolina has 3192 miles left of Leg 2. South Carolina's 24 hour run was 135 miles.   Robin Davie reports: "The last 24 hours have probably been amongst the most difficult of any 24 hour period during any of the 3 Around Alone races I've been a part of.  Gales force winds, with Storm force squalls, and no proper autopilot or steering mechanism functioning properly."   At one point, Robin was left with no autopilot, or windvane and additionally a loosened rudder quadrant.  Robin has fixed the quadrant, with the autopilot next.   The 30 January deadline is looming on Robin's mind: "not a lot of time leeway left, and each slow down makes it tighter."

What does it all mean ?

Will Robin Davie make the deadline ?  Currently this would not seem likely.  Seems as though its been a leg of bad happenings for the race's British sailors:  Mike Garside's becalming, Mike Golding's grounding, Josh Hall's autopilot problems and now Robin Davies steering troubles.

Cumulative Standings Table

Last Updated: 15-Feb-05 08:40