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Around Alone Report November 7

One fleet races, one fleet fixes

After a couple of days of Leg 2 the Around Alone fleet is now of two groups.  At sea with good breeze most of the boats race to Auckland.   Still, in Cape Town 4 of the boats fix themselves so they can race to Auckland.

Of the 4 two have not started, and two had sever enough equipment problems that back tracking to Cape Town was required.  The 60 footer Modern University for the Humanities is ready to go.  However, skipper Fedor Konioukhov will wait until Tuesday to leave.  Russian tradition says it is bad luck to leave port on Monday.  So, Fedor will use today as a day of rest after his 62 day leg 1, and start racing at 1200 Cape Town time, Tuesday.

Robin Davie's South Carolina is getting put back together.  He expects to depart late Monday after some repairs to: his galley, autopilot, rig and helm.  His rudder has been replaced, but this major job delayed routine maintenance and restocking causing the delay.

Two boats that did not start on time suffered problems once at sea.  Shuten Dojhi II had an electric autopilot go away.   Veteran skipper Minoro Saito returned to Cape Town at 0715 Sunday, had the pilot repaired and is once again racing.

Finally, Rapscallion III suffered a broken boom.  The boom is in two pieces.  Skipper George Stricker reports: "Sailing under jib into the wind 28-32 kt. No help needed at this time. Looks like a long two days of hard sailing."  Rapscallion is expected in Cape Town late Monday nite.  Stricker must then source a boom, fit it and return to racing - no easy task.

On the course Fila is the lead yacht.   Fila's lead is a scant .5 miles over PRB.  Fila is sailing a course of 109 degrees, while PRB sails 135 degrees.  Obviously a difference of opinion between Giovanni and Isabelle.

3rd is Group 4 14 miles back sailing a course of 127 degrees.  Mike Golding seems to be moving well.  4th is Somewhere 15 miles back.  5th in Class I is Gartmore, sailing at a fleet high 13.7 knots.  Josh Hall has kept Gartmore farthest west, while it seems the east side of the fleet has done better. 

Class II is led by Magellan Alpha.   Magellan has held an eastern position and continues to do well.  The first nite at sea Mike Garside on Magellan decided to tack and head east: "It was a wet night and my sea legs were not at their best. Nevertheless I felt I was doing the right thing, if only by instinct."  Indeed, his instincts were on.  Unlike the Class I leader Fila, Garside is steering 148 degrees which is in line with the other Class II yachts. 

In 2nd place is the 40 footer Wind of Change.   Right now, Wind of Change is showing a speed of 11.5 knots equal to Balance Bar, and a knot more than class leader Magellan.  It looks like the speed shown on Leg 1 was no fluke.

Cray Valley has moved up to 3rd place.   Skipper J.P. Mouligne is the farthest west boat.  Currently Cray Valley is the 2nd fastest yacht in fleet at 12.6 and will likely keep moving up.

Balance Bar is 4th 53 miles back.   Brad Van Liew reports that all is well on Balance Bar including: "I am feeling pretty good about my new rudder bearings and I think the autopilots approve as well."

Next is the 2nd 40 footer www.no-barriers.com.  No Barriers is in the most eastern position of any boat.  Still, Neal has had plenty of action: "It has been a wild day encountering my first gale. The winds blew at around 30 to 40 knots."  During the gale: "I strung a chain onto a line and for several hours dragged it behind the boat, one to slow us down a bit, two to try and slow down the swerving the stern (back of boat) is doing. This chain unfortunately got caught around the paddle of the selfsteering system and bent the safety tube."  No long term damage from this incident. 

The 3rd 40 foot Class II entry Paladin 2 is 6th in Class II.  Neil Hunter is progressing at 6+ knots.  The final boat on the course is Shuten Dojhi II.  After his autopilot repair Minouro Saito is over 300 miles behind the leaders.