The racing portion of the fleet has gained two boats. George Stricker's Rapscallion III has a new aluminum boom, and rejoined the race last nite. Rapscallion is currently 892 miles back of the leaders. Class I's Modern University for the Humanities has finally begun Leg 2. MUH is 1110 miles behind race leader Fila.
Still not racing is South Carolina. Robin Davie reports from Cape Town: "Optimistically I had thought we could get South Carolina all ready for sea by tonight or tomorrow, but most things take much longer to find, source or do than expected, so a Thursday departure from Capetown looks possible, otherwise it will be Saturday morning - folklore of the sea dictates one doesn't sail on a Friday."
The leading yacht on the course is Fila. Currently Fila is the north most yacht, leading PRB by 17 miles.
PRB is to the south of Fila. PRB has had some problems with the canting keel. It seems as though only one of the 2 hydraulic rams is working normally. However, the problem will be inconvenient, but not fatal. PRB's Isabelle Autissier says: "I'm fed up with these crises... I would like to make a normal leg for once!"
3rd in Class I is Group 4 37 miles back. Group 4 is south of the 2 boats ahead. Mike Golding has sailed Group 4 through a gale and comments: "I have adopted a conservative approach for my Open 60 Southern Ocean blooding and lost some miles as a result." Adding to the heavy weather, he says: "The aft compartment is awash with diesel fuel which has leaked from the jerry cans." A boat full of smelly diesel does not make for a pleasant ride.
4th is Somewhere 72 miles back. Mike Golding of Group 4 comments: "Somewhere and I sailed side by side this afternoon, battling for the odd boat length or two."
5th in Class I is Gartmore. Gartmore is 136 miles back. Skipper Josh Hall comments: "It is the same for all of us in the faster boats but I know I am not as cavalier as they are and this translates into me sailing the boat a bit more conservatively than them. In the long run this may or may not prove to be an advantage as my primary aim is to get me and the machine to Auckland in one piece - to achieve that we have to look after each other." So it seems, that Hall is sailing conservatively hoping to turn prudence and reliability into victory.
6th in Class I is Modern University for the Humanities. MUH has finally started and Fedor Konioukhov says: "I have quite rough seas and wind with 36-37 knots."
Magellan Alpha is still the Class II leader. Her lead is 62 miles over Cray Valley only 4 less than yesterday.
2nd in Class II is Cray Valley. From on board J.P. Mouligne reports: "It is not very cold yet, maybe in the sixties (farenheit), but the water temperature is a chilly 40 degrees F."
Balance Bar has moved up to 3rd place, 126 miles from 1st. Brad Van Liew comments on how he feels: "Unfortunately getting comfortable with my environment is still difficult and the nervous knot in my stomach is lingering." Also, he is thinking he might not be quite properly equipped for the Southern Ocean: "I most definitely should have installed an inner furling unit for the little sail [staysail]. It is too big to use at times and being able to reef it would be better."
The first 40 footer is Wind of Change, now in 4th place in Class II. From Wind of Change Viktor Yazykov reports: "The best speed 24 knots by Trimble." At last report Wind of Change's speed was 8.3 knots, the same as Balance Bar meaning their race should continue to be a close one.
5th in Class II is www.no-barriers.com. Neal Petersen continues to sail well to the north of most of the fleet. His current course of 057 degrees will keep him in this position. Neal reports that recover from his ferocious knockdown is just about complete: " This morning I filled the holes in the starboard ballast tank where the bunk had pulled out, and in a few more hours the tank will be usable again"
Paladin 2 is 6th in Class II. Neil Hunter reports: "Mildred, the Monitor [wind vane], broke and am proceeding along under storm jib and a bit of headsail with George, the electronic tiller autopilot, steering." Neil hopes to fix the wind vane. During all of this activity Neil says: "I was surfing down waves at 15-16 kts. New record given that the previous best I remember was 12.4 in the 1994 Syd-Hobart."
Next is Shuten Dojhi II, 560 miles back of the leaders.
So far the fleet has experienced plenty of breeze and is off to a fast start. Indded the conditions have been gear busting from the start. The open question is in Southern Ocean conditions what is the best way to go fast and keep in one piece.You can decide to push right from the start, or you can sail more conservatively ? Group 4's Mike Golding frames the decision this way: "The problem is that if you cram on sail you can get south and towards the mark at the same time but the risk of early breakage are high."
Additionally you must consider your standing in the race. Soldini is behind and feels he must be super aggressive to gain in the standings table. Hall, also trailing, feels a more conservative approach can get him caught up. Certainly in 7000 miles of sailing someone will be right, and someone else will need another strategy for victory on Leg 3.