Around Alone Report December 11

Fleet will have to say South to maintain double digit speeds

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

You know you are having a bad day when- your boat speed is 11.0 knots and that's 3 or 4 knots slower than those you wish to beat.  With Somewhere the fastest in the fleet, followed by Fila at 15.2 the pace is in an all on state.  At this point a speed of 11 knots in Class I will net a 17 mile loss in 6 hours, that's how fast and furious the sailing is.

Further, to stay fast the fleet will have to sail well into the 40's of latitude.  A high pressure is building at 40 to 43 south, with light air to the north. 

Fleet Round Up:

For the 2nd day Isabelle Autissier's PRB is the leader.  21 miles is her margin over Fila, 9 miles less than yesterday.   Isabelle comments: "Pretty hard to get any rest in this washing machine screaming along at 20 knots." 

Again, in 2nd place is Fila.   Fila has gained on PRB and at last report showed 15.2 knots of speed to PRB's 14.1, so more gain is possible. 

Group 4 continues to hold 3rd place, 48 miles back, which is 10 less than yesterday.  However, gaining 10 miles is never easy.  Group 4 executed a crash gybe, meaning she was pinned to the ocean at a 90 degree angle with all sails aback.  Mike Golding report that in the end: "All told, Team Group 4 was probably on her side for 30 minutes with an hour's clearing up and getting back up to speed. Amazingly there appears to be no damage!"

Somewhere stands 4th 72 miles.   Somehwere's fleet topping speed of 15.4 knots shows that Somewhere could be intent on moving on up.

Gartmore continues in 5th, 294 miles back.  Gartmore's 11 knots is signfigantly less than her competors. 

The last Class I yacht is Modern University for the Humanities.  MUH is still pushing toward the roaring 40's after her late start.

Class II continues to be led by Magellan Alpha.   Although Mike Garside has a 50 mile lead, still "I seem to be permanently tired but then I guess so does everybody else in the race."

2nd is Cray Valley, who has gained 10 miles in 24 hours.  J.P. Mouligne's heater is not working so he uses his stove to produce heat.  In addition J.P. has a 2 sets of boots strategy: "The key I think is to keep your feet dry so I have a pair of leather boots which I only wear inside. When I need to go outside I put my rubber boots and heavy foul weather gear and change back as soon as I am done."

3rd is Balance Bar 247 miles back.  Balance Bar has been sailing in an area of high pressure which has not helped her progress.   After a few days of Southern Ocean sailing Brad Van Liew says: "I have decided to sail a very conservative leg to avoid gear failure and get to know this inhospitable place."

4th is the first 40 footer Wind of Change Russia.  286 miles from the lead is Wind of Change. 

5th is www.no-barriers.com.   Neal Petersen is sailing 175 degrees continuing south.  Showing a speed of 7.3 knots, Neal Petersen is out of the light winds that have caused him to be: "frustrated, angry and in a foul mood"  This because as he says: " I dislike no wind situations more than gale situations."

6th is Shuten Dojhi II 878 miles back.  

7th is Paladin 2.  Neil still has not quite got his wind vane fixed, and continues under electric autopilot.  Add to this Neil's report: "The breeze has been all over the place and very light as the high pressure system starts to form right overhead." and you have a less than ideal situation.

Two boats are currently still in Cape Town.  Rapscallion III has returned with a diesel fuel leak.  Also, in Cape Town is South Carolina.  Last word from Robin Davie is that he wouldn't start on Friday, because "folklore of the sea dictates one doesn't sail on a Friday."   Satruday then should see South Carolina finally begin Leg 2 a full week behind the fleet. 

What does it all mean ?

Mike Golding of Group 4 describes his mind set this way: "Otherwise all OK on board, settling into a good rhythm and content not to push too hard yet. There’s still nothing between the lead boats -- we seem to be tied with sting but I'd rather be pushing than pulling."  It still seems that this is top of mind of most sailors, just how hard can they successfully push.  I think the answer will be empirically generated courtesy of the Southern Ocean. 

Standings table.