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Around Alone Report December 17

Cray Valley now Class II leader

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

PRB has lost the antenna which provides satellite communications capabilities.  Amont other things Isabelle Autissier:"can't receive messages, weather reports from the [race] organization, or other competitors' positions. I have a spare Standard-C, but there is a problem with it, too." 

In addition to the problems for Isabelle, those following the race will receive her position by a different means.  The older ARGOS system is still working and onboard PRB.  Her position reports may not be at the same time, nor as accurate as the rest of the fleet. 

Fleet Round Up:

Fila now shows as the fleet leader.   Soldini has Fila moving at 16.1 knots the fastest in the fleet.  Soldini reports on the conditions he is experienceing: "Today at dawn - and here the night lasts just three hours - we were hit by 45-knot winds. What weather!" 

Somewhere's stay in first was a short one.  Currently Somewhere is 21 miles behind the leader Fila.  Somewhere shows a speed of 14.1 knots, a full 2 knots slower than Fila.

PRB is sailing in 3rd.  Without her satellite communications, her position is not as certain as the others in the fleet.   The current report shows a 72 mile gap to 1st place.  Still, PRB is sailing at 13.7 knots which is a good speed.  Isabelle has headed north so she can stay in communcations range and still receive things like weather reports.

4th is Group 4 75 miles from 1st, 18 less than yesterday.  Group 4's speed is 14.5 knots 2nd best in the fleet.  Mike Golding took time to reflect on the 46 degrees south waypoint the racers set: "I have however lost a lot of miles to Marc and Gio and was not entirely happy with the way it was done. Any tactics we had employed up to that point were effectively rendered useless and I had to start with the geographical loss that the waypoint produced. Still there's a long way to go." 

5th is Gartmore 784 miles out of 1st.   Josh Hall has solved the rudder problems he had been having.  In general Josh reoprts:"I have been immersed in getting the machine revved up again. Motivation is hard being this far back from the group but I am doing my best to claw some miles back."  At the last report he had clawed back 6 of the many 100's of miles he needs.

6th in Class I is Modern University for the Humanities.  MUH is making progress sailing at 9 knots. 

Cray Valley is the new Class II leader, at this point by 10 miles over Magellan.  Still, skipper J.P. Mouligne realizes that the leg is merely at the half way point and: "As I like to say: It's not how fast you can go, but how long you can go fast."

Magellan then is now Class II's 2nd place boat.  Mike Garside reflects on his lost lead: "As we headed away from the south, where Alphie and I are at our best, the winds got lighter and the need for sailing skill increased. I didn't feel I was performing at all well."  Garside feels he has a heavy air advantage of Cray Valley.  It being the Southern Ocean Garside should have some heavy air to capatalize on.

Balance Bar is 3rd, 330 miles back.  As Brad Van Liew begins the latter stage of Leg 2 he has this to say: "I am not pleased with my performance in Leg 2 so far and the clearing of the Kerguelens will allow for a new chapter to develop. "

Wind of Change is 4th, 392 miles from the lead. 

5th is www.no-barriers.com.  Neal Petersen feels he may out of the frustrating lite airs: "I had verylittle wind this morning, but my barometer has been falling steadily. My hip is aching, a sure sign of a cold front approaching."  His current reported speed is 7.7 knots, so it looks like he does have some wind.

6th is Shuten Dojhi II.

7th is Paladin 2.  Even at sea the skippers stay in touch as Neil Hunter reports: "Should have a lively radio chat session this morning as George Stricker on Rapscallion is going to join in now that he is on his way and chasing."

The final boat on the course is Rapscallion III trying to make up time she lost while making repairs.

South Carolina has yet to sail from Cape Town.  Robin Davie does expect to be underway from Cape Town today.  His outlook is as follows: . "The weather is the only fly in the ointment - with gale force southeasterlies forecast - So - here's hoping for lighter winds, and a good sail south to pick up the westerlies in the roaring forties."

What does it all mean ?

As the leg nears the half way point for the leaders, both classes have had lead changes.  It seems that Class I is a more open situation with at least 3 boats still expecting victory.  Class II is more of a two boat race.   Still, the heavy and nasty conditions can again play havoc and make any predictions hazordous.

Standings Table