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Around Alone Report February 26

Class II leaders nearing Cape Horn

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

As the leaders of Class II near Cape Horn the fleet weather forecast reads: "Powerful storm will tear through the leaders in Class II during the next 24-36 hours."  In fact the area near Cape Horn is expected to see N-NW winds of 30 to 50 knots.  Although extreme conditions, the winds should be behind the boats, easing the strain a small amount.

Fleet Round Up:

Fila is the last Class I boat standing. At last report Fila was heading up the Argentine coast at 3.5 knots.   Being the only Class I boat, Fila may not have much of a sense of urgency.

Somewhere has been dismasted and is under jury rig.  Somewhere is sailing for the Falkland Islands. At last report Somewhere was making 1.0 knots. It is not clear whether Marc Thiercelin has rigged a jury rig, or is still drifting.  Rough conditions have made the manufacture of a jury rig difficult.

Cray Valley is 1st in Class II by 127 miles, 38 less than yesterday. Cray Valley will be the first Class II boat to round Cape Horn.  J.P.'s Cape Horn rounding should be memorable as a gale is expected as he rounds.  J.P. has the following plan if he rounds in foul weather: "If the weather turns bad the shallow bank where Cape Horn sits becomes very dangerous with big breaking seas. I will have to stay South and leave the little island of Diego Ramirez to port."  J.P. is aware that Balance Bar is close and worries about being caught in the upwind conditions after Cape Horn.  He says, "It is all going to happen in this last week of racing. I am in the lead, but I have no safety margin."

Magellan Alpha is 2nd in Class having gained 38 miles in the last 24 hours.  Mike Garside is farther south expecting the Northwest wind forecast.  He explains it this way: "Being further to the south than the other two I might be slightly better off than them."

Balance Bar is 3rd in Class II by 289 miles 24 miles less than yesterday.  Brad Van Liew expects to be hit hard by the storm.  However, recently conditions have been as good as they get in the Southern Ocean, "The sun even came through, and I have had the cabin door open for the first time in at least a week."

Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change.  Wind of Change is 581 miles back, a  53 mile loss. 

Next is Shuten Dojhi II.   Shuten lies 1971 miles from 1st place.

Next is www.no-barriers.com.  Neal Petersen is 2164 miles back. Neal comments: "Traveling east and trying to reduce the lines of longitude as quickly as possible is very disorientating. It is getting darker earlier each day, and so is it getting lighter earlier each day."

Paladin 2 comes next 2392 miles back.   From Paladin Neil Hunter comments:  "All OK and no dramas. Absolutely no change in the weather. It is still raining."

What does it all mean ?

J.P. Moulgine expects a fast finish.  Perhaps Leg 3 will see another close Class II finish except with 3 boats involved rather than 2.