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Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
The leaders of Class II are involved with a tremendous storm. The center of this storm has a very low pressure of 968 millbars. This is is lower than the storm that decimated the Sydney to Hobart fleet. When the sailors do report, it's short and terse as they are battling the elements and their boat.
Fleet Round Up:
Fila is the last Class I boat standing. At last report Fila was 703 miles from the finish sailing at 6.2 knots on a course of 010 degrees.
Somewhere has been dismasted and is under jury rig. Somewhere is sailing for the Falkland Islands. At last report Somewhere was making 3.1knots. Somewhere's shore crew is on the way to the Falklands. Due to a diplomatic squabble between Chile and England getting a flight to the Falklands was difficult. According to race officials Thiercelin is committed to staying in the race. Their plan to get back in the race is two pronged. First, they are seeking a carbon fiber mast that will fit the boat. If one can't be found they will source an aluminum mast. They will then cut this mast in half move it to the Falklands and reassemble it. Somewhere believes they can be in Punta Del Este for the April 10 start to Leg 4.
Magellan Alpha is now the Class II leader. Magellan's lead is 119 miles. Magellan took the lead between 1600 & 2200 GMT yesterday. Mike Garside says, "The only fly in the ointment is that I seem to have picked up a real sniffly cold. How I've done that after 20 days of isolation, I have no idea." Then at midnite GMT Garside reports: "The wind was light and the sea sparkled under the light from the early morning sun. And there, through the mist covered horizon on my port beam, reared the mighty rock. Cape Horn. The journey home has begun."
Cray Valley is 2nd in Class II by 119 miles. Approaching Cape Horn Cray Valley was knocked down with her gennaker up. After a struggle to get the boat straightened away, J.P. commented: "The key for me is to hang on to my lead and not break anything...I can do it, but I cannot afford too many of these drills in the middle of the night like the one I just had." Cray Valley then rounded Cape Horn and J.P. Mouligne reported: "I passed Cape Horn at 1630 gmt(1130 EST?). All well very windy and bouncy."
Balance Bar is 3rd in Class II by 178 miles. Brad Van Liew reports: "I am at 56 17 77 41 and all here sucks! I am getting my ass kicked. no main up and trying to do one thing only. Keep the mast in the boat and above the keel!"
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind
of Change. Wind of Change is 420 miles back, a 120 mile gain.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 1845 miles from 1st place.
Next is www.no-barriers.com. Neal Petersen is 2050 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 2336 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 ?
It will be interesting to see if Mike Garside can finally hold the lead over Cray Valley. Garside has been at the front of the pack before and has not hung on. Additionally, Balance Bar is well within striking distance. With his boats upwind edge, this still could be Balance Bar's leg.