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The order of the top 3 boats in Class II has again changed. In the aftermath of a tough Cape Horn rounding, Cray Valley is back in the lead. Balance Bar has closed right up on Cray Valley and Magellan is now 3rd.
Fleet Round Up:
Fila is the last Class I boat standing. At last report Fila was 573 miles from the finish sailing at 5.0 knots on a course of 042 degrees. Fila will likely battle headwinds until she finishes sometime on Tuesday.
Somewhere has been dismasted and is under jury rig. Somewhere is sailing for the Falkland Islands. At last report Somewhere was making 3.1 knots.
Cray Valley is 1st in Class II by 11 miles. After rounding Cape Horn, J.P. Mouligne reports: " Ever since passing the Horn yesterday afternoon I have been on the same tack hard, on the wind and slowly clawing my way North. This is the no fun part for Cray Valley and I, the boat hates upwind, and so do I." As to why Balance Bar has closed up J.P. says: "Brad took the brunt of the last storm but he now has reaching conditions all the way to Cape Horn while Mike and I are making slow progress to the North." Finally, J.P. was the 3rd boat to round Cape Horn. His thoughts on making it around this landmark: "Yesterday at 16 30 gmt I became a "Cape Horner". .......... The wind was from the North North East, pushing me away from it and I could only come to about 15 miles beating my brains out in a very choppy sea....Still the big rock was there and I could see it perfectly with mountains all around."
Balance Bar is 2ndd in Class II by only 11 miles. Balance Bar sailed in winds of up to 70 knots in the 30 hours before rounding Cape Horn. During this time according to Brad Van Liew " The winds were so high that bare poles was way too much sail area." Despite being knocked down numerous times, Brad says " After a thorough inspection of the entire boat there is a long list but nothing serious. The main is back up and the mast and sails look good." At last report Balance Bar was sailing at 7.0 knots as compated to Cray Valley's 3.6. Looks like class leadership could be next.
Magellan Alpha is now 3rd 106 miles back. After rounding Cape Horn, Mike Garside reports: "The heater's been turned off for the first time since the Chatham Islands and I've been digging out and tidying up my light weather headsail which was in a terrible mess."
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind
of Change. Wind of Change is 232miles back.Viktor Yazykov says, "THE
WIND IS PRETTY STRONG, BUT WE CARRY INNER JIB AND SPEED IS
AROUND 7 KNOTS. IT SEEMS A BIT WARMER THAN AT THE SECOND LEG OR I HAVE GOT A HABIT TO
COLD."
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 1735 miles from 1st place. Minouro Saito reports: "Today afternoon, after the lunch I'd 1st knockdown in this Leg, but all well on boat and a mast top all OK."
Next is www.no-barriers.com. Neal Petersen is 1912 miles back. Neal comments: I did manage a 191 mile 24-hour run. It is still raining and miserable, but so it will be I guess till after the Horn."
Paladin 2 comes next 2249 miles back.
What does it all mean ?
Looks like the pre leg scenario of Balance Bar catching up after Cape Horn will come true. There is still over 1000 miles of racing to decide Class II, it should be interesting sailing.