Published every Wednesday
Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
Fila skippered by Italian sailor Giovanni Soldini crossed the Leg 3 finish line at 0855 GMT (0555 local time & 0355 Eastern). This clinched Soldini's 2nd consecutive leg victory. On board with was the rescued French Sailor Isabelle Autissier. Fila's time for Leg 3 was: 25 days 9 hours 55 minutes and 53 seconds an average of 9.77 knots. Still to be decided is Soldini's official time for Leg 3. By tomorrow an International Jury will have determined the amount of time Soldini will have subtracted from his time for his search for and rescue of Autissier.
Upon arrival Isabelle Autissier profusely thanked Soldini for his search and rescue services. After requesting and getting a standing ovation for Soldini, Autissier said: "For the last two weeks he has been a perfect guy."
In additon Autissier announced her retirement from singlehanded racing. She stated that all along this was to be her last Around Alone. As for her future, she says: " I do know [that in the future] I'll be sailing and racing, and maybe sailing alone. For sure I'll go back in the Southern Ocean. But I will never do them together--I will never go solo, racing, in the Southern Ocean."
Soldini put down any talk of status as a hero, saying "I am surprised and happy to hear all these people tell me I'm a big hero," he said. "But I really think this kind of thing is pretty normal at sea... I think anybody who is a sailor or a seaman would do something for someone who [was in trouble] at 55S. I think anybody who was in my position would go and do what I did. I don't feel like a hero. I just did what I was supposed to do. The operation was successful, but it was because we were very prepared."
Fleet Round Up:
Somewhere has reached the Falklands. As Somewhere closed on land a thick fog developed. With Somewhere under a tenuous jury rig, March Thiercelin had few maneuvering options. Also, he had to be inside 10 miles from the harbor before excepting a tow. He overcame all of this and is now safely in harbor.
Now that Somewhere is safe they can put their plan to get back into the race into action. On Thursday a new aluminum mast is to arrive in the Falklands. Likely it will arrive via the British Air Force. Due to a diplomatic conflict between Britain and Chile there are no commercial flights to the Falklands. In addition to the new mast a new mainsail has already been sourced.
Cray Valley is 1st in Class II by 124 miles, double the lead of 62 miles of yesterday. With 613 miles to a 3rd straight Class II victory J.P. Moulgine says he is "so tired that I can barely see straight." He doesn't feel this 3rd victory is quite certain, "It is down to the wire with the tiniest margin, and two mad men on my heels. I have to hold them off whatever it takes."
Magellan Alpha is now 2nd 124 miles back. Perhaps Magellan can use a .5 knot speed advantage over Cray Valley to close the distance.
Balance Bar is 3rd in Class II by 227 miles. As important Balance Bar is 103 miles in back of Magellan. If Brad Van Liew wants to break his string of 3rd places he must begin closing.
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change. Wind of Change is 545 miles back. Wind of Change was the first of the 40 foot entries around Cape Horn.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 2106 miles from 1st place. Minoru Saito reports on recent conditions: "Good morning, but very bad morning in here. It's still cassy, bloody weather."
Next is www.no-barriers.com. Neal Petersen is 2252 miles back. Neal reports on the conditions he is experiencing:"My weather has eased up a bit, but it is still blowing between 25 to 30 knots." Still, before the lessening of the conditions Neal says, "Yesterday I took a very severe knockdown, that dumped water on the cabin top inside of the boat." Although tough conditions they are moving No Barriers along at a rate of 180 to 190 miles per day.
Paladin 2 comes next 2758 miles back. Neil Hunter reminds us: "Till tomorrow, have fun and keep smiling."
What does it all mean ?
Soldini began the race as the favorite. A bad meteorological call on Leg 1 sent him down the standings. A solid victory followed on Leg 2 and he moved up to 3rd overall. Leg 3 again saw victory, along with a heroic rescue of fellow Around Alone sailor Isabelle Autissier. Beginning with Leg 2 his competitors dropped one by one until there is only one other Class I boat left. And although Somewhere plans to continue racing, Fila has an almost mortal lock on a 1st place overall. Soldini and Fila have definitely one back any respect lost on Leg 1.