Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
The top 3 in Class II are closer together, but still in the same order. None of these boats are expected to finish until tomorrow evening.
Fleet Round Up:
Cray Valley is 1st in Class II by 75 miles 46 less than yesterday.. J.P. Moulgine writes "The last 2 days have been the most frustrating sailing I have had since the beginning of the race. The wind has come from every direction from 40 kts to 0." He is well aware of his shrinking lead, but says "They will not catch me!"
Magellan Alpha is now 2nd 75 miles back. At this point Magellan and Cray Valley are just about even in performance. Cray Valley is making 6.6 knots steering 010 degrees, with Magellan at 6.5 knots and 020 degrees. This competition is taking place in testing weather according to Mike Garside: "The sea that I'm crossing today is dealing out more punishment than any Magellan Alpha has had to take since we left Charleston six months ago." The specifics that Magellan is facing are as follows: "This wind has now been blowing straight at Magellan Alpha for more than 12 hours, giving us an apparent wind of not less than 40 knots - with regular gusts up to 50 knots."
Balance Bar is 3rd in Class II by 168 miles, 37 less than yesterday. Brad Van Liew reports, "I am still fighting, but feel this draining me and Balance Bar. We are both over-extended and bruised and badly need a break." Still Van Liew and Balance Bar are gaining and may yet gain their first 2nd place.
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change. Wind of Change is 528 miles back.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 2078 miles from 1st place.
Next is www.no-barriers.com. Neal Petersen is 2249 miles back. Neal says currently, "I am doing between 7 and 8 knots on a course directly for my waypoint off Cape Horn." Further Neal says, "I hope I can be around the corner in less than 9 days time."
Paladin 2 comes next 2851 miles back. Neil Hunter reports: "The barometer has finally started falling and the breeze is slowly picking up from the NE which means I am probably now on the back side of the high and should have wind now for some time to come."
Somewhere has reached the Falklands.
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. Thiercelin plans to rejoin the race by Monday.
What does it all mean ?
The scenario for the lead 3 boats is: beat into a gale, a slight lull and another gale. The good news of this is that the last gale will take them to the finish line starting tomorrow.