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Around Alone Report April 11

Fila closes on Somewhere

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

The final leg of the 1998 Around Alone started yesterday from Punta Del Este Uruguay.  A moderate easterly breeze helped the nine boat fleet across the line. 

Fleet Round Up:

Somewhere leads his class I competitor Fila by 22 miles.  Somewhere is sailing a north east by east course at 6.6 knots.

Fila is 2nd in Class I 22 miles back.   Giovanni Soldini has chose a more easterly course of 074 degrees.  By heading to the east Soldini hopes to avoid sailing hard on the wind.  He will also get sea room of the South American coast.

Cray Valley is 1st in Class II by 3.2 miles. 

Balance Bar is 2nd. 

Magellan Alpha is 3rd in Class 21 miles.  Magellan is also taking an easterly course of 096 degrees compared to Cray Valley's 046 and Balance Bar's 053. 

Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change.  Wind of Change is 44 miles back.  Wind of Change is sailing a course of 127 degrees.

Next is www.no-barriers.com.  Neal Petersen is 63 miles back. 

Paladin 2 is 66 miles back.

Next is Shuten Dojhi II.   Shuten lies 66 miles from 1st place. 

What does it all mean ?

So much for any thought that Soldini would sail not to lose.  He will clearly sail his own race.  In Class II Mike Garside has split from Balance Bar.  The next several days should show the winner of this early difference  of tactical opinion.