Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
Brad Van Liew of Balance Bar reports: "I am jury rigged and proceeding to Punta. I will try to figure out something in the way of a mast when I get there." At last report Balance Bar was on a course of 283 degrees at 3.3 knots. Perhaps Balance Bar will become the 2nd boat in the fleet to comeback from a dismasting.
Currently dropping out is not an option with Balance
Bar. Van Liew has received numerous offers of assistance from fellow Around Alone
sailors. For instance although he can't use the temporary mast that Somewhere used
to sail from the Falkland Islands to Punt, some of the sails may fit. Whatever is
come up with it will need to happen in two weeks. This close to the end, bet on Van
Liew fashioning a solution and making it under sail to Charleston.
Fleet Round Up:
Fila has gained 17 hours on Somewhere in the last 6 hours. This has given Fila the scantest of leads- .2 miles. Fila has almost a 1 knot speed advantage.
Somewhere has lost the lead for the first time in the race. Skipper Marc Thiercelin is on a course of 094 degrees. This differs from Fila's 031.
Magellan Alpha leads Class II by 6 miles. Mike Garside was deeply affected by Balance Bar's dismasting, "Not only did I feel seasick all over again but I felt desperately sad and tired. It was as if suddenly my motivation had disappeared without trace." However, an e-mail from Brad Van Liew that all is well set Mike back on course of Charleston. Currently Magellan is sailing well .7 knots faster than Cray Valley.
Cray Valley is 2nd. J.P. Mouligne reports that things are easing up after the post start nor'easter: "Things have eased up a lot this morning and I am starting to clean up and fix the damage of the last 2 days."
Balance Bar is returning to Punta Del Este making 3.3 knots.
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change. Wind of Change is 51 miles back. Viktor Yazykov reports on Balance Bar's dismasting: "WHAT A MISERABLE BEGINNING. THE NEWS ABOUT BRAD'S DISMASTING KILLS ME. WHAT A RACE." Viktor also reports a fuel tank leak, and that only 1 of his 2 autopilots are on song.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 124 miles from 1st place.
Paladin 2 is 151 miles back. Neil Hunter says, "A little bit of rain and not much sun but at least we are back on course and not beating our brains out."
Next is www.no-barriers.com. Neal Petersen is 168 miles back. Neal has had a tough start to the leg, "All day and night I did not care for the boat in my mood, and for a long time I even sailed away from the finish line, with no purpose."
What does it all mean ?
The wind has changed to a more favorable westerly direction. This moves the wind aft of the beam and allows easier offwind sailing. Expect double digits for the top of the fleet.