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Around Alone Report April 18   

Weekend front will be key

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

Balance Bar still waits in Punta Del Este.  At this point the wait is for acceptable mast stepping weather.  Winds of 35 knots and up have halted Balance Bar's comeback.  Brad Van Liew hopes for a weather window so he can sail for Charleston today.

Fleet Round Up:

Fila has a 65 mile lead on Somewhere.  Fila has increased her lead 32 miles in the last 24 hours.  Fila currently is sailing faster than Somewhere and so should maintain her lead.

Somewhere has split from Fila.   While Fila sails at 065 degrees Somewhere is steering a course of 320 degrees.

Magellan Alpha leads Class II by 41 miles a 29 mile increase.  Magellan had a near disastrous autopilot failure.   However, Mike Garside fixed it up and says, "I took one mile off J-P in the six hours this was all going on -- my concentration must be improving"

Cray Valley is 2nd.  J.P. Mouligne says, "Mike Garside is still ahead of me, he is sailing well and fast and I am not sure what "devious frog" trick I can do to pass him at the moment."

Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change.  Wind of Change is 107 miles back a gain of 41 miles. 

www.no-barriers.com has passed Shuten Dojhi II and is 321 miles out of 1st. Neal Petersen reports on a recent frontal passage: "In a crash gybe the runner caught around the SSB antenna and when the main came
over, ripped the antenna knocking out my ssb communications. The staysail was down on the deck, but
the winds gusting to 50 to 60 knots lifted it off the deck and shredded it. I have also tears in the genoa and mainsail, but both sails are usable."  Neal is finding this leg no easier than the previous two.

Next is Shuten Dojhi II.   Shuten lies 331 miles from 1st place. 

Paladin 2 is 425 miles back.  

What does it all mean ?

Observed winds from the leads boats area is 020 degrees at 8 knots.  Often times a lightening of the breeze can serve the purpose of an auto racing caution flag.  Perhaps Somewhere's course change and the lighter air will help her close on Fila.