Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.
The leads of Fila and Magellan have not been threatened in the last 24 hours.
Fleet Round Up:
Fila has a lead of 86 miles which is
14 more than yesterday. From Fila Giovanni Soldini reports on his steady showing on
Leg 4: "I'm feeling
at ease and relaxed and spend my time working on the weather and tactics. I make sure the
boat is always rigged properly and try not to
make any mistakes that might lead to damage. In short, it's a lesson in prudence this leg
so I can keep my rival behind me." Soldini is concentrating on keeping Fila
flat and fast: "The boat goes better when it's not swamped in sails and the time you
make up in the short
term is often lost at the end because you make mistakes when you're rushing."
Finally, Soldini commented on how he got the lead he is now sailing to keep:
"Below Cabo Frio I headed towards land to pick up some breeze and that decision
proved the right one. The wind changed and when I turned round I'd gained a good 15
degrees to the north in relation to Marc who was stuck on a terrible route too far
east."
Somewhere still trails. Right now there is little Thiercelin can do. Somewhere is 1.8 knots slower and sailing the same course as Fila. For now it's a straight line race. Until some weather related variable give Somewhere an option Thiercelin is stuck in 2nd.
Magellan Alpha leads Class II by 152 miles. Mike Garside is sailing without wind instruments. So, Mike uses the following method to produce max boat speed: "All my wind instruments have gone and so I have to steer by autopilot. This doesn't take account of wind changes and so if I'm not actively doing something I sit and stare at the COG and SOG readings and press left and right buttons if the figures wander."
Cray Valley is 2nd. With his mainsail patched and back up J.P. has lost only 1 mile in the last 24 hours. J.P. Moulgine has not at all given up: "It is now a matter of sailing smart, and catching up. With 4,000 miles to go, I have time and cannot get discouraged.
Next is the first of the 40 foot Class II entries, Wind of Change. Wind of Change is 293 miles back and several knots slower than the top two Class II boats.
www.no-barriers.com has retaken 4th place. Still Neal Petersen is sailing at only 2 knots so his place is still tenuous.
Next is Shuten Dojhi II. Shuten lies 614miles from 1st place.
Paladin 2 is 691 miles back.
Balance Bar is back racing and trails the lead boats by 1353 miles. Balance Bar has slowed to 2.6 knots.
Robin Davie has South Carolina underway on Leg 4. He reports: "I'll worry about the wind tomorrow, or tonight if it returns at all, but for now it feels real good just to be back out here, underway for the final leg, and heading towards Charleston and home."
What does it all mean ?
With Cray Valley back in operation it will be interesting to see if J.P. Mouligne can real Magellan in and win his 4th Class II 1st place.