In this Issue:
Whitbread Leg 5 Update
Gold Race Past the Equator to the Horn
Royal Sun Alliance- Jules Verne Attempt
Grand Rapids Boat Show Preview
Strictly Sail Wrap Up

Whitbread Leg 5 Update
After a light air start to this leg, the breeze is up for the fleet. Finally, some are saying, as this is expected to be a heavy air leg.

Early in the leg Toshiba is leading Chessie Racing by a minuscule distance of 1.7 miles. Merit is in 3rd 3.1 miles backof first. Obviously with many thousands of miles left to sail, the outcome is still in play. Current analysis expects the wind to be up to 30 knots by the weekend. Boats that have gone to the west, are expected to profit. EF Language and Swedish Match are two boats faithful to this western strategy.
Keep up with all of this strategy and its implications at the official Whitbread site:
www.whitbread.org

Gold Racers Pass the Equator and head to the Horn
All three Gold Race boats have crossed the Equator and are sailing towards Cape Horn. Currently Aquitaine Innovations is leading. They have just about passed Brazil. Next is PRB 307 miles back. Back of the pack is Geodis 492 miles away from the lead. So far the race has been parade like, as the boats have reached the entire distance from New York. Isabelle Autissier views the chances for the gap to close this way: "nothing much will happen until we are hit by another depression."

Perhaps as the boats reach the treacherous waters of  Cape Horn we will see the fleet come closer together. Stay tuned to the Gold Race via the Around Alone web
site: www.aroundalone.com For those of you fluent in French check out the official Gold Race site: www.goldrace.com

Royal&Sun Alliance Jules Verne Attempt
The 92 foot catamaran started its voyage around the world Febuary 3rd. They are making an attempt at the non stop around the world sailing record.  This all started in 1993. Several adventurers got together and decided to try and break the mythical mark of 80 days around the world. This concept was first broached by Jules Verne.
Bruno Peyron and his catamaran Commodore Explorer succeeded in 1993 in 79 days. In 1995 Robin Knox-Johnston & Peter Blake broke the record on ENZA (now renamed Royal & Sun Alliance) in a time of 74 days. Finally Olivier De Kersauson set the current record on a triamaran Sport Elec. His time stands at:71 Days 14 Hours and 18 Minutes.

The current attempt by Royal&Sun Alliance is also significant as it is an all female crew. The first day of their voyage saw them travel 450 miles. During this they registered a top speed of 32.9 knots. What are the chances this record will fall again ? Well when Sport Elec broke the record they sailed a shorter distance by going farther south. This allowed them to break the record even though they had a lower average speed. It is Royal&Sun Alliance's beliefthat they can sail the course
faster and make the record theirs. GLSOL plans to track their quest closely. Also
check out the outstanding Royal&Sun Alliance website: http://www.rsachallenge.com/index.htm

Grand Rapids Boat Show Preview
Beginning February 10th and ending February 15th Torresen Marine will be at the Grand Rapids boat show. This takes place at the Grand Center. The show will have several areas of interest for sailors.

Of course Torresen Marine will be at the show. Stop and talk with our staff. We can answer all your sailing questions- whatever they may be !

Before the show be sure to stop in and see us for buy 1 get one free admission coupons. For further details on the show see the Torresen Sailing Site www.torresen.com

Strictly Sail A Success
Thanks to all who stopped and saw us during the Chicago Strictly Sail Show. Thanks to all of you our trip was a sucess. Stay in touch.