From the Team Adventure Website
In early December we asked how fast the winner of The Race for The
Millennium will circle the globe? At the time we stated, "Assuming
for each point of extra length you get extra speed times of 49-53
days show up. This would require an average speed of 18 knots. Is
this possible? Playstation has already sailed 580 miles in 24 hours
or 24 knots."
What did ATWOS readers think? A representative sample of the answers
shows estimates from 47 to 65 days. Reader Eric Lind estimated 47.
Sam Nedeau first said 57, but then added some factors to the equation
and came up with 49. Steven Mcdowell not only gave a time frame (65
days) but a winning boat: Playstation.
From the Team Adventure Website
Grant Dalton, who will skipper Club Med, had these thoughts: "I think
700 miles will be attainable [note: this would be average of 29.16
knots]." As for a total time he uses the figure of 65-70 days. Dalton
also wonders if flat out is the race winning strategy. After all,
it's a no assistance race, so "strong and steady" may beat "fast and
fragile".
The target for Cam Lewis who will skipper Team Adventure is 60 days.
Currently the fastest time is 71 days. This equates to an average of
12.66 knots. Each knot of average speed knocks roughly 3 days off the
time. Of course, to average 19 knots significant time will have
to be spent above that average.
| Avg. Speed | Time |
| 12.66 | 71 days |
| 13.00 | 69 days |
| 14.00 | 64 days |
| 15.00 | 60 days |
| 16.00 | 56 Days |
| 17.00 | 53 Days |
| 18.00 | 50 Days |
| 19.00 | 47 Days |
| 20.00 | 45 Days |
As Playstation's aborted attempt at breaking the Atlantic crossing
goes, the new maxi cats will not be easy to sail. All teams in The
Race are pioneers. To be the first at a goal like sailing around
the world in 60 days, climbing Mount Everest or reaching the Poles
generally requires a struggle along the way. Expect incidents like
Playstation's broken battens to be repeated. The team that can turn
these maxi cats into strong and steady passage makers will show whose
prediction was closest.
Playstation sails under reefed main and staysail. With a main that
can take up to 30 minutes to hoist Playstation will spend considerable
time under shortened canvas. An advantage might be gained by
attempting to develop and optimize a reefing system. As with the Code
Zero that North Sails developed for the Whitbread and is now marketing,
reefing gear from The Race could one day be on board your boat.
