Around the World of Sailing

20 March 2002

Event News: Back to the Northern Hemisphere
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ma/0320/ms.htm

Navigator Steve Hayles keeps a close eye on ASSA and Illbruck as TYCO leads the fleet.
Credit: ©Guy Salter
The VOR fleet has returned to the hemisphere it started in
as per usual led by illbruck. The leaders began crossing
the equator early Sunday. The fleet has spread out into
different pods and different outlooks.

Every available item down below onboard Tyco is moved to the toilet area of the boat to help speed in light airs
Credit: ©Guy Salter

As the fleet sails north in trade wind conditions, illbruck
has snuck out a lead. This is currently 12 miles over Assa
Abloy with 4th place SEB only 17 miles back. illbruck
skipper John Kostecki explains his boats lead as: "a direct
result of our sail testing sessions we did before the race
started. It is nice to see the benefits of our two-boat
testing, because it took a lot of work and dedication from
our entire team."

Katie Pettibone makes notes sitting on the sail stack on board Amer Too
Credit: ©Klaartje Zuiderbaan

Starting the next group in the fleet is Amer Sports One. It
has not been a top leg for the 2nd place overall boat. At
one point they trailed Amer Sports Too. According to Amer's
navigator Roger Nilsson, "As often in this race, we have two
races within the fleet. The A-group and the B-group. We
concentrate totally on winning the B-group race."

Hot Sleeping on News Corp
Credit: © Damion Duke

Worse off yet is Djuice Dragons in last place, 240 miles
back. Skipper Knut Frostad gives this stream of
consciousness description of their situation: "No, no, no.
Can't eat, can't drink, can't sleep!!! It's just too
frustrating! Why us? Why now? We should have seen this? With
Jean Yves I run through the last satellite pictures again."

Djuice navigator Jean Yves Bernot reacts to their last place postion

There's from 1700 to 2000 miles for the positions and moods
that go with them to change.

Links:
Positions
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/result/position/leg_5/
Frostad Email
http://www.volvooceanrace.com/team/djce/email/leg_5/20020318_frostad.html
Equator Crossing Rituals
http://dragons.djuice.com/web/index.do?a=goNews&s=_Category&i=/content/en/news/articles/269681016464017_N.xml&p=newsjambean
Assa Abloy crosses the Line
http://www.assaabloyracingteam.com/popup/e_mail_from_crew_notpopup.asp
Flying Fish Territory
http://www.teamseb.com/teamseb/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=428&a=2913

Theme: Rigging Part II
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ma/0320/ms.htm

Standing Rigging Inspection Check List and Non Destructive
Testing

The following list gives you points to look for when
checking your standing rigging. It also describes ways to
test stainless steel rod rigging to prevent future problems.
Some point can be done on deck, others while aloft.

Lifelines: Are they properly pinned? Is there wear where
they intersect with stanchions? If there is rust on vinyl
coating this is a danger sign.

Halyards: Inspect them at wear points such as where they
run under a rope stopper, bend at a deck fair lead, and
enter or exit the mast.

Furling Systems: Make certain that the furler turns with low
resistance and is quiet. Flush with fresh water. Typically
no lubrication is needed with the exception of Mclube Make
sure the halyard doesn't wrap.

Shackles: Bent or balky should be repaired or replaced,
lubricate if needed.

Spreaders: Typically they will be directed slightly
upwards. If not consider this a problem area.

Sail track or luff groove:
One, check that this has no burrs or rough edges.
Two, sight up the mast to see if it is straight.

Mast collar area: This area should be dry. If not seal it
with a mast boot or Spar Tite.

Shrouds and stays: Look for areas that show rust. On wire
stays look for broken strands.

Swages: Should show no rust, swelling or cracks. Use metal
cleaner for a more thorough inspection.

Cotter Pins and Clevis Pins and Split Rings: Make sure they
are present and taped so as to not snag ropes, clothes etc.
FYI clevis pins should be 2X the diameter of the rigging.

Lights: If the mast is un stepped hook the battery up and
check to see masthead and spreader lights are working.

Aloft: When inspecting items aloft such as spreader welds
use a higher standard than you would on an on deck item.

Spreaders: Check bolts, pins and welds. See that shrouds
are held with seizing wire at the outboard end. See that
discontinuous rigging terminals are seated.

Rod Rigging: The following are longevity factors: Loads
placed on the rigging, sailing conditions, quality of
maintenance, miles sailed, fresh v. salt water and climate.

End fittings: Should be rinsed with fresh water.

@ 40,000 miles: Navtec recommends inspecting rod heads and
end fittings.

@ 10 years or 40,000 miles: they advise replacing
turnbuckle screws.

Visual Inspection: Before a visual inspection rods should
be polished.

Non Destructive Testing: There are several types of testing
that can be performed through Torresen Marine. The mast
must be un stepped for these procedure. Liquid Penetrant:
This looks for Existing surface cracks. X-Ray and Ultra
Sound go after Sub Surface Cracks. On an Old or unfamiliar
boat Positive Material Identification test could be
performed to figure out the composition of the rigging.
This then would how much strength is in the material
compared to its application. The idea of this type of
testing is to find problems before you can actually see
them.

Links:
Non Destructive Testing
http://www.nondestructivetesting.com/aircraft-ndt-inspection.html
Navtec Rigging
http://www.navtec.net/home/index.cfm

Event News: Jules Verne Trophy
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ma/0320/ms.htm

The past week of the Race Class cat Orange's around the
world record attempt has been mixed. Daily runs have ranged
from 255 miles on Sunday to 535 miles on Tuesday.

Orange has made the left hand turn and entered the Southern
Ocean. Last Thursday Orange was at 33° north and 25° west
longitude. Since then Bruno Peyron and crew have sailed
2826 miles and are nearing the first of their big Capes, the
Cape of Good Hope.

The low mileage point of 255 miles (still 76% of the
distance of the Chicago-Mac) came as Orange cleared the St.
Helena high pressure system. This day closed the
unpredictable Atlantic phase of their passage with Bruno
Peyron saying, ""It's a difficult year for a record!"

Monday saw the pace pick up with Orange putting up 24 hour
mileages of 437, 535 and 533 miles this week. They have
reached 38° just the verge of the Southern Ocean. Crew Jean
Baptiste Epron comments: "Since yesterday morning, it's pure
joy. The sea is at last in the right direction and we're
bowling along at great speed without being either knocked
around or getting wet." With high speed sailing coming up
Orange leads Sport Elec's pace by 2023 miles and will look
to add on in the Southern Ocean.

Links:
Orange
http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com/site/en/index2.cfm
Nick Moloney Reports
http://www.nickmoloney.com/nick/default.asp

News: Steinlager/Line 7 Match Racing
Available on line at:
http://www.torresen.com/news/atwos/2002/ma/0320/ms.htm

One of the most talent packed match racing regattas ever is
underway off Auckland New Zealand. Of the 12 skippers, 10
are affiliated with America's Cup teams. The exceptions
being Jes Gram Hansen (5th in the world) and Ed Baird (29th
in the world). Otherwise it's the world # 1 Magnus Holmber
of Victory Challenge, # 2 Peter Holmberg, defense skipper
Dean Barker, Luc Pillot of Le Defi ranked # 10, Gavin Brady
of Prada # 4 on the Swedish Match tour, Ken Read of Stars
and Stripes plus Great Britain's Ian Walker a multiple
Olympic medallist working against each other in close
proximity.

Ken Read gave the America's Cup perspective on this regatta:
"you can test, and test, and test until your eyes start to
bleed, and so every once in a while you've got to throw in a
regatta like this to keep everybody fresh, and keep the team
fresh, and keep me fresh."

After one day of racing Pillot sailed to the top at 4-1 with
a loss to Baird. Next are Brady, Hansen and Peter Holmberg
at 3-2. Notably Brady beat Hansen amongst these three.
The 18th ranked Paolo Cian of Mascalzone Latino Challenge
is at .500 with wins over Dean Barker and Magnus Holmberg.
World classers such as Dean Barker and Ken Read didn't even
have a winning day finishing 2-3. Ian Walker won just a
single race but not to worry it was over Gavin Brady!

Racing continues finishing up Sunday and will be sailed in
36 foot Bruce Farr designed MRX boats, with the racecourse
right off the Viaduct Basin in downtown Auckland.

Links:
Results
http://www.rnzys.co.nz/racing/events/sl7/resultshome.html
Match Race Rankings
http://www.sailing.org/matchrace/mrranking.asp
Swedish Match Tour
http://www.swedishmatchtour.com/index800.asp
Jes-Gram Hansen
http://www.swedishmatchtour.com/2-Teams/profiles.asp?skipper=20