Today's Sailing News 

The Race: 2 days to start

Two days remain before the start of the most unique sailing event of the year.  Today, an up to the minute update on the status of the six boats.

Weather for the start should be light with the boats crawling along upwind.  

Team Adventure: Team Adventure today announced a three-way partnership with the web sites of the National Geographic Society and those of National Public Radio affiliate stations in Boston, MA, and Providence, RI, to report on its race around the world in The Race of the Millennium.

Skipper Cam Lewis commented on this announcement: "Our race around the world is just the beginning of a long term relationship with kids who we want to inspire and educate about the wonderful world around us."

Yesterday Team Adventure completed the last 50 miles of its qualifying sail.  During the voyage a new gennaker with sponsor Monster.com's logo flew. 

Team Adventure looks to be the second best prepared of the Ollier sister ship behind Club Med.

Innovation Explorer Loick Peyron and crew will sail the last 30 miles of their qualifier today.  This team tried to borrow a gennaker to complete their sail inventory from Club Med, but were declined.

Preparation and enthusiasm seem to be lacking.

Playstation Along with Team Adventure, Steve Fossett's boat has a Cuben Fibre sail inventory.  The 125 foot Race Class cat will carry 13 crew from 6 nations.

Warta Polpharma This is the smallest craft in the fleet.  Dockside work including repairs to the main beam, jib tracks and Volvo engines continue.  

Club Med sits tied to the pontoon fully race ready with all stores and gear aboard.

Team Legato has added three crew.  Two are ex Team Philips Aussie Paul Larsen and Brit Alex Bennet.  The third is Richard Tolkien who recently retired from the Vendee Globe.  Tony Bullimore and crew must still sail 150 miles to qualify.  If not completed by Sunday, they will have 7 days to do so and then start the race.

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BT Challenge Update

Leg 3 is  Buenos Aries to  Wellington New Zealand via Cape Horn.  

Leader: Isle of Man by 13 miles

Best 24 Hour Run: Isle of Man 213 miles

Position:  Nearing 52° South, 120° West.

Current Weather: Force 6 North West

Weather Forecast: Becoming Light and Variable

Head to the Sailing Daily Forum and discuss sailing!

Today's Vendee Globe Report:   Light air for PRB

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 Today's Sailing News 

Sydney Hobart: 

The 80 foot monohull Nicorette, a Simons/Voord-designed 80-footer was first to finish in this 630 mile ocean classic.  Her elapsed time was 2 days 14 hours 2 minutes and 9 seconds, 2nd fastest in race history.  A considerable achievement as much of the race was sailed upwind in gale type conditions.  Nicorette's skipper was Ludde Ingvall with crew from the D Juice Dragons Volvo Ocean race team also sailing.

Next came Australian Maxi Wild Thing 5 hours later.  Wild Thing suffered a pair of mainsail tears and a blown code 4 jib.

The Volvo 60's in the fleet were lead by Illbruk which edged Tyco by 46 minutes.  Then came News Corp. 5 hours later.  Another two hours saw Assa Abloy finish.

Illbruk was able to overtake Tyco when Tyco broke the headboard car on their main.  

The Volvo 60's will be off tomorrow for Auckland in a simulation of the race they will sail next year.  They had been scheduled for only a 3 hour stop, but damage repairs have necessitated a longer stop.

Still at sea and leading the IMS division is Another Challenge a Sydney 38.  Another Challenge has 118 miles remaining to the finish.

Times Clipper Update

Leg 5 is  from the Galapagos Islands to Hawaii, 4100 miles.

Leader: Start scheduled for 1600 GM yesterday.

Best 24 Hour Run: NA

Position:  NA

Current Weather: NA

Weather Forecast: NA