FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
15-JUL-1997 06:34:29

Daily Report

Fastest 24 hour run on leg by Global Teamwork

'The hardest working spinnaker and cleanest boom in the fleet'

After a less than impressive leg so far in which Teamwork battled headwinds, adverse currents and a strategically difficult position to the south of the fleet, fortune finally turned yesterday.

On the morning of the 13th Teamwork gybed north away from the rest of the fleet towards a vigorous weather system moving south east accross the atlantic.

Over the next 24 hours she made an impressive 244 miles towards the finish in Southampton, eleven miles more than the next fastest and twenty miles faster than her closest opponent.

22 hours of the run were with the heavyweight spinaker flying in breeze exceeding 30 knots. Most of the time the boat was close reaching on the edge of disaster, the boom continually stiking the water on the verge of broaching. For four strenuous hours port watch sailed with upto twenty five knots of wind fifteen degrees forward of the beam, continually dumping and re-sheeting the 2500 sq ft spinnaker.' I've no doubt we now have the cleanest boom in the fleet, bar none', said skipper Merfyn Owen.

This is the third leg in which Teamwork have attained the fastest 24 hour run, the other two were the southern ocean legs. On the Sydney to CapeTown leg they received the prize for the fastest 24 hour noon to noon run. It's almost certain that they have succeeded to grasp the same prize again for leg 6.

In sixth place overall, the yacht has the highest placed skipper not to have competed in the event before and is one place above Richard Tudor's, Nuclear Electric, the pre race favourite. Teamwork placed badly in the first leg and was dogged by gear failure in the two southern ocean legs that relegated them from the top three in the second half of both passages. The fastest run prizes are a deserved prize for a very fast, hard working and brave crew.

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
10-JUL-1997 11:52:23

Hi, hope your enjoying a good weekend. With the end nigh I'm sure your busy, but thought this unusual nugget was worthy of sending around the fleet.

A Xmas Carol for the fleet.

Looking on the positive side, just in case we all miss Friday and this drags on 'til Xmas !!!

Sung to ' Good King Wenceslas'

Skipper Merfyn 'O' looked out
Onto decks uneven
Round about lay sheets and guys
Flaked and coiled and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Thou' the weather was cruel
For there was no breath of wind
Their only source of fuel

'Hither crew and stand by me
Have you got a clue
Yonder land mass, what is that ?
Our charts went down the loo'
'Skip it is the British Isles
A country green and fair
We left there on this Global Tour
Before the time of Blair'

Crew and skipper, north they went
North they went together
Battling with the fickle winds
And the lack of weather
Rest assured our patient fans
While we seek where winds lurk
We're trimming hard to build our speed
Aboard Global Teeeeeaaaam..Wooooork

Graham Walker
BT Legger

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
8-JUL-1997 05:35:01

To Race HQ
From Teamwork
Addition to Daily Report

Global Teamwork discovers new river !!!!

Well you have to look at the lighter side. For a fifteen minute period this evening we discovered that we had a 3, yes THREE knot current against us in an area that normally has a 0.5 east going drift. The counter current slowing progress to the UK is an 18 Celsius warm water eddy (big swirl of water) running off the dieing embers of the gulf stream.

Unfortunately the US Navy gulf stream analysis stops at 45 West amd we were unable to avoid this beasts clutches.

The annoying thing is that if we were a little further north, we might just might have got the current with us !!! Has Motorola ?? We bloody hope not, but we won't know until the next poll ! I'm not looking forward to that one.

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
8-JUL-1997 04:32:48

TO: RHQ
From: Global Teamwork

Daily Report

With some relief we left Boston, not for any other reason other than a lot of reflecting had been done. This was the last Leg. People were already thinking about home and life after the Challenge. It was time to just get on with it and Global Teamwork were hungry for a good performance and the Leg win that goes with it.

9 days into the "sprint across the pond" we find ourselves wallowing in the Central North Atlantic. Instead of the fast run we had hoped for, progress is agonisingly slow. Each day is accompanied by peaks and troughs. Enthusiasm doesn't wane but we are constantly questioning our performane. Are we pushing hard enough? And we are. The pole is like a lottery. One day the Northerly boats gain miles, the next its the turn of the Southerly yachts. We wait for the poles with bated breath as this will determine today's mood onboard. Teamwork's competitive spirit is still there and we hate not doing well.

For me, time in the light winds offers plenty of time to reflect. In 2 weeks time I am back to what used to be reality. I have no job, no car and even a new home...(for my mother sold up and moved on whilst I was deep in the Southern Ocean). But I am not alone. Others face similar predicaments. In reality, I am happier than I've ever been in my life. An experience like this puts a lot of things nicely into perspective. I have had the courage to face up to a dwindling relationship and a very staid career. I am about to turn my whole life upside down and I am actually very happy. We have all changed and the extent of which can only be judged by others close to us.What life holds in store for me, I have no idea, but its exciting. Actually no, it's very daunting....but still exciting. I am free to make a complete break which I probably wouldn't have had the momentum to do previuosly. I now know exactly what I don't want to do which has to be a start. "Take life by the hand and run" is an expression which springs to mind. And when we eventually reach the dock in Southampton, that's what I intend to do.....wherever that takes me.

Rhian Jenkins

At this moment in time GT is struggling against 1 to 1.5 knots of current against her. The whole of this area generally sees the influence of about 0.5 knots of of the north atlantic current towards the UK and so this is as inwelcome as it is unexpected. To put it into perspective, baost speed is good at 7.25 knots, but speed over the ground is reduced by some 20 %. This was reflected in the last 6 hour poll.

We struggle to gain northing in winds that although not fickle in strngth, refuse to let us come round to any northerly heading for more than a few hours. The worry is that being somewhat closer to the high pressure system, although it hasn't happened yet - we may get caught for a few hours or longer in an area of reduced wind, wehich will allow our compatriots to get away from us.

Still, it's a long way to go and the western approaches to the UK at this time represent a huge parking lot. Unlike some of the boats we 'probably' have enough food for the next 10 to 12 days. We've produced an extra 2 days from 'odds and sods'.

We live in hope for a westerly to take us towards the pole star.

Merfyn Owen

Global Teamwork

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
29-MAR-1997

capsat dyeing, going off line 1830 gmt - mssges by then or via duty yacht.

damaged main still racing/repairing

all well onboard

merv

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
21-MAR-1997

On the day this race started in Southampton last September the wind was stronger than I had ever known in my short sailing experience. I felt sick with the fear of the choppy sea, the whistling wind, the boat leaning over on its side as we tacked out of the harbour. It was blowing 35 knots. I remember thinking 'this is a taste of the real thing' and wondering if I'd gone a bit far on the adventure quest this time, but it was too late to get off.

We all knew that the Southern Ocean was going to be horrible, we signed up to be scared. On the second leg from Rio to Wellington the wind was regularly 45 knots, once gusting to 50. I would sit in the cockpit at night, grasping the mainsail sheet in one hand and steadying myself on a winch with the other, trying to catch a re- assuring glint from the eye of the helmsman beneath his balaclava, as the salt spray stung our faces. I guess somehow I got used to it, and found myself half enjoying the waves washing over me on the foredeck as we changed sails, or struggling to steer a straight course with on the helm as we climbed over and crashed down the water mountains. Perhaps thats what pushing your boundaries is all about.

They told us that leg 4 to Cape Town was going to be worse still, and they were right. Last night was truly frightening, and I did want to get off. We had had an exhausting day (we had been 'beasted' as our skipper describes it, by numerous sail changes and interrupted sleep). The wind was an unforecasted 60 knots plus, and I was cowering in the cockpit, with my heart in my mouth, the boat almost on its side, and monsterous waves breaking on us. We had the smallest sails up, but we had to take down our headsail for fear of tearing it. You have no choice but to go up to the front, even when just getting on deck is the most daunting thought. The foredeck was constantly underwater, I was working on the leeward side of the mast and the force of the waves had me gasping seawater with my legs streaming out behind me. The guys at the bow said that if hell was a place on earth, we had found it. Today I am one big ache from neck to hands to back to knees, and my eyes wont stay open. But when the position poll came in, we were rewarded to see 'Global Teamwork' in third place, and working our way back up to to the lead.

We have come a long way from that afternoon in Southampton on start day. We've all had our energy, tolerance and humour resources tested. And we're now real sailors, working as a tight, trained team. We're still only half was across the Southern Ocean, and there could still be worse to come, but at least now when the wind is at 35 knots, as it was on that first day, its a blessed relief.

Julia Bishop, Crewmember, Global Teamwork.

GLOBAL TEAMWORK TIP OF THE DAY

Remove compass binnacle, throw it over the side, then use the case as a mug holder for the helmsman - makes the boat go much faster!

Best Regards
Merv

GLOBAL TEAMTALK - ISSUE NO 15

Hello readers, welcome to yacht 'Global Teamwork''s newsletter from The Deep South. We are on Leg 4 of the BT Global Challenge from Sydney to Capetown and on day 14 of this part of the voyage.

WHEREABOUTS :

Again, 'Somewhere in the Southern Ocean.' We've been down below 54 deg and have consistently been the most Southerly boat of the fleet. This is to get the best of the winds and because its also the shortest distance on the great circle. It does mean that we get it rough and cold though.
So far we've been 2350 miles, we have 1758 miles to go to the waypoint, the Kerguelen Islands, and then a further 2500 miles to go to Capetown.

RACE POSITION :

As we write, we are in third place, 11 miles after 'Group 4' and 'Toshiba'. We took 1st place last Thursday and hung on to it fiercely for over a week, then lost it last night for reasons you'll read about next! We're now in the process of clawing it back again.

CONDITIONS :

From grim to horrific. The Southern Ocean has 40 shades of grey by day and one shade of black by night.
There are mountainous rollers that our little boat labours up then crashes down. Spray or hail stings the face and the wind screams constantly. The water physically flattens you when you catch a wave. One last night took off our compass, (our only one - this could be interesting if the electrics fail..), our stern light (now none of the rest of the fleet will see us!), and bent our pushpit and steering wheel. No one hurt miraculously. We've told you about life below decks in previous newsletters, suffice it to say that the simplest tasks are a huge effort.

LEG 4's NIGHT OF HELL :

It all started last Wednesday. We were in 'hole' with 7 kts of wind and the genoa flying. The breeze came up and so we switched to the No1 Yankee and staysail, then put in a reef, changed to the No 2 and had to abandon it, put in another reef, changed to the storm staysail, then the No 3 with another reef..all this in about 45 minutes as the wind got up to 40 kts plus. The deck and companionway were strewn with sails, we had no time to repack them properly, we were exhausted. The low pressure increased over the next 24 hours till we were regularly over 50 kts. Then it all happended last night - here's Elaine's account of events:

1. At 1530 GMT (middle of the night local, after 2 hours sleep) we tacked, and a baton car blew off the main. These are the devices which slide into a groove on the mast and keep the sail attached. All hands were on deck for the mammoth task of dropping the main and replacing it with the little Trisail, used in bad storms. The wind was 50 kts at the time.
2. The leading edge then blew out of the Trisail, we had to sail on with just headsails whilst trying to repair both broken ones below. By now it was gusting at 60 kts.
3. Then the sheet broke on the No3, as well as the cars on the deck track. We had to drop it, end-to-end the sheet, replace the cars, and re-hoist it.
4. The two hanks tore off the stormstay. It was also dropped and repaired. By now 2 hours had passed, and the main was fixed. Merv had to climb onto the boom to replace it in the track. While all this happened the night's sailing was probably the most frightening thing I have ever been through. The seas were huge and the cockpit was regularly flooded. But I was so impressed with the way everyone helped with the situation, especially those who had to go forward to the mast. Most of us were awake for 20 hours of strenuous work and just got on with the job. What a great team, and now we're back to racing again, with only 11 miles lost.

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
14-MAR-1997

Teamwork drops main and places !!!!

During a sustained southern ocean storm, the most southerly lead boat, Global Teamwork battled through huge seas and winds gusting to 60 knots. Early on in the encounter the main headboard car (up the mast ) broke and Teamwork were forced to drop their mainsail for over 12 hours to jury rig repairs. Hoisting the storm trisail in 50 knots plus was a frightening and challenging test of teamwork.

Unfortunately this heavy storm sail also tore and Teamwork was reduced to sailing somewhat inefficiently with headsails only. As well as breaking two sheets, bending the pushpit badly, the compass wrenched from the steering pedastal as the large stainless steering guard was bent effortlessly onto the wheel by a wave breaking on top of the boat.

All is now well on the boat and apart from a few bruises and sleep deprivation the crew have put the last 48 hours behind them. Target for tonight was third place, which we seem to have wrenched back and now we need to up the game to get ourselves back into first place on the long haul to the Kerguelens and beyond.

Rgds

Merv O

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
10-MAR-1997 22:36:02

Ice Team Becalmed in the Furious Fifties
We're the most southern boat in the fleet and as such it's somewhat gaulling to find ourselves becalmed at 52 south in a localised low pressure we could see but couldn't move to avoid. We worry now about our overall position as its highly likely that boats north of us by a twist of fate will get the wind earlier. In fact the mid to back markers in the fleet might not stop at all.

The fleet has split into three groups again and our real concern is those in our leading group, especially Group 4 whome we've consistently been unable to throw of our backs in the last five days of leading the fleet. This is the first time we've stopped or felt uncomfortable with our progress since comeing to a grinding halt under a developing trough off the New South Wales coast - 1400 milea and a wwarm world away. Kerguelen is 'only' some 2000 miles away and is the gateway to our exit from this grey wet world, but that's nearly two weeks away.

It's long way to go and after the dissapointment of loosing the lead on leg 2 and then the subsequent rig failures on the boat my team are working with a real fire in their hearts.

Sat here bouncing up and down in almost the same spot we can only wait for the 30 knots of wind to track towards us on the edge of the next cold front. Cold, you bet it's cold now - but still their are advantages to being south down here and even if we loose the lead ( a distinct possibility) in the next few hours the troops are ready to go 'over the hill' onto the foredeck with a vengeance to be the first boat to sight Table Mountain and drink a Castle Beer in the city they call the Tavern of the Seas.

Domestic chores and maintenance are being hurriedly carried out before the next onslaught. Sleep caught up on whilst dressed oin full gear ready to pile out on deck at the sign of the first stiffening breeze.

Tactics, their are none. Sail your own boat and point it towards Kerguelen and go as fast as you can. You've made your bed by now, your a southern, middle or northern boat and you make the best of it. The forecasts down here aren'y forward looking enough and the data their based on is so sparse that its a brave man who deviates from the best waypoint closeing and zaps off right or left chasing some advantage. Or am I wrong ???

Well, that's enough for now - time for a quick cat nap.

Hope your enjoying the blue bells and the first sight of spring on its way.

All the best from Global Teamwork, 52 South

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
9-MAR-1997 04:23:58

Trash the southern boats day !!
Here in the southern ocean it was trash the southern boats day. In one 6 hour period Global Teamwork lost its slender but hard fought 8 mile lead.

Battling against a shifting headwind comeing directly from the Kerguelen waypoint, plus a 1.5 knot localised current we spent a whole morning sailng at 8,5 knots whilst making less than 4 to the finish.

The forecast frontal positions are unusual in that a cold front ahead has stalled whilst another front looks like it will smash into the back of the existing one. Where the shift will come from in the next 24 hours is a lottery now and we could see the lead boats at the very least caught by one of the middle fleet boats. Such is yacht racing.

Meanwhile we're sailing south as fast as possible to get to the front first, perhaps. At least we'll get some wind from some direction. Anything would be better than this.

Spirits onboard are high however, as has been pointed out, we're still joint first.

Back to the office

Rgds

Merv

FROM GLOBAL TEAMWORK
7-MAR-1997 17:29:28

You are receiving this communication from the lead yacht in the race!!! YES WE ARE IN FIRST POSITION. Here's our news so far:

SYDNEY :

A short 14 day stopover. Sailing into Sydney at dusk was amazing - the opera house, the harbour bridge, even a flying fox across our bow. We arrived in 4th place as you probably know, behind 'Save the Children', 'Group 4' and 'Courtaulds'. We all got in very close together during the course of the night so there was a great welcome party. A bit of maintenance and corporate entertainment, a couple of days off, and we were away again.

THE START - AND THE FIRST 5 DAYS. :

Our start was pretty unimpressive, we were slow over the line and low in position getting out of the harbour. In a way we were pleased to be out of the main group as the start line was quite short and there was plenty of protesting and penalties. We wanted to keep offshore to start with, but ended going inshore to get current, while the rest of the fleet came out to us to get wind. Still lying low in position, a small unpredicted low pressure area appeared after a day, causing a storm on our way down to Tasmania. The 'eye' or centre of this storm happened to be right over where we were, and we got a messy breeze while the others got strong wind. With no other option open to us, we got forced further inshore by winds from the developing trough, and we dropped back to last place in the fleet. It was really disheartening especially as this felt like a cruel twist of fate. The next day our luck turned, and a plan paid off as we caught some sea breeze as the land warmed up, and we enjoyed a fresh sunny sail, gaining on a now becalmed offshore fleet, whilst passing close to the stunning Tasmanian coastline. At this stage, Group 4 were in the lead, with Toshiba and Save the Children just behind. By Wednesday night we were back in among the fleet, and could count all 13 other masthead lights within 7 miles of us. By Thursday, now in 12th place, we headed south to avoid the windshadow of Tasmania and to be in the best position to enter the Southern Ocean. We left the fleet behind us with no wind, and within 10 hours had worked our way into 2nd position. Overtaking Save the Children yesterday, we are now holding 1st place by a few miles, with Group 4 and Toshiba some 20 miles behind us. 'Kids' are hot in persuit, as they were back in leg 2, when we were leading in the approach to Cape Horn. Its now all about holding this place!! We're working hard at it.

Leg 3

Yacht Global Teamwork
Date 13 February
Hi guys, how's your gales ? did we miss the last poll ? waiting to go to bed, on tenterhooks to see who's on which gybe. adrenalin level high !!! please please please ta very much Merv

Yacht Global Teamwork
Date 13 February
Pls fwd this to the fleet - and have a go yourselves if you like!

TO BTGC From Global Teamwork

Just to while away the hours on this long trip to Sydney, it's
"TEAMWORK'S TASMAN TEASER!"

A case of beer has been generously donated as the prize for this quiz (as if anyone needs more beer!!). To enter send your answers (just the missing words will do) to Global Teamwork on C-sat by 0001 GMT Sat 15/02/97. In case of tie please send a teaser of your own in the style of the quiz (with the answer) - judging by independant panel (Merv + crew!)

TEASERS

eg 16 O in the P = 16 Ounces in the Pound - see it's easy

1. 7 D of the W
2. 4 Q in a G
3. 3 B M (S H T R)
4. 4 C in the R
5. 29 D in F in a L Y
6. 21 S on a D
7. 18 H on G C
8. 24 H in a D
9. 88 P K
10. 57 H V
11. 64 S on a C B
12. 40 D & N of the G F
13. 13 S on the A F
14. 2000 P in a T B
15. 26 L of the A
16. 9 P in the S S
17. 1760 Y in a M
18. 90 D in a R A
19. 7 S on a F P P
20. 10 G B (H on the W)
21. 20,000 L under the S
22. 76 T L the B P
23. 12 S of the Z
24. 32 D at which W F
25. 1001 A N
26. 56 C in a D (+ Js)
27. 11 P in a F T
28. 7 D s
29. 12 M in a Y
30. 100 P in a P
31. 4 G in the N T

Happy thinking

Crew of GT

Yacht Global Teamwork
Date 13 February
Happy Valentines from your admirers in the Tasman !!!

Merv

Copyright British Telecommunications plc 1996.