| ||||||||||||
|
BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - LEG TWO GETS UNDER WAY IN DRIZZLING RAIN Southampton (UK), Wednesday 20th November 1996 Leg two of the BT Global Challenge got under way today with a wet but warm start as the cannon was fired from Punta Copacabana at 17:00 hrs GMT. The rain forced the crew to dress in full foul weather gear, and soaked the press and spectators. First to cross the line was Concert, followed by Group 4 with 3Com and Time & Tide bringing up the rear. With a fickle offshore breeze and a lumpy swell, the yachts are presently struggling the mile and a half to the Rio Fairway buoy, their first waypoint. (Their next waypoint is about 4,000 miles away passed Cape Horn and in the middle of the Southern Ocean..!). Whilst final preparations were being made on board all 14 BT Global Challenge yachts, a wave of relief swept around the Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club at 21:00 hrs GMT yesterday when Coutaulds International's spinnaker pole finally arrived from Frankfurt. As Courtauld's crew unloaded it from the jetty onto a rib and put it on board, all the crews from the other yachts applauded and cheered to share the relief. Meanwhile more light-hearted preparations were being made by a large proportion of the crew volunteers who had their hair shaved by the local barber. The crew of Commercial Union went one step further and had their hair painted in stripes of corporate colours, blue and yellow, whilst BT Employee and Save the Children legger, Simon Chalk, had the Save the Children logo shaved on his head. 7,200 miles and rounding the infamous Cape Horn lie ahead of the skippers and their crew en route to Wellington, a leg which many believe to be the hardest. An exciting race is anticipated as leader Mike Golding of Group 4 only holds a 2 hour, 9 minute lead over Toshiba Wave Warrior, and in the seas of the Southern Ocean any of the 14 BT Global Challenge yachts stand a chance of taking first place. Follow their progress and read their reports here - more follows soon... |
 Let's Talk |
 |
Copyright British Telecommunications plc 1996.
Notices| (i) | Copyright British Telecommunications plc 1996. |
| (ii) | Access to this information/data or any part of this page via the World Wide Web must only be by linking to the relevant page on the BT Global Challenge Web Site. (http://www.btchallenge.com/results/latest/latest.htm) |
| (iii) | This information/data was originally produced by "BT's Race Information System". BT shall not be liable for use of any part of it. Subject to (ii), you may use the information/data alone provided this notice is included. |
| (iv) | You may copy and use any part of this page, other than on the World Wide Web, provided you include all of these notices. You must not charge for public use and before such use you must inform BT by facsimile to 0171 777 7444 or email to h.brierley@btinternet.com stating the intended use. |
| (v) | Inform BT (as in notice (iv)) if your platform is not world wide web. |
| (vi) | Map data was produced using MundoCart/CD (a digital product of Petroconsultants Group). BT shall not be liable for use of any part of it. |