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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - SAVE THE CHILDREN LEADS THE FLEET ROUND CONCERT GATE Southampton (UK), 14 December 1996 At 07:50 hrs GMT today, Save the Children had managed to retain her lead over Group 4 and was the first yacht to go through the Concert Gate, passing the way point at 05:22 GMT this morning. After three weeks of sailing, and over 4,000 miles covered, it is quite incredible that Save the Children was in sight of Group 4 as she rounded the way point. Less than 60 miles separates the leading six yachts which proves the excitement of ocean racing on board these 14 identical yachts. The rest of the fleet are having to work hard to reach the Concert Gate as the wind has moved round to the West, and is blowing its hardest to prevent them from doing so. Global Teamwork is the next yacht to round the waypoint, followed by two tight packs: The first is made up of Concert (4), Motorola (5) and Toshiba Wave Warrior(6), followed 50 miles behind by the next - Commercial Union (7), Pause to Remember (8) and Nuclear Electric (9). At 09:27 hrs GMT today, Pause to Remember reported that Commercial Union passed behind her stern close enough for one of the crew members to be caught blowing kisses to her boyfriend! The yachts have spent the past three days in 30-50 knot winds and big seas, and although they report to be having tremendous fun "thrashing about" (Toshiba) in the southern ocean, they were not disappointed to be informed that the remainder of the second leg to Wellington had been shortened by the withdrawal of "Course Echo". After discussions with the Class Captain, the BT Global Challenge Race Committee announced its decision to shorten the course in view of the fact that three of the yachts have obtained rigging concerns: 3Com has lost her forestay which parted near the top of the wire, and both Save the Children and Global Teamwork have a broken strand at the lower end of their backstays. The decision was communicated to all the yachts by the BT Global Challenge Race HQ via satellite and all the yachts responded before the leading yacht's arrival at the Concert Gate. The fleet will now take "Course Wellington" - in other words, once they have rounded the Concert Gate, they will sail direct to Wellington which reduces their distance to finish by some 700 miles. As the yachts are fast approaching the Concert Gate, they will be thinking of the new strategy for the course to Wellington - whether to return to the southerly course on the great circle route which would be shorter but colder, or to stay on the present northerly course, which will have slightly flatter seas and warmer conditions. The main focus on board the yachts is speed, and the crew are continually trimming the sails and making sail changes as the weather differs. Global Teamwork reported that in one 24 hour period she made nine sail changes which involved the majority of the crew. In such a close match, they cannot wait until watch change-overs to change the sails as this would result in crucial miles being lost, therefore crew members off-watch have to woken up. The crew work in two watches, each of 6 people. The daytime is split into a 6 hour watch, while the nights are 4 hours. When the crews are not changing sails, according to Global Teamwork, only two people are on deck for 30 minutes at a time as it is too cold to spend any longer. Commercial Union said that her last 24 hours had not only been met with 40-50 knot winds, and huge rollers sending spray and solid water across the deck, but the discomfort was heightened by "razor like sleet and hail lashing any facial skin that was not able to be protected by goggles and scarfs". After 3Com's misfortune of losing her forestay, she was extremely grateful to hear that the Race Committee had shortened the course. She is currently sailing with her full main, no.1 Yankee and staysail, and the crew is already looking forward to receiving beers in Wellington from the rest of the fleet "based on this small fortune". The following reports sum up the crew's feelings towards the shortened course: Report received from Commercial Union at 08:58 hrs GMT on 14 December: "The decision to shorten the leg was a water shed for the crew and the weather. Winds immediately eased, the sun's rays seemed to warm and there were noticeably more smiling faces". Report received from Group 4 at 08:36 hrs GMT on 14 December: "Yippee, have at last passed waypoint Charlie! Seems like we have been heading towards it for so long and the last 100 miles have taken forever! Not it is on to New Zealand and only 2,666 miles left to go! Report received from Heath Insured at 08:18 hrs GMT on 14 December: "Good sailing yesterday with sun and tonight it is quieter with a beautiful star filled sky - a sight we haven't seen for a while. Yesterday was filled with the good news of sailing straight to Wellington especially for the bunk-bound, smiles all round"! For updated information on the BT Global Challenge : Internet site : http://www.btchallenge.com Fax database : 0990 321123 (+44 990 321123 from outside UK) Recorded telephone information line : 0891 505550 (UK only) Public enquiry bureau : 01703 212124 (+44 1703 212124 from outside UK) Ceefax page 388 (UK) |
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