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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - SAILING CAUTIOUSLY TOWARDS CHRISTMAS Southampton, Sunday December 22nd 1996 The sea and weather conditions of the Southern Ocean combined with rigging problems continue to test the fleet of the BT Global Challenge, and the fourteen identical yachts are now sailing towards Wellington with understandable caution. The tone of the second leg of the race is reported to have altered somewhat; instead of pushing so hard and trying constantly to improve yacht positions, the skippers and crew are now sailing with prudence, to minimise risk and ensure a safe passage to New Zealand, which is still 1187 miles away for front runners Group 4. The weather is relatively good, with winds speeds dropping to 35 knots, but further gales are expected. On board Courtaulds International, the crew enjoyed a brief sunny interlude and took advantage of the improved conditions to dry out their foul weather gear and thermal clothing for the first time in weeks, and New Zealand crew member and Courtaulds employee Melissa Bray broke out an early Christmas present - a book full of colour photographs of Wellington and the surrounding area, which set her fellow crew members dreaming. Fleet leader Group 4 continued to speed ahead, and at 07.50 hrs GMT today she had a 39 mile lead over Save the Children. Toshiba Wave Warrior is in third place, and Global Teamwork is some 54 behind her in fourth place, reporting 3 broken strands at the back of her forestay. Group 4 has been sailing through a storm that has lasted an estimated 20 hours so far, with very rough conditions, huge, confused seas, winds touching 42 knots and waves crashing over the beam. Early sail changes and other precautionary measures are being taken as she continues to ride it out, hoping that tomorrow brings lighter winds and renewed peace of mind. Heath Insured II made a dramatic detour towards the north while her skipper and crew carried out some rigging maintenance work, but she is now back on course and heading in the same direction as the rest of the fleet. Skipper Adrian Donovan has been working hard to fix Heath Insured II's forestay, which is reported to have 5 broken strands, and his crew have been encouraging him with cups of tea and bowls of hot porridge; according to their daily report, "we're sailing again in the right direction with mainsail and headsails, feeling positive... we all remain cheerful and just looking forward to NZ." On board Nuclear Electric, currently lying in 8th place, spirits - and smells - are high. Journalist and crew member Simon Montague says "after nearly 5 weeks at sea, there is a unique blend of crew and culinary aromas on board... top of the pongs are the rubber divers' gloves, worn by most of the crew in the freezing conditions on deck. These seal at the wrist, which means the pungent smell is incubated and matured while outside, then released once the wearer returns to the unventilated confines below. The overpowering stench of sweat, salt and substances too vile to describe send crew members reeling, set gas alarms sounding and have albatrosses peeling away from our wake in horror. Wellington welcomes you, we hear. Are they sure?" Concert, who lost her mast earlier this week, continues to motor-sail under jury rig. She took fuel from Time and Tide early this morning, and Time and Tide skipper James Hatfield reported that "they all look well, and the rig is very inventive - top marks to them." Concert is presently heading for the Chatham Islands, some 1250 miles away, where she plans to refuel before continuing on to Wellington, where a replacement mast and rigging will await her. Before they reach their next port of call however, the BT Global Challenge skippers and crew volunteers will spend an unusually wet and windy Christmas at sea. All are looking forward to reaching New Zealand safe and well after the trials and tribulations of this second leg, as summed up by a crew member on Commercial Union : "Wellington and the prospect of showers, cold New Zealand white wine, fresh fruit and 8 hours of sleep beckons... all we want for Christmas is a mast that stays standing and 14 Challenge yachts, with all our friends, safe in Wellington as soon as possible." Pause to Remember's skipper Tom O'Connor is also a Captain in the Irish Air Corps, and his training with the Defence Forces seems to be reflected in his management of his crew, one of whom sent the following light-hearted report, based on a well-known Christmas carol : "on the twelfth day of Christmas, my skipper said to me : go clean the heads, change the headsail, reef in, reef out, wash the dishes, pump the bilges, repair the wheel, sew the sails, cook in the galley, write the log, bake a cake, go up the mast and trim, trim, trim!" For updated information on the BT Global Challenge : Internet site : http://www.btchallenge.com Fax database : 0990 321123 (+44 990 321123 from outside UK) Public enquiry bureau : 01703 212124 (+44 1703 212124 from outside UK) Recorded telephone information line : 0891 505550 (UK only) Ceefax page 388 (UK only) |
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