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Race news reports will be posted at midday Monday - Friday during the Sydney stopover BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - "CREWS NEWS" NEW LEGGERS NEWS AND VIEWS Friday 21st February 1997 There was an abundance of new crew and leggers (people who take part for one or more legs) during the third leg of the BT Global Challenge, taking part for a variety of reasons. The leggers ranged from managers, chairmen and presidents of the yacht sponsors to journalists and doctors. As fresh blood to the race, they each had their own opinion of sailing in the yacht race for the first time and some of them gave us their views. Crew volunteer and Motorola legger Ben Challis reflects on his experiences on the last leg. "I am a complete novice sailor, so taking part in this leg was a real mixture of highs and lows. The race start was extremely tense with so many boats in such a small harbour." When the leggers join the yachts, they have to fit in with a crew which has already moulded, which has been together through the highs and the lows of some of the roughest conditions any team will experience together. For a new legger this could be a real problem. Ben speaks about the hardest things he found. "In some ways it was difficult to be part of the crew who knew the boat inside and out, having spent the best part of three months racing, and I have to say that I didn't really know what was going on after having spent only two days on the boat in Wellington. I quickly had to learn the boat terminology and was given a job to look after a "runner" and a "winch" at the start." The physical adjustments for leggers can be hard. Motorola reported on one new legger's nightmare of failing to complete a sail trim by watch change. "An un-named legger subsequently appeared at the next watch change with, bleeding fingers, needle puncture wounds to his hands and perspiring freely and obviously exhausted, but with a brimming smile of satisfaction from ear to ear for pleasing the master mariner of Motorola." Dr Alan Rudge, Deputy Chief Executive, BT, joined Global Teamwork for leg three. This decision to take part was based on the belief that he felt he could hardly encourage others to do something he wasn't willing to do himself. "It encapsulated everything possible - all kinds of conditions, from 45 knot winds to being becalmed, and it was just as hard as leg two (Rio de Janeiro - Wellington, including going round Cape Horn), except that it was warmer. All the boats were so close together in this 1,250 mile race so every sail change really counted." As a keen sailor himself, Dr Rudge had an interesting benchmark from which to compare the experience. "It wasn't exactly fun, in fact it was jolly hard work, and in the Cook Strait it was very uncomfortable - I was seasick for 8 hours, and others were sick for much longer. It takes some courage to keep working and go on watch when you're feeling seasick." He continues, "It really tested me, and it gives you an idea of what your limits are, and whether you can go beyond them. For example, when you have to get up in the middle of the night to go on watch and you're feeling tired and your muscles are aching, to have to pull on oilies and go up on deck takes some doing. But if you can get through it, you get a marvellous sense of achievement, and your confidence grows. Besides when you're sailing on a racing yacht like Global Teamwork, it's teamwork that makes the boat faster. Your effort combined with that of your fellow crew members is what makes the difference, and you get a good deal of satisfaction when you're all pulling together to achieve the same goal. Kevin Smyth, a New Zealand crew volunteer on Motorola, was a new addition to the yacht on leg three. After only two days at sea, he already had thoughts on his new life, "a predominantly British crew with a couple of Brazilians met me with a lovely, positive and encouraging welcome, which were my first impressions, and to date these have has been reinforced, even with the competitive edge that the crew seem to maintain during the day and on into the night." He too recognises the importance of teamwork, "Fickle weather and wind changes has seen a varied amount of sea and hard work but I it has certainly made me realise that some tasks, which seem difficult, are achievable with mutual support from crew members." Often the addition of new crew members can add the lift that an already established crew needs. They can also be the cause of much amusement. When Ben Challis took over the chat show he had the fleet in stiches. He reported, like all other boats, that they had seen a shark. Ben's shark however jumped on board and helped the crew jibe the spinnaker. Crew legger Janet Tipper, on Pause to Remember also caused a stir with her antics. When Janet was unable to bear going any longer without a shower, the remaining crew of Pause to Remember, more than used to going without showers for weeks on end, saw a chance to cash in. A new currency surfaced on Pause to Remember and a shower could be purchased from a fellow crew member for around $20. The result was one clean crew volunteer and 13 other rich people. But how did the leggers react to their first experience of sailing in a yacht race? When asked if they would join the yacht race again, Ben Challis, Motorola was not very enthusiastic, "No, I don't thing so. I really enjoyed it, had a fantastic seven days, I learned a huge amount, but for myself the lows were really low and I think that the majority of the other leggers would say the same thing." However sailing isn't totally out of the question, says Ben "Definitely - I would love to. I would race again, perhaps the Fastnet race, but certainly not a five week leg or anything like that!..." Dr Alan Rudge on the other hand seemed to have enjoyed the experience, "Yes, I certainly would. When the crew of Global Teamwork sail off on the next leg, I know I shall wish that I was going with them!" 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 only) |
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