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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - THUNDER STORM AND EXCELLENT WINDS PUSH YACHTS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE Southampton (UK), Monday 3rd March 1997 At 07:50 hrs GMT on Monday 3rd March 1997, the fleet of the BT Global Challenge was storming ahead at the entrance to the Bass Strait, between Tasmania and mainland Australia. Group 4 has moved into the lead only two miles ahead of Toshiba Wave Warrior and Courtaulds International has maintained a strong position, lying in third place only a mile behind Toshiba Wave Warrior. The fleet is still very tightly packed with only 36 miles between the leader and Global Teamwork who are at present lying in 14th place. Many of the yachts are racing neck and neck. Skipper Andy Hindley, Save the Children describes it as, "the tightest global match race you'll ever see." Most yachts reported sailing with their full spinnaker hoisted, with a combination of No. 1 Yankee and staysail, in south-easterly winds of between 10 - 20 knots. Last night the yachts sailed through a storm, experiencing heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Heath Insured II writes, "never known such wet rain, the lightning was spectacular." The weather conditions were a brief re-welcome to the types of seas they can expect on this leg, making sail changes hard work. Humphrey Walters, crew volunteer on Ocean Rover described the conditions, "We had a hard night last night dropping the big kite and then hoisting both foresails. We then had to take the staysail down and the foredeck was its usual unhospitable self. We were also short- handed due to seasickness, so people were bouncing around getting washed down the deck." Time & Tide skipper, James Hatfield, described sailing last night in heavy rain and winds northeast to east gusting up to 30 knots, with a south to southeast swell. He wrote of the thunder storm, "the sky all around us is constantly being lit up by the flashes of millions of volts of electricity which momentarily blind the helm." Many of the yachts have steered to the east where they have reported picking up favourable and fast currents, whereas others are hugging the coast. Global Teamwork and Toshiba Wave Warrior headed east as they sailed down the coast of Australia, only then to turn back into the coast. Group 4 writes "We are sticking to our track about 30 miles out from the coast. Global Teamwork and Toshiba Wave Warrior both headed way out east once we were out of Sydney, whilst the rest of the fleet trucked south with flanker flying. They then worked way back into the coast, but for Global Teamwork it doesn't seem to have paid off. They are currently at the back of the fleet, which is untypical of Merfyn (Owen, skipper Global Teamwork) and leaves us puzzling why?" Save the Children are also pondering Global Teamwork's tactics, skipper Andy writes, "Five of us went in shore to start, then swapped sides, of course with all the others. Only Merfyn continues to confound us, by sailing backwards and forwards across the ocean. The changing conditions are warranting relentless sail changes. Commercial Union reported that yesterday they blew their spinnaker and will be enjoying the pleasures of the sewing circle. Ciara Scott, crew volunteer, Toshiba Wave Warrior writes, "The wind speed and direction constantly changed, we dropped the flanker and hoisted out headsail. Early this morning following a short increase in wind speed, we changed to a smaller headsail, only to notice a torn seam in the sail we had dropped. One crew member (ie. me!) spent the next couple of hours laboriously hand sticking the seam back together, so the sail was ready to use again before the wind decreased." Once again all yachts are reporting crew volunteers down with seasickness and many are hoping that they return to good health before they reach the Southern Ocean. The crews are still waiting in anticipation as they draw nearer to those tempestuous seas. Commercial Union write, "Too bad about what's waiting just around the Tasmanian corner. All eyes are towards Cape Town and the end for most of the horrors of the southern ocean." Heath Insured II also write, "There is apprehension about the Southern Ocean, for we know what lies ahead. On the other hand the majority of us will never come back here again so we have to make the most of it." Calling all Medics with Sailing Experience As the fleet heads for the Southern Ocean, on this the toughest leg of the race, only one berth remains available for the race from Cape Town (South Africa) back to Southampton (UK), via Boston (USA). The Challenge Business are currently looking for a Qualified Doctor or Nurse who would like to take part in the world's toughest yacht race should contact Helen Wybrow on 01579 348387, fax 01579 347255, e-mail 101372.150@compuserve.com. 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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