| ||||||||||||
|
BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - MOTOROLA STEALS SECOND PLACE OVERNIGHT Southampton (UK), Saturday 31st May 1997 Motorola's decision to take a more westerly course since the start of leg 5 is paying off. In the last 24 hours she has moved up another three places and was lying in second place, four miles ahead of Save the Children early today. Motorola will have to continue to maximise her position from the chasing yachts, as only 14 miles separate her from Global Teamwork, lying in fifth place. In the last 24 hours, Group 4's average boat speed has slowed down considerably due to the high pressure system, and yet she has improved her lead by as much as 84 miles over second placed yacht Motorola, who had the highest average boat speed of 9.4 knots. Rob Chatwin aboard Motorola describes the crew's delight of her new position: "The `ring road' tactic is in full glory of its second stage; minimising the effect of the North Atlantic High. The next couple of days will prove vital to assess the success of our strategy," he continues, "life on board is a real pleasure! The sailing is easy and being on deck for the entire watch is a real bonus. Off watch in the Southern Ocean was dominated by sleep. The Atlantic off watches are a joy! Much less sleep is needed giving the crew a lot of spare time to read, write and play." At 07:50 hrs today, Toshiba Wave Warrior and Commercial Union were still battling it out for 6th place, lying neck and neck. Courtaulds International is also a close contender for 6th place, having made an impressive 41 miles on the pair of them in the last 24 hours. Never has trimming been more important in these fickle winds, as Courtaulds International verifies, "in a fleet of identical yachts there is little to choose between the fastest and the slowest other than to constantly trim the sails." Although her skipper Boris Webber worked the crew hard through the Doldrums to give maximum performance, the results didn't pay off until yesterday when the winds started to favour her and not the leading yachts, allowing her to make up a considerable distance. She explains, "in this game the efforts are not always instantly rewarded but unless the maximum effort is applied at all times when the winds are kind to you and not the rest of the fleet, the rewards are dramatic. Now with raised spirits we double our efforts ready for the next favourable break and so keep up the pressure on the boats ahead, knowing that one more break could see us make up several places." Yesterday's close match racing between Nuclear Electric and Ocean Rover was won by Nuclear Electric who has widened her margin by as much 28 miles, and in doing so has pushed Heath Insured II into joint 12th place with Ocean Rover. Simon Montague aboard Nuclear Electric explained that this gain was "due to dogged determination and 36 hours of marginal reaching under the heavy spinnaker, which we will continue with for as long as the wind allows. Even though we are much further down the rankings than we would like, it is pleasing to see that we are regularly putting in amongst the highest mileages in the fleet, in what are as close to uniform weather conditions as one is likely to get." 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) |
 bt.com |
 |
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. |