| ||||||||||||
|
BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - HEATH INSURED II TAKE AN EARLY LEAD Southampton (UK), Sunday 9th February 1997 At 03:58 hrs GMT (16:58 hrs local time) Heath Insured II retook the lead of the BT Global Challenge from Save the Children, to forge a path forward also passing Nuclear Electric. The race had been closely fought out of Wellington harbour between these yachts and Group 4. By 09:58 hrs she had managed to maintain her lead, with Nuclear Electric close behind. Pause to Remember had climbed to 3rd place who were battling it out neck and neck with Save the Children (4th position). The fleet is still very tightly packed with only ten miles separating the front and back yachts as they beat to windward. At the back of the fleet is Motorola (11th), Ocean Rover (12th), Courtaulds International (13th), whilst Time & Tide has dropped back into 14th position from 6th overnight. At approximately 01:58 hrs GMT the yachts were on their way to passing the Thoms Rock Waypoint, a point they had to pass to starboard. At this point Nuclear Electric was in the lead, with Heath Insured II in 2nd place, Commercial Union (3rd) and Save the children (4th). By the time the yachts had passed Brothers Islands, an outcrop of islands in the Cook Strait, off the South Island (New Zealand), Heath Insured II had moved up to first position. The first message came in from Global Teamwork at 07:48 hrs GMT, who had just completed their radio schedule to the other yachts as duty yacht. "All in great form - enjoyed the start, very close racing and exciting. Strange but everyone seems quite glad this is a short leg - too long on land, maybe! Or the fact we seem to have returned directly to the Southern Ocean! Great wind and waves out here - all completely soaked already! Still good to be back." All the yachts seem to have relished the exciting sailing they experienced in the first few hours of the race. The adrenaline was flowing as they returned to sea after six weeks on land and this was reflected in the fast and furious, competitive sailing that emerged. Rainer Seifert, German crew volunteer on Pause to Remember tells it as it was. Message received at 09:11: 07 hrs GMT: "What a start! Fourteen large boats doing a round-the-cans race in Lambton Harbour. It was very tight at times. Just after the start before the first mark we were surrounded by yachts and only a metre behind Concert's stern, with no way to manoeuvre. The first call for water was due and it wasn't the last one. At the 2nd mark we had a close encounter with Save the Children and at the 4th mark, under spinnaker, we nearly touched Ocean Rover. It was a fantastic but hectic start, and very exciting not only for the many followers." Pause to Remember has made a lot of new friend in New Zealand among the RSA and Mana Cruising Club. As they passed the town of the Seatoun RSA (Returned Services Association) the RSA fired three guns in tribute to Pause to Remember to whom the crew give their thanks. "Thanks very much again for all your support". Meanwhile the crew of Toshiba Wave Warrior were reajusting to life on the ocean waves. Message received at 10:51:54 hrs GMT: "Being back at sea is something of a rude awakening...after 6 weeks on land, you forget how even the simplest tasks demand huge physical effort...like getting out of bed (oops - I mean bunks!), getting dressed in layers of clothing after 6 weeks in shorts etc." On board Toshiba Wave Warrior is the BBC1 newspresenter Michael Buerk, whose first experience of real yacht racing seems somewhat of a cold, sharp shock. They write "We are joined this leg by Michael Buerk, the newscaster, and some of the shocks he is experiencing in this his first offshore sail and first ever nightsail remind us what old seadogs we have become and how we accept some of the challenges we face without question." Pause to Remember this morning reported a wind speed of 21 knots, which should mean the yachts are experiencing quite choppy seas. Weather conditions which have thrown the crews straight back into demanding conditions. Sea sickness it seems is once again rife and in the message at 11:48:51 hrs GMT sent by James Hatfield, skipper of Time and Tide he jokes, "windy, wet and can only assume crew do not like fresh food!!!" For information on the start of leg 3, please see leg 3 archived news reports.. 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. |