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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - COMMERCIAL UNION LEADS THE FLEET Southampton (UK), Friday May 9th 1997 Skipper Richard Merriweather and the crew of yacht Commercial Union were reported to be delighted today when the early morning poll showed that the BT Global Challenge had a new fleet leader. Crew volunteer Nick Auger wrote in yacht's daily report : "wonderful news when the morning results arrived - first place! Crew are ecstatic." Richard commented : "after twenty thousand miles of sailing this has been a long time coming but well deserved. We knew we had it in us and it will be here for a long time to come." This is the first time that Commercial Union has ever lead the fleet, her previous best position being third. However, it remains to be seen how long Commercial Union can hang to on the top slot; the yacht data charts of 07.54 hrs GMT today show her as having a DTF (distance to finish) figure identical to that of Group 4, meaning that the two yachts are within very close distance of each other (their longitude and latitude positions are different, but the computer rounds up DTF calculations giving them both 5,678 miles to sail to Boston). For the rest of the fleet, progress is slow. In sixth place this morning, Courtaulds International reports : "all quiet here - still trim, trim, trim to hang on in there. Playing guessing games with the weather and watching everyone else very carefully. Kite gybes and peels have to be done with the utmost care to try to preserve our sails for the rest of the leg, a nerve-wracking time for all of us." Yesterday Toshiba Wave Warrior (3rd place) and Concert (4th place) parted ways, with the former sailing west and the latter diverting east, although neither has appeared to make significant gains, and today both appear to have returned to their original courses. Meanwhile Save the Children has made good ground overnight (a total of 23 miles in twelve hours), bringing them up from 10th to 5th position this morning. Heath Insured II has slipped back a place in light winds ("it's disappointing to see other boats draw ahead but we've all got a long way to go", writes medic Sally Stewart), while Nuclear Electric continues in the bottom half of the fleet, battling with fickle winds : "it is tedious to be making slow progress for hour after hour. The wind hops back between south east and south west, ensuring that whichever gybe we're on, it is the right one for only half the time. The ocean is flat and barren, with not on bird accompanying us, nor the fin of a single shark or dolphin breaking the surface" reports journalist and crew member Simon Montague. Only 78 miles separate the front runner from back marker 3Com, whose crew is busy repairing torn sails. Today they report that they have managed to patch together two shredded spinnakers to make one that can be flown while they work on the other sails. Almost 200 miles separate the fleet from east to west, and over the last few days the yachts to the west have benefitted from better winds, but the forecast indicates that the situation could be reversed over the next few days. Caught in the middle and sailing to the west of Group 4 is Toshiba Wave Warrior, a yacht which is currently second overall in the race and which has been a very consistent performer within the fleet. Core crew member Jo Dawson makes an interesting observation in her daily report today : "We remind ourselves frequently that we are a serious racing crew and have made sacrifices all round to keep the boat light and competitive. It was apparent in Cape Town (the previous race stopover) that only three crews appeared to be working on the yacht the whole time. Other yachts were deserted for weeks on end except for the shore-based maintenance team. It is worth noting that those three boats are in the leading pack, where they have been for most of the race to date. It is not just a coincidence!" 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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