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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - SAVE THE CHILDREN GAINS VALUABLE GROUND Southampton (UK), Saturday 10th May 1997 The fleet of the BT Global Challenge crossed the Tropic of Capricorn this morning on their way to Boston, USA, on the fifth leg of the round the world yacht race. The yachts are now abeam Rio de Janeiro, the first stopover visited on the race, and are fast approaching the Doldrums as they sail closer to the Equator and an area of high pressure. Already, changeable and light weather conditions have begun to appear. Many of the fleet are complaining of calm conditions. Today at 0815 GMT, Group 4, currently in second place, 5 miles behind the leader, Commercial Union, writes: "A grey, overcast and very muggy morning. The wind overnight has remained frustratingly light at 10 - 12 knots. Now and again an increase to 17 knots has us changing to the heavy spinnaker, ever hopeful that the wind is on the increase. But as soon as the kite is up then the wind dies away again and we peel back to the light spinnaker once again." Today at 0756 GMT, Save the Children had moved up into 3rd place after a radical decision to sail west. Two days ago this decision had left them in an area of high pressure, but it seems to have paid off as they have risen from 10th position to 3rd in just under 48 hours. Meanwhile the crew of Commercial Union are still ecstatic that they are in the lead. They write: " We were just dancing in the dark with our erstwhile partner, Group 4. She has now decided to become a wallflower and we now feel lost and all alone. Now we look forward to playing with the Kids or being in communion with Concert". The change in the weather has not been greeted with complaints by all the yachts.. Motorola crew volunteer Mark Baptist has a different opinion. "From being a damage limitation exercise on leg 4, yacht racing has become pleasurable once again. It is now easy to remember why we all signed up. It was not the cold or the fear, or the challenge of the Southern Ocean. It was the relaxing style of yacht racing only found in the tropics." However, warmer weather does bring new challenges. Mark explains, "how to keep the chocolate allowance cool enough, how to destroy maggots from the onions, how to stop the rather friendly fruit fly colony developing further amongst the remainder of the oranges, how much sun cream to put on, which part of the deck to lie on. The change to warmer weather seems to have lifted the crews' spirits. Forgotten are the hardships of previous legs as they focus on how to amuse themselves during the frustrating periods when the yachts are becalmed. The most popular past time it would seem, is the much loved sport of yacht baiting. This morning, Matthew Reeves, Pause to Remember crew volunteer writes: "The RSPCA is at this very moment sending a team of investigators to look into the apparent abandonment of a one year old puppy who went by the name of 'Rover'. It was last seen obediently at the heels of "Pause", but has now since disappeared over the horizon. The question to be answered is whether it was deliberately ditched, or whether it just couldn't handle the pace." The second favourite pastime is a crew celebrity lookalike competition. Matthew writes: "It started yesterday and it seems that the similarity is so great that there is no opportunity for another winner. We have a paper cutting showing the cast of Dad's Army, and our ex Lt Colonel and dentist, Henry Pritchard is the spitting image of John Le Masurier (Sergeant Wilson). The theme tune to Dad's Army is thus the most whistled tune on board. Courtaulds International who are lying in 6th place, are also experiencing calm weather and only 12 knots of wind. Crew volunteer Suse Goulder reports that the most popular hobby on their yacht is daydreaming. "We sit and study pictures of super yachts in Yachting World, drooling over their bathrooms, fridges etc, and it isn't hot yet. Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn was greeted with the stripping of shirts and donning of sunglasses, even though it was dark and temperatures were nearer to London in February." However, behind the joviality of the crews there is really a sheer determination to work as hard as possible for the best results. The yachts continue to race, vying for the best position, and deciding on the best tactical moves. Ciara Scott, crew volunteer on Toshiba Wave Warrior concludes: "Light airs continue to be frustrating, and each watch is a medley of peels and gybes - we're constantly kept busy on deck and keeping a watchful eye on the wind direction and speed to promptly call the next manoeuvre and gain some distance on our opponents"" 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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