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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - YACHTS BATTLE FOR BOSTON Southampton (UK) Wednesday 4th June 1997 As the yachts of the BT Global Challenge fleet battle towards Boston, the weather forecast promises more changeable weather. With the high pressure system expected to be maintained east of Cuba and a new low pressure system moving north east from Florida, the back markers can expecte some frustrating conditions as the leading yachts pick up speed in the new system. Group 4 has yet again capitalised on her position and has extended her lead over Motorola by 36 miles in the last 24 hours. With arrival times now posted on the internet, the competition amongst the yachts is to beat their expected time and party for longer in Boston. Lucy Fleming, a crew volunteer aboard Motorola, sums up the crew's feelings: "Spirits are high and hirsute cheeks developing on board Motorola as we speed our way onwards towards Cape Cod and Boston, now only 700 miles ahead. Chay's advice of trim, trim, trim has been taken very seriously and heeded in more ways than we imagined. On-watch hours are spent tweaking and adjusting to achieve the best trim and maximum speed." Courtaulds International, lying west of the fleet and in third position, has improved her performance over the last 24 hours by 35 miles, despite losing 26 miles to Motorola. Courtaulds International's skipper Boris Webber writes: " As we approach Bermuda and into the final 1,000 miles the excitement and anxiety intensify. The excitement because we are still in third place but anxious to know how the other yachts are doing. The ever changing weather patterns are making this leg critical factor, one day there is good wind and the next there is none. At times, the maximum concentration is required to keep up the average speed. However the positions can change as quickly as the wind and the regular position updates are all the more urgent as the entire crew want to know how we are doing against our nearest rivals. Yesterday started slowly with little wind and we watched the gap between us widen, but with the weather charts not showing an isobar within 500 miles, it's not easy knowing where they are getting the wind. However by the evening the clouds returned and through the night the wind has built until now we are back sailing at full speed and so have maintained our third place. Whatever happens now, it looks as if the pressure will remain until the finishing line is crossed." Save the Children, Toshiba Wave Warrior and Commercial Union are all out on the eastern side of the fleet and are all benefiting from 20 knots of wind, cruising along at a steady 9.5 knots. Memories of the Southern Ocean come flooding back as the crew have to drop bad habits and remember to close cupboard doors, remove everything from the table and close hatches before the spray comes flooding in. Nuclear Electric, currently in 9th position, is battling hard to improve her position on the last 1,000 miles to Boston. Simon Montague, crew volunteer aboard Nuclear Electric writes: We are still closing on Global Teamwork and Commercial Union and opening the gap on Pause to Remember, Ocean Rover and Heath Insured II, so for the moment things are going our way. We're looking forward to an exciting last 1,000 miles into Boston." For the rest of the time, in light of the dwindling food supplies abroad, the crews are concentrating on how they intend to celebrate their arrival in to Boston. Simon Montague of Nuclear Electric again: If Boston thinks we're coming for a tea party they are sadly mistaken; we have in mind something that will make them want to bring back prohibition!!" 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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