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BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE - GROUP 4 AND MOTOROLA RACE AHEAD. Southampton (UK) Thursday 5th June 1997 As of 07:52 GMT this morning Group 4 was well ahead with 375 miles to go to Boston. However Motorola was catching up fast, having achieved a better 24 hr run than Group 4's by 18 miles, and having averaged 2 knots faster. The rest of the BT Global Challenge fleet are between 160 and 560 miles behind Motorola and are spread across a front of some 266 miles. The current weather forecast suggests a new low off to the west of the leaders which is moving in a northeasterly direction and directly into the path of the yachts. A high centre is expected over Boston for Saturday afternoon ensuring sunshine for the yachts expected arrival. Mike Golding, Group 4's skipper, describes the conditions aboard: "After a great day's run totalling 250 miles, we're still making good boat speed in winds of 30 knots, though right now we are battling with the effects of the Gulf Stream. Some 3 knots of current running against us has slowed us down dramatically reducing our speed over the ground to 7-8 knots. A huge swell is rolling us from side to side causing a rather unpleasant motion down below, making even simple tasks seem difficult. Having come close to the frontal system several times yesterday, we still believe we have yet to cross it. Weatherfaxes show it is rising and falling as it continues on its path eastwards. A fantastic lightning storm developed in the early hours of this morning continuing for hours and flashing all around. We believe the centre of the system is very close now, with the barometer reading 995. But looking beyond the front we see strong winds taking us all the way to Cape Cod." The majority of the BT Global Challenge fleet are enjoying 25 knot plus winds and for the first time since Cape Town. Pause to Remember with 862 miles to Boston and in 10th position is making the most of the wind as skipper Tom O'Connor writes: "Exciting sailing at last! After a month at sea and 6150 miles into this leg, the wind has picked up to a level where your heart misses an occasional beat, we even put in our first reef of the leg and although it was taken out an hour later this is very welcome stuff." Global Teamwork, Commercial Union and Nuclear Electric in 7th, 8th and 9th position respectively are enjoying some close racing with only 20 miles between them and recording almost exactly the same speeds and distances. Aboard Courtaulds International, French crew volunteer, Pierre Saint-Jours has been carrying out a medical experiment. Pierre is a general practitioner based in Perpignan (France), as well as an experienced sailor and on this leg is responsible for running an experiment designed to develop medical technology for the remote diagnosis and treatment of heart problems. Pierre selects a crew volunteer every day and takes electrocardiogram readings, which are then fed into the software programme and transmitted via BT's InmarSat - C system to other researchers and doctors working on the project. The purpose of this experiment is to further develop and refine the computer programme and electro-cardiogram equipment, with the aim of producing technology that can be used at sea and in other remote locations to diagnose heart problems. 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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