Archipelago Raid 2006 - Day 3
by Simon Keijzer 28 Jun 2006 22:48 BST
Close racing in superb conditions on day three of the Archipelago Raid 2006 © Th. Martinez
Close racing in superb conditions through the unknown beauty
The British Will Sunnucks and Mark Self are back in the race with a double win today. The experienced Eric Proust and Gerard Navarin (FRA) were breathing down the Brits’ neck all day. These two teams were on fire and were always in striking distance of each other during both legs today. The Dutch on Yamaha Blue claimed their first podium place in leg 5, showing their skill in these tough reaching conditions. Team Sogeti successfully defended its first position in the overall ranking by finishing fourth and sixth today. The competitors are now recovering in Lappo in the Åland Archipelago for a few hours. The restart of leg 6 will be at 03.00 hours CET.
At ten o’clock this morning the 21 remaining teams in the Archipelago Raid started leg 4 in Nagu Finland. Team Tidermans (SWE) won the start and were leading the first beat. But soon the fast Formula 18-cats had the wind more from behind and the competitors were treated on a long spectacular jib-reach. In other word perfect sailing conditions. The sun came out and the wind increased to 18 knots. The two Brits of Team X-Leisure took over the lead from Eric Proust (FRA) and Tidermans. The English managed to win the leg in style.
Several boats capsized during the fast reach. Number two in the overall ranking, Team Sundvalls Byg (Ekman/Tempelman SWE) took too many risks and performed a perfect nosedive, followed by a standard capsize. Team SPP (Bjorn Hansen/Tore Lewander SWE) did the same. At that time the catamarans were blasting along the in the Finland Archipelago around 20 knots. The finish was on a beach on an uninhabited island called Fårö. Leader in the ranking Team Sogeti finished fourth. With that this team is still in the lead but.
Mark Self (Team X-Leisure) was on the beach while his skipper was doing the navigation for the next leg. He likes the windy conditions. “If the wind stays we are good! But if the paddles come out,…. oh my god! This reach was great, sometimes a bit on the edge, but I’m very happy with the win.”
On this wilderness island the teams got a break for one hour. The competitors were handed out the new positions of the next checkpoints and finish. The start of leg 5 was executed in Le Mans style. With all the cats parked on the beach and one crew that had to run for the boat and push it off to get going. Fastest of the beach was team Sogeti (Woxen SWE/ Foxall IRL) and Yamaha Blue (Larsen/Geest NED)
The second leg of the day offered the fleet more close reaching in winds between 15 and 20 knots. After three days of racing the spinnakers came out for the first time with all the crews in double trapeze for the duration of the leg.
Please see www.archipelagoraid.com for more news, the ranking and Live Tracker.