Vic - Maui Yacht Race - Into high gear

INTO HIGH GEAR

Leaders GRAND ILLUSION and RENEGADE really cranked up the pace in the last 24 hours. With the fleet reporting winds from 12 to 22 knots, and the High up to 1037mb, the big, fast boats have taken off. They are well and truly in their own league now. Today they averaged around 13-14 knots (doubling the speed of most boats in the fleet) and logged daily distances of 348 and 321 miles respectively. This is more than 100 miles more than the others in Class A (SHOW ME and MIDNIGHT SPECIAL) sailing further North. GRAND ILLUSION's extraordinary run today puts her about 100 miles ahead of RENEGADE. Her predicted ETA in Lahaina is now 0735 July 6, and at this pace she will eclipse PYEWACKET's record for the Vic-Maui. RENEGADE is predicted to arrive at 1930 the same day.

The tussle between JOIA, FARR-ARI and PURSUIT in Class B continues. These boats are sailing quite close to each other. At roll-call, JOIA was 3 miles ahead of FARR-ARI, which was 11 miles in front of PURSUIT. The leaders in Class C are still doing well in fleet standings (based on corrected time). While NIGHT RUNNER, TURICUM and WINDS OF TIME presently line up in this order in class, they also hold third, fourth and fifth positions overall. Doug Fryer on NIGHT RUNNER set a previous Vic-Maui record sailing MERLIN in 1978, and is having a great race again this year. ORIOLE continues to lead Class C and the fleet. Her daily run of 209 miles was second only to the two rocket-ships out front. She is now half-way there. PRAIRIE VOYAGER (141 miles back) is second in class D, and DREAM CATCHER lies third.

Crews keep amassing memories. SHOW ME had crew up the mast twice to repair a mainsail flag system. They also spent time picking squid off the deck. PENDRAGON III reports passing within 50 yards of a deadhead last night. This really offers food for thought when you consider how fast these boats are travelling in the dark. And speaking of food, PRAIRIE VOYAGER had fresh bread on board yesterday, FASTRACK caught its first tuna, and the crew on DARBY thanks NIGHT RUNNER for a delicious dessert pack delivered prior to their departure. TURICUM spotted a spare rudder with more barnacles on it than their bottom.

And of course today is the Fourth of July. Messages from SHOW ME, WINDS OF TIME and from Uwe Schulz on TETHRA are just some of many greetings to American friends on Independence Day. WINDS OF TIME are taking the rest of the day off to celebrate. FASTRACK reports that last night their American crew-member celebrated the event by exploding a large spinnaker. WINDSHADOWX would like their American friends to know they threw a teabag overboard to mark the occasion, but to respect the Englishman on board, they brewed tea with it first...this despite protestations from the Irishman in the crew.

Our Website address is www.vicmaui.org. Daily Race Reports can be found in its News Center/Daily Reports Section, and there is a Discussion Group in the News Centre/Discussion Group. Local television coverage will be on CHEKtv in Victoria and VTV in Vancouver during their evening news programs.