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EDS Atlantic Challenge - Into the wind on Leg 5

by Event Press 16 Aug 2001 16:44 BST

The EDS Atlantic Challenge fleet has punched through the front and found fresh southerly winds on the eastern side. Kingfisher still leads.

All of the yachts participating in Leg 5 of the EDS Atlantic Challenge have broken through a stationary front off the New England coast, and found fresh wind blowing from the south on the other side. It is a relief after almost two days of fickle conditions that had the yachts at times beating into strong headwinds, and at times drifting in light downwind conditions. The only constant seems to have been the torrential rain associated with the front.

“We have just received more rain in the last hour than we have in the entire race so far,” said Josh Hall, skipper of Gartmore on a satellite phone call. The sound of raindrops pounding on the deck could be heard in the background. The same was about to happen to Kingfisher. “We are heading right into a big squall,” said skipper Nick Moloney. “We have been dodging squalls all morning and can expect to get 20-25 knots of wind out of this next one.” Commanders Weather, the experts who provide the yachts with daily weather forecasts predict that the fleet will sail into clear conditions sometime later today and will “ride the strong southwesterly winds, up to 30-40 knots at times, later today and into Friday.”

The two yachts that took the southern option, Sill Plein Fruit and Fila were the first to find the new wind, and reduced the deficit on the leader Kingfisher from as much as 70 miles yesterday, to just 12 this morning. As they sail in stronger winds that deficit might well be reduced to nothing on a distance to go basis, but Moloney is confident in his position. “At some point all the boats are going to have to head north,” he said. “The great circle course is still very much a northerly course at this point. We are still the northernmost boat and we expect to see all the boats fall into line behind us.” That seems to be the sentiment held by all the skippers. Once the wind has swung into the southwest as forecast, there will be few passing lanes through the weekend. It will be a boat speed race, and one that should favour the Finot boats, Gartmore and Ecover. “We are happy with our position,” said Mike Golding, skipper of Ecover. “We know that we have speed downwind and now that all the boats are into the new breeze and we are to the north of most of them, I feel that we are well placed.”

In a slight diversion from the intense racing, Kingfisher noted a lot of sea life and a beach ball floating nearby. When the helmsman altered course to pass close to the ball he received a sharp rebuke from navigator Adrienne Callahan who said, “That’s nice darlings, 70-80 degree true wind angle please.” The first yachts are expected to finish in St. Malo by August 25. The EDS Atlantic Challenge website www.edsatlanticchallenge.com is an innovative and interactive resource for rankings and breaking news.

Boat Positions:

At 10:50 GMT, on a distance to finish (DTF) reading, the positions were as follows:

PosBoatSkipperNatDTF / DTL
1stKingfisherNick MoloneyUK2563 miles
2ndSill Plein FruitRoland JourdainFRDTF + 12 miles
3rdEcoverMike GoldingUKDTF + 14 miles
4thFilaAndréa ScarabelliITDTF + 19 miles
5thGartmoreJosh HallUKDTF + 31 miles
6thAlphagraphicsHelena DarvelidSWEDTF + 48 miles

Radio Interview Extracts:

Nick Moloney, Kingfisher. “There has been a lot of wildlife around, but I expect that we will see less of it now that the wind has picked up. The sea life usually dives deep when the ocean is choppy.”

Helena Darvelid, AlphaGraphics. “We are exactly where we wanted to be. The middle of the pack. Now we are looking forward to some fast sailing with a spinnaker up.”

Josh Hall, Gartmore. “Yesterday we were sailing right near Ecover. They seemed to get a wind break that we did not and before we knew it they were over the horizon ahead of us.”

Mike Golding, Ecover. “I think we had a better wind angle than Gartmore which is why we got away. It seems to have paid. This morning we are almost 20 miles ahead of them. ”

More Information:

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