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01/05/2001 - Day 6: News | [Print] [Close] |
DAY 6 - Navigation is the Key Today
News - Friday, 01/05/2001, 2:00 PM GMT
| Position | 01/05/2001 5 PM GMT |
| 1st | Innovation Explorer (sailing more southerly, therefore closer to the route) |
| 2nd | Club Med (17.4 nm for leader. Going south, behind Innovation Explorer. Has the fastest boat speed at 18 knots) |
| 3rd | Team Adventure 142 nm from the leader. went west, after the wind. Picked up great wind, boat speed of 14.3 knots. Turning south in pursuit) |
| 4th | Warta Polpharma (350 nm from leader. approaching the atlantic, making slow progress at 8 knots) |
| 5th | PlayStation (353 nm from the leader. Approaching the Atlantic, sailing west. Catching up lost distance) |
| 6th | Team Legato (501 nm from the leader. In Gibraltar for repairs and 48 hr layover. Due to leave 1 PM GMT Sunday) |
Navigational skills are really the story today. The hunt for wind continues, Team Adventure went west, Club Med and Innovation Explorer went south.
Positions may be deceiving, as this is due to the tacking. The head of the fleet has to debate between either going south for the more direct route, or to the west in hope of the wind coming from the north west. Going west, one loses contact with the other boats, it is a gamble.
Boat speeds at the top of the fleet are almost the same: Innovation Explorer has the best speed of 12.4 knots in the puffs and 9.4 knots average speed in a south westerly wind. Going west may be away from the direct route, but is heading towards the wind shift, from the north west. They will reach this different wind by evening.
Innovation Explorer has now turned back west. This changes the positioning. Team Adventure is now in the lead, and both Team Adventure Club Med are holding a course south-southwest towards the Canaries.
Ok Team Adventure has arrived into the wind, and has now headed south.
Wind strengths will increase tonight to 20 knots and continues to build. This will be hard on the maxi-cats as they do not go well upwind in harsher conditions - the key will be to conserve the boats.
Warta-Polpharma left at 1:15 PM Thursday and is heading for the Atlantic, after leaving Gibraltar. PlayStation is bearing down on her fast.
There has been conflicting news on all sites and news about Team Legato. My impression is that this is caused by those monitoring boat position and speed, thinking she was leaving Gibraltar when in fact she was arriving. She must undergo repairs and sit out the 48 hr penalty. Estimated departure is Sunday at 1 PM GMT.
PlayStation's 48 hour penalty is over and left Gibraltar at 6:15 PM Thursday. She is hoping for better conditions as she sails down the Moroccan coast. The light air being experienced by the Ollier fleet may give a chance to PlayStation, Warta-Polpharma and Team Legato to catch up. PlayStation us now using her North Sails Spectra, the original sales, and took on some spare head sails.
Weather conditions
An area of high pressure around the Canary Islands, which lie on the most direct route, is causing light headwinds. So the crews must choose a middle way between heading out to sea to find stronger winds and sticking to the direct route and running the risk of getting becalmed.
Living Aboard
Food is typically freeze dried, to reduce weight.
Watches are usually 4 hour shifts, 4 on and 4 off. The 4 off are usually sleeping.
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