Taken from News Report on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 08:03 PM
Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth was the scene of a spectacular party last night – the crew party for the 200+ men and women who were celebrating the completion of their around the world adventure, The Global Challenge 2004/5.
There were mixed emotions for the crew with many feeling slightly lost now the whole adventure is over whilst others were over the moon and delighted to be back on dry land raring to get on with the next challenge, the race having inspired them on.
Prior to the Tiger Tiger soiree, the official prize-giving ceremony took place outside on a stunning, blazing hot summer’s day. Under the colossal and impressive Spinnaker Tower in Gunwharf Quays hundreds of crew, friends, families and well-wishers packed around the stage. The atmosphere was electric as Tracey Clarke and Alistair Hackett took to the stage to welcome the crews, sponsors, press and onlookers to the last prize giving of the Global Challenge 2004/05.
First off were the prizes for Leg 7 – La Rochelle to Portsmouth.
The BP Safety Award was awarded to Matt Riddell, skipper of Samsung who collected the first prize of the evening. The BG 24-hour Record Award was VAIO, who did 203.4 miles in 24 hours; skipper Amedeo Sorrentino collecting the trophy.
Next was the Pindar ‘First to Cross the Leg 7 Start Line’ prize which went to VAIO who win a day’s sail on the Pindar Open 60 for 3 crew.
The Unisys/EMC Media Prize for Best Daily Log was awarded to John Bass, BP Explorer for a very emotive log describing how the crew felt when they missed a mark and had to turn back, effectively ending any real chance they had to take anything higher than 3rd place in the race overall.
The Unisys/EMC Rubber Chicken Award for the most comical/unusual incident was awarded to John Quigley and Challenge Yacht 36 – the prototype 72ft Challenge yacht that made the trip from La Rochelle to Portsmouth with guests of Challenge Business on board. They were jokingly accused of crossing the start line early, missing all the marks of the course, disobeying the sailing instructions and deliberately receiving outside assistance!
Next was the Best Photograph Award sponsored by VAIO which was awarded to a photograph made possible by the change to the course by the Race Committee to include a rounding of the Eddystone Lighthouse, an image of BG SPIRIT taken by SAIC La Jolla.
Next was the First Past Ushant Award sponsored by Carte Blanche, which was awarded to SAIC La Jolla.
Alistair Hackett then presented framed onEdition photographs to the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Robin Sparshatt, Druscilla Moody of Portsmouth City Council and Mike Davidson of Gunwharf Quays.
Next up were the awards for the first three teams to arrive in Portsmouth after yet another incredibly competitive leg, which ended in a tense run to the line in light winds.
The Third place for Leg Seven prize was presented to VAIO and second place went to Barclays Adventurer.
The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Robin Sparshatt then announced the leg winner, BG SPIRIT. Skipper Andy Forbes took the stage to receive the leg trophy for their dream homecoming into Portsmouth and said a few words thanking his team.
When the Leg 7 prizes had been awarded, the ceremony moved into the second stage – the overall prizes for the Global Challenge 2004/05.
The BP Overall Safety Award was awarded to the most consistent performer in the safety arena. Dee Caffari came to collect the prize on behalf of Imagine It. Done. who had received three of the seven leg BP Safety Awards.
The BG Overall 24-hour Record Award was awarded to Team Stelmar, who had the furthest 24 hour run of the entire race - 275.89 nmiles.
Best Overall Photograph Award sponsored by VAIO was presented to Giles Mackay of BP Explorer for a photo taken off Boston of a yacht becalmed, watching a competitor get away: a poignant reminder that light airs can, in some ways, be even more difficult to handle than the heaviest seas.
Next was the Sark Award for the Continual Development of a Global Challenge 2004/5 Crew Member. The prize (Donated by the Sark Tourism Committee) is a one-week holiday for two adults or a family of four on the Isle of Sark in 2006, including flights from the UK and ferry from Guernsey, staying at the luxury hotel Aval du Creux.
The prize for Best Onboard Sail Repairs was announced for the first time in Global Challenge history. Clive Cosby and his sail repair team went up to the stage to receive the custom prize of a section of sails and a custom trophy made from rope and shackles.
Nick MacAndrew, Chairman of Save the Children, presented the Third Place Overall prize for the Global Challenge. The overall third prize was given to BP Explorer who went up to the stage to the sound of their team song.
The Prize for Second Place Overall for Global Challenge was awarded to Barclays Adventurer. Skipper, Stuart Jackson and crew went up the stage to receive their trophy.
Next on the agenda was the presentation of a cheque for £300,000 to official race charity, Save the Children, presented by Sir Chay Blyth CBE BEM, Executive Chairman, Challenge Business to Nick MacAndrew, Chairman of Save the Children.
Sir Chay Blyth then presented Andy Forbes, winning skipper, with two return Upper Class tickets to the USA, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic. The crew were then invited to the stage, again in time to the crowds clapping along to the team song. Andy Forbes was presented with the Princess Royal Trophy, a confetti cannon fired and the loudest cheer of the evening went up as Andy lifted the trophy.
Andy Forbes thanked everyone involved in the race, especially the other crews. He said the race wasn't just about one team, it’s about all twelve, although he thanked his team especially for their journey over the last 10 months. “It’s your life, live it” were his final words.
Three cheers for the winning team marked the end of the ceremony and the teams gathered for a compilation video of the whole race on the big screen!
Overall results of the Global Challenge 2004/05
1 BG SPIRIT, 90 points
2 Barclays Adventurer, 76 points
3 BP Explorer, 74 points
4 Spirit of Sark, 73 points
5 Team SAIC La Jolla, 71 points
6 Team Stelmar, 66 points
7= Me To You, 63 points
7= VAIO, 63 points
9 Samsung, 58 points
10 Imagine It. Done., 56 points
11 Pindar, 54 points
12 Team Save the Children, 41 points
Monday, July 18, 2005
Saturday, July 16, 2005
50o05N 3o57W - Nearly home
It's pretty safe to say things aren't really going to plan on BP Explorer at the moment. We have been through a lot together but this last leg has tested us as a team more than any other. It would be easy to be angry, our mistake could be placed on the shoulders of a few, instead we
carry the burden between us and sharing it does make it easier to handle. It also makes us realise just how lucky we have been throughout this race.
Over the past few days we have had a sample of what Team Stelmar went through in leg two, a hint of what Team Save the Children and Pindar may have felt being at the back of the fleet, lonely, while everyone else races ahead and we will may end up feeling Imagine It. Done.'s sense of loss coming into Cape Town as we too watch our position fall back from one that looked much more certain.
It is difficult not to think about what could have been. We were all looking forward to close quarter racing with the whole fleet within shouting distance. Some of the most memorable moments of the race for us have been the close finishes that we seem to have made our trademark. While it would have been a dream to blast in to Portsmouth and win this leg, we had at least hoped to be there for the bulk of the celebrations. Nothing quite describes the feeling of comradeship, as we are welcomed and welcome in our
friends on the other yachts. And of course seeing our family and friends on ribs and supporters boats coming to greet us for the final time amongst all the pomp and ceremony of the finish day has been in our minds from the start.
But it's not over yet. Some careful analysis of the numbers reveals we still have a chance. If Barclays Adventurer, currently in third position on this leg, come in fourth and Spirit of Sark, currently in ninth place, come in tenth and we cross the finishing line less than 17 hours after them we will maintain our second place overall. It gets a bit more complicated after that but third could still be ours thereafter. Add to that the fact that Barclays Adventurer have a protest hanging over them and as we have witnessed so many times in this race - anything can happen.
Whichever way it goes one thing is for certain. We set out from the beginning to be the best team we could. We know we are capable but hope that we have never been arrogant. We know that we have applied everything we have learnt and done it in a safe and happy environment. I believe we have all
done our best and while absolutely nothing should be taken away from every point earned and the teams that will eventually climb the podium and take their trophies, this adventure has been so much more than a race and that lifts our spirits.
It is rare to be involved in something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts and I feel privileged that I have been involved in a truly excellent example. The Global Challenge with its amazing family of crew volunteers, skippers, leggers and Challenge staff make every stopover some of the best times I've had in my life. The wonderful feeling you get when you know that your friends and family are watching and supporting you every mile and living the adventure with you. And, of course this fantastic BP Explorer team, and its supporters, that have sailed around the world. When we met for the first time back at the start of 2004 none of us could have ever hoped to have shared so much.
We can see the English coastline - we are nearly home. I am desperate to get in but at the same time, deep down, have a feeling of not wanting it to end. Bear with us on the quayside everyone, when we do get there we are going to be very happy to see you and the tears won't be ones of sadness but ones of joy.
carry the burden between us and sharing it does make it easier to handle. It also makes us realise just how lucky we have been throughout this race.
Over the past few days we have had a sample of what Team Stelmar went through in leg two, a hint of what Team Save the Children and Pindar may have felt being at the back of the fleet, lonely, while everyone else races ahead and we will may end up feeling Imagine It. Done.'s sense of loss coming into Cape Town as we too watch our position fall back from one that looked much more certain.
It is difficult not to think about what could have been. We were all looking forward to close quarter racing with the whole fleet within shouting distance. Some of the most memorable moments of the race for us have been the close finishes that we seem to have made our trademark. While it would have been a dream to blast in to Portsmouth and win this leg, we had at least hoped to be there for the bulk of the celebrations. Nothing quite describes the feeling of comradeship, as we are welcomed and welcome in our
friends on the other yachts. And of course seeing our family and friends on ribs and supporters boats coming to greet us for the final time amongst all the pomp and ceremony of the finish day has been in our minds from the start.
But it's not over yet. Some careful analysis of the numbers reveals we still have a chance. If Barclays Adventurer, currently in third position on this leg, come in fourth and Spirit of Sark, currently in ninth place, come in tenth and we cross the finishing line less than 17 hours after them we will maintain our second place overall. It gets a bit more complicated after that but third could still be ours thereafter. Add to that the fact that Barclays Adventurer have a protest hanging over them and as we have witnessed so many times in this race - anything can happen.
Whichever way it goes one thing is for certain. We set out from the beginning to be the best team we could. We know we are capable but hope that we have never been arrogant. We know that we have applied everything we have learnt and done it in a safe and happy environment. I believe we have all
done our best and while absolutely nothing should be taken away from every point earned and the teams that will eventually climb the podium and take their trophies, this adventure has been so much more than a race and that lifts our spirits.
It is rare to be involved in something that is truly greater than the sum of its parts and I feel privileged that I have been involved in a truly excellent example. The Global Challenge with its amazing family of crew volunteers, skippers, leggers and Challenge staff make every stopover some of the best times I've had in my life. The wonderful feeling you get when you know that your friends and family are watching and supporting you every mile and living the adventure with you. And, of course this fantastic BP Explorer team, and its supporters, that have sailed around the world. When we met for the first time back at the start of 2004 none of us could have ever hoped to have shared so much.
We can see the English coastline - we are nearly home. I am desperate to get in but at the same time, deep down, have a feeling of not wanting it to end. Bear with us on the quayside everyone, when we do get there we are going to be very happy to see you and the tears won't be ones of sadness but ones of joy.
Friday, July 15, 2005
48' 03N 006' 08W
Chilled, Balearic-style sunsets and the sparkles of shooting stars provide the overhead lightshow for this slow-paced chapter in the story of the final leg of our journey.
Like a snail on the hard shoulder of a busy motorway, making its way out into the traffic, BP Explorer is at this moment edging along at three knots with a multitude of crossing ships knitting a pattern of bright navigation lights in the blanket of darkness ahead of our bows. The throbbing sounds of their engines carry clearly across the still waters, through a slight, shivering mist.
Yesterday we were accompanied by a small, lazily-mooching shark and a very tired and lonely racing pigeon who circumnavigated the boat a few times before coming in to land. Some of us had hopes that we could help by delivering him home but we clearly weren't going fast enough for his liking; after a swift drink and a few porridge oats he was off, rejuvenated and back on his way home again. We can hardly blame him; it has definitely been a slow 24 hours.
Day three and we are now 41 miles behind the leading yacht, SAIC La Jolla, and 29 miles behind Me To You, in eleventh. If the yachts finish in their current order we would lie fourth or fifth overall so we will hope for something of a reshuffle at the front to improve things. Conditions have not given us any opportunity to make up lost ground but we are taking comfort from a number of angles; on the material side we have a delicious and bountiful diet of fresh food and beautiful weather; and we occupy our minds with a review of the highs which have punctuated our race so far - too many to mention in one sitting! Finally we have each other. In ten months we have never had more than the briefest of cross words on BP Explorer, we operate in a supportive environment and if someone is feeling down they always have
another to talk to. When asked how he was feeling today, Stephen commented: 'Actually, I feel fine - I have been very touched and moved by how everyone has helped each other in this difficult situation. That is something very special.'
As BP Explorer inches towards dawn, we have drawn level with the Ile de Sein, which is around 25 miles south of Ile D'Ouessant, due east of the next waypoint. The route for the leg is constantly under review by the Race Office back in Southampton, as they attempt to ensure that the leading boats finish around lunchtime on Saturday. The latest change to the course has seen us redirected to Devon's Eddystone Light which will no doubt be a sight for sore eyes and a pretty stirring landmark after so long from home. In
response to a rather Eeyore-ish email which I sent back to Somerset yesterday, my best mate Jo reminded me of just how significant spotting land off the West Country will be, writing: 'P.S. And remember; you have just sailed around the world! Everyone is very proud of BP Explorer.' She is right, we should all feel pretty pleased about this one, it is an adventure that we will never forget.
Like a snail on the hard shoulder of a busy motorway, making its way out into the traffic, BP Explorer is at this moment edging along at three knots with a multitude of crossing ships knitting a pattern of bright navigation lights in the blanket of darkness ahead of our bows. The throbbing sounds of their engines carry clearly across the still waters, through a slight, shivering mist.
Yesterday we were accompanied by a small, lazily-mooching shark and a very tired and lonely racing pigeon who circumnavigated the boat a few times before coming in to land. Some of us had hopes that we could help by delivering him home but we clearly weren't going fast enough for his liking; after a swift drink and a few porridge oats he was off, rejuvenated and back on his way home again. We can hardly blame him; it has definitely been a slow 24 hours.
Day three and we are now 41 miles behind the leading yacht, SAIC La Jolla, and 29 miles behind Me To You, in eleventh. If the yachts finish in their current order we would lie fourth or fifth overall so we will hope for something of a reshuffle at the front to improve things. Conditions have not given us any opportunity to make up lost ground but we are taking comfort from a number of angles; on the material side we have a delicious and bountiful diet of fresh food and beautiful weather; and we occupy our minds with a review of the highs which have punctuated our race so far - too many to mention in one sitting! Finally we have each other. In ten months we have never had more than the briefest of cross words on BP Explorer, we operate in a supportive environment and if someone is feeling down they always have
another to talk to. When asked how he was feeling today, Stephen commented: 'Actually, I feel fine - I have been very touched and moved by how everyone has helped each other in this difficult situation. That is something very special.'
As BP Explorer inches towards dawn, we have drawn level with the Ile de Sein, which is around 25 miles south of Ile D'Ouessant, due east of the next waypoint. The route for the leg is constantly under review by the Race Office back in Southampton, as they attempt to ensure that the leading boats finish around lunchtime on Saturday. The latest change to the course has seen us redirected to Devon's Eddystone Light which will no doubt be a sight for sore eyes and a pretty stirring landmark after so long from home. In
response to a rather Eeyore-ish email which I sent back to Somerset yesterday, my best mate Jo reminded me of just how significant spotting land off the West Country will be, writing: 'P.S. And remember; you have just sailed around the world! Everyone is very proud of BP Explorer.' She is right, we should all feel pretty pleased about this one, it is an adventure that we will never forget.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
46 39n 03 16w
Well something really rather cruel has happened to our yacht. Yesterday while leaving La Rochelle we made a silly mistake. We passed the wrong side of a mark of the course (a buoy) and did not realise this error until we had sailed some 15 miles west. Rather than be disqualified (the penalty for missing a mark) we had to return to the buoy and pass the correct side of it.
Imagine the scene as this news was revealed to the on watch. Only hours into the final leg, powering west, the thrill of the chase to Portsmouth and the finish in our imaginations. We had to turn away from our competitors, hoist a kite, and sail backwards, until eventually they disappeared over the horizon. The disappointment was intense, there were tears for some, and many felt their dreams slipping away too.
By the time we had rounded the mark and returned to our original position we were 30 miles behind the leaders. I can only imagine the atmosphere onboard the boats in 3rd and 4th overall position - Spirit of Sark and Barclays Adventurer and indeed BG SPIRIT in 1st they just won't be able to believe it.
As for us we are racing to catch up. This team has been tested in so many ways in the latter stages of this race. I wrote once in the Atlantic 'tread softly for you tread on my dreams' but yacht racing cares nothing for this. It truly can be a bloody business. The mark of a person, or a team, is how they react in the bad times not the triumphs. Each person onboard carries around a sort of leaden feeling of slight sadness somewhere in their stomachs, but we are determined not to be defeated by this, not to let this one silly mistake define our campaign.
There are light winds until Portsmouth and even some calms. There may be the opportunity that the fleet ahead will park up and we will catch them. Such things have occurred before during the race and may occur during this leg. There is nothing we can do but hope for this and race the boat as hard as we can in anticipation.
The team has been fantastic; people have put aside their disappointment and seek to support each other. Before all this took place we had a team-build on a beach in La Rochelle. One of our leg objectives was to analyse our motives and mindset during each hour on watch. Were we in the right mindset to bring about a positive result, were we 'in the moment' focused on the task at hand? We take the business of mental preparation seriously on BP Explorer. Well it was never more needed than now. Everybody is digging deep to be the best they can be. To be the kind of people that family, friends and supporters will feel proud of. People that can overcome setback and be resolute, acting with determination and integrity.
Imagine the scene as this news was revealed to the on watch. Only hours into the final leg, powering west, the thrill of the chase to Portsmouth and the finish in our imaginations. We had to turn away from our competitors, hoist a kite, and sail backwards, until eventually they disappeared over the horizon. The disappointment was intense, there were tears for some, and many felt their dreams slipping away too.
By the time we had rounded the mark and returned to our original position we were 30 miles behind the leaders. I can only imagine the atmosphere onboard the boats in 3rd and 4th overall position - Spirit of Sark and Barclays Adventurer and indeed BG SPIRIT in 1st they just won't be able to believe it.
As for us we are racing to catch up. This team has been tested in so many ways in the latter stages of this race. I wrote once in the Atlantic 'tread softly for you tread on my dreams' but yacht racing cares nothing for this. It truly can be a bloody business. The mark of a person, or a team, is how they react in the bad times not the triumphs. Each person onboard carries around a sort of leaden feeling of slight sadness somewhere in their stomachs, but we are determined not to be defeated by this, not to let this one silly mistake define our campaign.
There are light winds until Portsmouth and even some calms. There may be the opportunity that the fleet ahead will park up and we will catch them. Such things have occurred before during the race and may occur during this leg. There is nothing we can do but hope for this and race the boat as hard as we can in anticipation.
The team has been fantastic; people have put aside their disappointment and seek to support each other. Before all this took place we had a team-build on a beach in La Rochelle. One of our leg objectives was to analyse our motives and mindset during each hour on watch. Were we in the right mindset to bring about a positive result, were we 'in the moment' focused on the task at hand? We take the business of mental preparation seriously on BP Explorer. Well it was never more needed than now. Everybody is digging deep to be the best they can be. To be the kind of people that family, friends and supporters will feel proud of. People that can overcome setback and be resolute, acting with determination and integrity.
Monday, July 4, 2005
46o09N 01o14W; La Rochelle
The final night of Leg Six and BP Explorer trembles as she skims off the backs of the waves and hurls herself forwards. She is spinning down the white horses, lifting her skirts under the boiling crests as we stretch our necks out to catch Me To You, less than a mile ahead. Two plumes of churning bow wave to port and starboard are lit up over the inky-black sea like molten, white wings. Lightning illuminates our faces in the gloaming, flashing over and over in brilliant streaks touching the coast of France. Our hull speed tops 19 knots with the next big surf and the trimmer fights to keep control of the kite.
'LET'S GET IT DOWN - NOOOW!' David's voice is urgent and edgy. We have held on long enough.
Troops gather in the cockpit, hanging on to the guy and ready for the call. 'SPIKE IT!'
'IT'S GONE!' cry the foredeck and down the halyard comes, metre upon metre of white nylon being heaved over the boom and bundled down below.
'Call trim on the yankee!'
In it comes, the boat powers up and we surge away. Then the yankee comes over - we are now poling out the No.1 and the speeds climb even higher.
'22.6 knots!!! Wooohoooo! We're gaining on them!' The helmsmen's arms have almost given up. A week ago support bandages came out as one by one they strained muscles with the effort of keeping BP Explorer heading straight as an arrow for La Rochelle through the storming kite runs. Not long now! We are eating up the miles, averaging 12 knots and we should be there by morning. We just have to keep hold of the reins and catch the yacht in front.
In the small hours the winds increase, touching gale force. Our wings of white water rise up through a huge surf, lifting above the toerails and hitting us full in the face. It is like riding an amusement park log plume - only there is nothing that is going to slow us down here!
Dawn breaks and Me To You are right next to us, just a couple of metres behind. Whilst we have the flanker up again, they are carrying their 1.5oz race kite. It looks like we also should have a lighter kite as the wind drops, but there is no time to change now. We are just minutes from the mark and we hold off Me To You, covering their every move. At the mark, we are neck and neck, but as we harden up on the breeze and drop the kite, we pull away, powering on towards the finish line, cheered by our supporters in a RIB. Second overall and with everything to play for - Leg Seven, bring it on!
'LET'S GET IT DOWN - NOOOW!' David's voice is urgent and edgy. We have held on long enough.
Troops gather in the cockpit, hanging on to the guy and ready for the call. 'SPIKE IT!'
'IT'S GONE!' cry the foredeck and down the halyard comes, metre upon metre of white nylon being heaved over the boom and bundled down below.
'Call trim on the yankee!'
In it comes, the boat powers up and we surge away. Then the yankee comes over - we are now poling out the No.1 and the speeds climb even higher.
'22.6 knots!!! Wooohoooo! We're gaining on them!' The helmsmen's arms have almost given up. A week ago support bandages came out as one by one they strained muscles with the effort of keeping BP Explorer heading straight as an arrow for La Rochelle through the storming kite runs. Not long now! We are eating up the miles, averaging 12 knots and we should be there by morning. We just have to keep hold of the reins and catch the yacht in front.
In the small hours the winds increase, touching gale force. Our wings of white water rise up through a huge surf, lifting above the toerails and hitting us full in the face. It is like riding an amusement park log plume - only there is nothing that is going to slow us down here!
Dawn breaks and Me To You are right next to us, just a couple of metres behind. Whilst we have the flanker up again, they are carrying their 1.5oz race kite. It looks like we also should have a lighter kite as the wind drops, but there is no time to change now. We are just minutes from the mark and we hold off Me To You, covering their every move. At the mark, we are neck and neck, but as we harden up on the breeze and drop the kite, we pull away, powering on towards the finish line, cheered by our supporters in a RIB. Second overall and with everything to play for - Leg Seven, bring it on!
Sunday, July 3, 2005
46' 00N 50' 51W
Well, the situation was already pretty exciting, but it is now a building crescendo leading up to possibly the most exciting leg finish to date. Hence the fact that David is beavering away on deck and unable to fill you in on events today.
Up until now we were steadily trying to work our way up from fifth towards the podium, with a clear order of yachts to be overtaken, beginning with a consolidation of our sporadic and marginal lead over BG SPIRIT, followed by Me to You, Imagine It. Done and - if something happened to reduce their 30-mile lead - Team Stelmar. Now, all of these yachts, bar Team Stelmar, are pretty much level. It is hard to tell who is actually in front - and Team Stelmar themselves are less than ten miles away. I have a feeling that the last 24 hours are going to exhausting stuff.
We do have a list of priorities, though. Obviously the most important thing is to come ahead of BG SPIRIT, who are currently three points in front of us in the overall race. If we manage to overtake them, the more places between us the better. And it is the same with Spirit of Sark. Not only do we gain one more point for every place, but that puts one more point between ourselves and one of our two main adversaries; an important detail when it comes to the final leg.
Beyond a small patch of Biscay bubbling with literally hundreds of leaping dolphins, we could see Imagine It. Done. and Me To You when I headed for bed six hours ago - now, no doubt, there are probably even more yellow sails in view. There are 194 miles to go and the wind has not, as predicted, died, but has kept powering us straight to the mark, which means that we should arrive around lunchtime tomorrow. If there are any hold-ups, this could prove very frustrating. The port is tidal and involves a huge lock gate - tomorrow this opens between 1300 and 1530 GMT - miss it and we could have to spend an agonising ten hours outside it waiting for our beer!
Up until now we were steadily trying to work our way up from fifth towards the podium, with a clear order of yachts to be overtaken, beginning with a consolidation of our sporadic and marginal lead over BG SPIRIT, followed by Me to You, Imagine It. Done and - if something happened to reduce their 30-mile lead - Team Stelmar. Now, all of these yachts, bar Team Stelmar, are pretty much level. It is hard to tell who is actually in front - and Team Stelmar themselves are less than ten miles away. I have a feeling that the last 24 hours are going to exhausting stuff.
We do have a list of priorities, though. Obviously the most important thing is to come ahead of BG SPIRIT, who are currently three points in front of us in the overall race. If we manage to overtake them, the more places between us the better. And it is the same with Spirit of Sark. Not only do we gain one more point for every place, but that puts one more point between ourselves and one of our two main adversaries; an important detail when it comes to the final leg.
Beyond a small patch of Biscay bubbling with literally hundreds of leaping dolphins, we could see Imagine It. Done. and Me To You when I headed for bed six hours ago - now, no doubt, there are probably even more yellow sails in view. There are 194 miles to go and the wind has not, as predicted, died, but has kept powering us straight to the mark, which means that we should arrive around lunchtime tomorrow. If there are any hold-ups, this could prove very frustrating. The port is tidal and involves a huge lock gate - tomorrow this opens between 1300 and 1530 GMT - miss it and we could have to spend an agonising ten hours outside it waiting for our beer!
Saturday, July 2, 2005
47' 27N 14' 28W
For most of the race we have written our logs from the aft computer but then we moved to the navigators table so as to avoid waking those trying to sleep in the aft accommadation - the light from the screen and the annoying clickty-click of the keyboard can be a pain. Now we need total focus from Stephen and he sits glued to the navigation computers making sure we are on course every five minutes or so. So once again I'm at the back trying to type as softly as I can, freezing every time I hear someone turn in their bunks. I can hear Holger and Olly talking through the open hatch above me, they probably don't know I'm here. Holger's concerned that some of the other boats are gaining on us. The position report as we came on watch showed some slight gains across the fleet - damn! We are still holding fourth place though.
Me To You are under four miles ahead and as I write this I can hear Naomi calling back to the helm that she can see their lights on the horizon.
We have been sailing well and putting miles, and bits of miles, between us and those behind and we've been creeping up on Me To You in third place. But, with a bad position report comes that nagging doubt that maybe some of those around us have a little more wind or a kinder sea state and that maybe they could steal a position back. Barclays Adventurer and BG SPIRIT are less than three miles behind us, which is nothing. We can track Barclays Adventurer on the radar and they are a good measure of how we are doing but BG SPIRIT are about 35 miles to the north and potentially are getting different conditions. It's a testing time.
This has been a strange leg in so many ways. Just when you think you have it all figured out this ocean racing lark twists you round and you have to face new situations. One could say that in terms of sailing these boats we are hardly amateurs anymore but it seems that on this leg we have seen more things to test our confidence than any other. Spinnakers twisting in strange ways as they go up and then again getting caught on new parts of the rigging as they come down. Not errors necessarily but just bad luck.
We have also made some mistakes that seem really amateurish, kites attached wrongly, halyards twisted but perhaps now we are just being hypercritical. We have managed to sort them all out of course well before they have caused a serious problems but it does make you think all the time. Have we checked everything? have we done this so many times that we are becoming complacent? The end result is that we may be performing some procedures slower than we have done in the past. David seems to think so and is encouraging us to speed up a bit. The good news is that we haven't trashed anything, we are still a very safe crew and we have been regularly sailing faster than the rest of the fleet but as the competition heats up and days left to prove ourselves get less, everything needs to be spot on. When it comes to boat lengths at the finish there is nothing that can go slower and nothing that can go wrong. Maybe we are being hypercritical but with everything else being equal it could be the one thing that gets us the result.
Me To You are under four miles ahead and as I write this I can hear Naomi calling back to the helm that she can see their lights on the horizon.
We have been sailing well and putting miles, and bits of miles, between us and those behind and we've been creeping up on Me To You in third place. But, with a bad position report comes that nagging doubt that maybe some of those around us have a little more wind or a kinder sea state and that maybe they could steal a position back. Barclays Adventurer and BG SPIRIT are less than three miles behind us, which is nothing. We can track Barclays Adventurer on the radar and they are a good measure of how we are doing but BG SPIRIT are about 35 miles to the north and potentially are getting different conditions. It's a testing time.
This has been a strange leg in so many ways. Just when you think you have it all figured out this ocean racing lark twists you round and you have to face new situations. One could say that in terms of sailing these boats we are hardly amateurs anymore but it seems that on this leg we have seen more things to test our confidence than any other. Spinnakers twisting in strange ways as they go up and then again getting caught on new parts of the rigging as they come down. Not errors necessarily but just bad luck.
We have also made some mistakes that seem really amateurish, kites attached wrongly, halyards twisted but perhaps now we are just being hypercritical. We have managed to sort them all out of course well before they have caused a serious problems but it does make you think all the time. Have we checked everything? have we done this so many times that we are becoming complacent? The end result is that we may be performing some procedures slower than we have done in the past. David seems to think so and is encouraging us to speed up a bit. The good news is that we haven't trashed anything, we are still a very safe crew and we have been regularly sailing faster than the rest of the fleet but as the competition heats up and days left to prove ourselves get less, everything needs to be spot on. When it comes to boat lengths at the finish there is nothing that can go slower and nothing that can go wrong. Maybe we are being hypercritical but with everything else being equal it could be the one thing that gets us the result.
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