Global Challenge 2004-2005 on BP Explorer

Dubbed 'the world's toughest yacht race' Global Challenge 2004-2005 goes the 'wrong way' around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. The race started on Sunday 3rd October from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (UK) and covered 30,000 miles to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Wellington, New Zealand; Sydney, Australia; Cape Town, South Africa; Boston, USA, La Rochelle France and back to Portsmouth in July 2005. These are the daily logs of BP Exporer.

Saturday, January 1, 2005

Leg 2 Day 34 : 45o38S 178o16W

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We celebrated the New Year just off of the Chatham Islands some 400 miles from New Zealand today having crossed the Southern Ocean via Cape Horn to get here. As unique locations go, this one ranks pretty high. We blew our quota of Champagne on celebrating Laura's engagement so it was an alcohol free evening but, on the plus side we did have a hangover-free New Year's day (The first I can remember since my teens). We have been shrouded in fog for most of the day but have been screaming along at over ten knots and gradually eating into the miles between us and Spirit of Sark and BG SPIRIT (It has been a day where spirits of all kinds have been on our minds!). However as I came to write this log the wind has died and we are wallowing around looking for some boat speed, any boat speed. The wind is expected to come back soon and the Genoa is up and ready to catch that first gust and send us on our way again. Good news seeing as the MaxSea navigation software we use is currently saying that at this speed and bearing we will be in Wellington in 40 days! Hopefully BG SPIRIT and Spirit of Sark are experiencing the same light winds and our relative distances shouldn't change but we are awaiting the latest positions with the usual keenness. Positions 1 and 2 are within our reach but we are need to continue to do what we've been doing while trying to glean every fraction of a knot out of BP Explorer. If we can do the right thing tactically and maybe if lady luck is on our side there is no reason why we can't improve on third place and, surprise, surprise that's what has appeared top of the list of the crew's new year's resolutions. Colin and Jane would like to wish everyone a 'Guid New Year' and hope that all the folks back in Scotland had a great Hogmanay. Jane is especially looking forward to a tall dark stranger 'first footing' BP Explorer in Wellington in true Scottish style. I would like to wish everyone on behalf of the crew of BP Explorer a happy and prosperous new year. This year if you have a dream, follow it, if you've ever wanted to do something totally different don't put it off. Live life to the full and fill every unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run - I can certainly recommend it. John Bass
Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)