Velux 5 Oceans

[Connemara]

Well, they start again Monday... he probably feels a bit of urgency. Besides, in the immortal words of Warren Zevon, he can sleep when he's dead.

I think the sleep issue would be the main reason I would never do that single-handed race around the world thing (aside from sheer terror).

Connemara

[Connemara]

IN the face of 45-knot winds and 8-metre waves, the race committee has decided to postpone the second leg start until Thursday at least. The reasoning was if the boats run into such a storm enroute, that's one thing, but to start in seriously adverse conditions would be bad seamanship.

I can totally see that. Eight-metre waves....sheesh. I don't ever want to be anywhere in eight-metre waves.


Connemara

[Connemara]

Second leg under way. Hatfield first across the line, but Van Liew now appears be in the lead. Mind you after six hours of racing, there's nothing in it. Boats are still pretty much bunched together and heading south for the westerlies.

Connemara

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by itchybro

It's not that, not that your remark didn't hit the bullseye, I should've clarified a bit. I can't wrap my noggin around the fact that Bullens is AMONG them working on 3 days of NO sleep.

Who does he think he is? KEITH RICHARDS?!?

He has the 'Ingredient X' vital to those who singlehand... physical and emotional stamina... if you aint got it you dont go solo long distance... or for many short dis...

[Connemara]

After seven days of racing, the boats are still only about 1,000 nm from Cape Town, with the exception of Five Oceans of Smiles, which is back in Cape Town for the second time with breakages. The skpper is really snake-bit -- all sorts of trouble on the first leg and now he's had to go back to dock twice starting the second leg. Personally I'd give up. Or at least I'd be really nervous about going to sea in that boat.

At the other end, the lead has switched hands several times but the American, Pole and Canadian are within 75 NM of each other. Th Brit made a bad tactical error early and is nealry 600 nm back.

So far the notorious southern ocean has offered light winds from the east. But they seem now to be getting some stronger and more westerly winds.

http://www.velux5oceans.com/

Merry Christmas

Connemara

[Greenman]

Merry Christmas to all the Velux5 Sailors, and of course specifically to Derek Hatfield. Truly and inspiration to the sport of sailing in Canada.

[Connemara]

Another update... Christophe Bullens has withdrawn. His boat kept breaking every time he left Cape Town. Not a good thing when the southern ocean lies ahead of you.

The American Van Lieuw is about 300 nm in front with 2,400 to go to Wellington. Hatfield and Gutek have been trading places as they try but fail to catch Van Liew, who just keeps extending his lead..

And the Brit, Stanmore-Major, who made a tactical mistake early, is 4,400 (!) nm back of the leader.

The real race now appears to be for second on this leg, unless something untoward happens to Van Liew.

Connemara

[Connemara]

Oops. Misread matters. Stanmore-Major is only 1,00 nm behind. Still quite a gap.

Connemara

[Connemara]

Update on the second leg.

No change in the standings

Van Lieu won, Gutek is second, Hatfield should dock within a few hours or so, and Stanmore-Major is still a few days out.

Was a helluva race for a while. Looking forward to leg 3, around the Horn.

Connemara

[Connemara]

Greenman:

Didn't even know Shearwater had a sailing club. I'm an old service brat from Halifax -- my dad was in the RCAF and was posted to Gorsebrook when I was about 12. My brother and sister both joined the forces later and both are now retired.

Connemara

[barnakiel]

Their website is pretty horrible and clearly corresponds with the importance of the race.

But I believe this Gutek guy has shown his fang and if he makes it till the end we will see more of him, perhaps on Barcelona or, if he finds the money, the VG circuit.

Meanwhile Barcelona has a slightly better interface and it looks like some of the big names went there for test run with their new boats. Too bad Hugo is driven by some spare crew and they will do everything to keep the boat in one piece till the original driver can join the boat. The new Hugo is a beast and I am sure under the original driver they will make a huge madia splash hitting this or that or capsizing. All hugos were jinxed, or that's just the way they decided to gain media attention ;-).

Notice the new blood there too - looks like some of the ole masters have their padawans now!

Doh.

b.

[Connemara]

Leg three is under way.

All four are pretty close after almost two days of sailing and it looks as if they have some decent wind.

Good luck all ... the Horn is waiting.

Connemara

(PS: if you're on the site, check out Hatfield's description of his pitchpole last time he tried to round Cape Horn. If only there had been a corner store nearby, that was the day to buy lottery tickets.)

[Connemara]

Update:

All four boats have passed Cape Horn safely and there is now about 300 NM separating the fleet as they enter the home stretch of Sprint Three.

Connemara

[Connemara]

Talk about tight. The American Van Liew finished the third leg on Tuesday. The next two boats three boats finished within 40 seconds of each other today and the last was an hour back.

After 6000 miles of ocean around Cape Horn.

Hell, I've been in around-the-cans races that had wider separations.


Connemara

[scottb]

Derek just can't seem to catch a break. After being in 2nd most of the way and being an hour behind in 4th place. But, not bad for a shoe string budget... unlike 1st.