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Around Alone Report for December 12

Class I leaders to race on honor system

Please consult The Around Alone Report Users Guide for an explanation of this report.

The 5 lead boats in Class I have concluded an agreement that could even save a life.  Due to gale force weather brewing south of the Kerguelen Islands, the five skippers have agreed.  The idea started as Giovanni Soldinini and Isabelle Autissier looked at long term weather models.  They saw the nasty weather between 48 and 54 south.  Soldini suggested they agree to a new waypoint of 45 S / 70 E in the interests of safety.  After this Golding, Hall and Thiercelin were contacted.  They agreed, and in the interest of fairness, the waypoint was altered to 46 S/70 E. 

In addition to the Class I boats, the lead trio in Class II: Magellan, Cray Valley and Balance Bar will honor this agreement. 

Fleet Round Up:

PRB continues to lead the fleet.   The new waypoint will affect PRB the most.  PRB had sailed down to almost 50 degrees south latitude.  Now sailing a course of 048 degrees at 15.2 knots PRB is rising north at last report up to 48 degrees north. 

Fila continues in 2nd.  Fila is sailing due east steering 090 degrees.  Fila is 4 miles closer to PRB than yesterday.

Mike Golding continues on in 3rd with Group 4.   Group 4 is also south of 46 degrees.  Group 4 has lost 26 miles to PRB in the last 24 hours.

4th is Somewhere, 87 miles out of 1st.   Somewhere is just a bit south of the 46 degrees of the new waypoint.

Still, 5th is Gartmore 313 miles from the lead.  Josh Hall indicates the reason for his falling off the pace: "It's been a bit frustrating to get overtaken by a high pressure ridge the past 36hrs while the leaders have held the breeze."  Gartmore still seems to be lacking wind as here speed is 7.9 opposed to the double digits being posted by the boats ahead. 

6th in Class I is Modern University for the Humanities, 1800+ miles back after a late start.  MUH is still making southing, sailing 164 degrees at 7 knots even.  Also, today is Skipper Fedor Konioukhov's 47th birthday.

Class II is still led by Magellan Alpha.   Magellan's lead over Cray Valley is 42 miles 8 less than yesterday.  It looks like Mike Garside is getting in a groove on board Magellan: "Strangely, I'm beginning to feel as I hoped I'd feel about the race. I move slowly and methodically and feel very calm inside myself. I am finally slowing down from the pace of the real world."

2nd place is held by Cray Valley.   Although J.P. Mouligne has indicated he will be conservative and doesn't mind 2nd place, he shows his competitive leaning by saying: "We have a long way to go and 50 miles is not a big lead, but I would rather be in front!"

3rd is Balance Bar 278 miles out of 1st.  Brad Van Liew comments: "I am not totally comfortable with the pace that Mike has set and given the opportunity will probably to push that hard will decline."   Brad is taking on a long term strategy. He feels he must wait until the upwind conditions in the Tasman Sea at legs end to try and catch the Finot designed boats ahead.   The question is will he be close enough at that point to make a dent ?

4th is the first 40 footer Wind of Change, 327 miles back. 

5th is Neal Petersen on his 40 footer www.no-barriers.com.  Neal has now pushed south and is officially in the Roaring 40's at 42 south.  Neal is certainly aware of this: "It is no longer the sense of adventure, it is now about survival from here to Cape Horn. Mighty ships in history have weathered these waters, and now I traverse them in my home built craft. It is true how small my boat is, and how big this ocean is."

6th is Minouro Saito and Shuten Dojhi II.  Saito sent an e-mail in part saying: "winds about 18kts-24kts(it's no bad) and main sails 1 point reefing No.2 jibs 80-90% opened."  Shuten Dojhi II is 927 miles from the lead. 

The final boat on the course is Paladin 2.   Currently Paladin 2 is making 7 knots.

Still, in Cape Town are Rapscallion III and South Carolina.  From South Carolina Robin Davie says: "that South Carolina will be in the best shape she's ever been in by the time we set sail which will probably be Sunday." Rapscallion III is still making repair to a diesel fuel leak. 

What Does It All Mean ?

In essence even the leading skippers with the best equipment don't really want to battle a gale.   So, putting self preservation ahead of valor, they will sail north.  Makes good sense. 

Standings Table