Fleet Closes on Leaders

Spirits are high throughout the fleet with all the yachts still determined to get a podium finish, looking ever more possible as the fleet closes up once again and pose a real threat to the front-runners.

There are just 24 miles separating front boat Spirit of Southampton and neck and neck LogicaCMG and BG Group, the old rivals who are battling it out once again, resolute to push their way to first. The last couple of days are going to be a hectic time for the fleet as the beacon of the finish flashes and the promise of home beckons.

As the Crew Volunteers reflect, in their last couple of days of racing, on the enormous challenges, which have faced each and every one of them, it is also a time to take in the very fabulous sailing they are all encountering.

You don’t need to be hundreds of miles away to experience the splendours that Great Britain and Ireland can boast, as Spirit of Hong, currently in sixth place, reported today in their daily log: “It is an amazing experience to be surrounded by water miles from land and to see such brilliant sunrises and sunsets, schools of porpoises, fantastic starry nights, the beauty of creation never ceases to excite and we will all return home the richer for it.”

Team Spirit, currently in last place, simply put it: “Joy at 23:14 the Northern lights.”

The fleet is currently tip toeing its way around the oil rigs and fishing boats of the North Sea, as Vail Williams, currently in seventh, explains: “Last night was spent wending our way through a myriad of oilfields. None of us realised how many there actually are out here. It feels like you are invading a small community as you sail through, all of them, lit up like Christmas trees.”

If the Crew Volunteers think spotting all these oilrigs is an unusual sight it is just as extraordinary a sight for an oilrig to see eight yachts parade by! Team Spirit noted in their daily log: “as we sailed down the eastern edge of the Moray Firth, passing our first oil rig… we spoke to them on the VHF, they were very surprised to see a yacht in April.”

Racing has been thrilling for all those who have been following, demonstrating what a fantastic spectator sport sailing is, particularly in a one design fleet of yachts. So when are the first yachts due in? And could they still beat the record held by Sail That Dream? Well, to beat the record the first yacht home would have to cross the Needles Fairway Buoy tomorrow morning. However, on current estimates, this is unlikely to happen, although it is quite clear that such a record is possible to achieve in a Challenge yacht.

The boats need to hurry home anyway, because the stress to family, friends and supporters is obviously reaching fever pitch as one of absolutely hundreds of letters to the Website Editor are demonstrating:

From Mrs Crook, mother of Crew Volunteer Matthew: “Next to no work being done – of any sort! – spelling/sentence structure out of the window! (and computer when it won’t behave!) fingers pressing all the wrong keys in haste and excitement!, meal times? Well….whenever!; tension/worry/excitement levels sky high! Why all this? Am I sick?

No….just the pure adrenaline-pumping, mind-willing, hearth-thumping excitement of watching the race, and LogicaCMG/BG/SOfS dicing for first place! As for my hero, my champ, my son Matt – my heart is full to bursting!”

Only a couple more days to go now!

Race Positions at 1304 GMT 28 April 2003

Source: www.roundbritainchallenge.com