Velux - Stamm in Bilbao Monday, Shiraishi Averts Disaster on Yukoh
April 27, 2007 0 comments
At the head of the VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet, race leader Bernard Stamm and second place Kojiro Shiraishi are piling east, matching speeds knot-for-knot for the past 24 hours. Overnight, Stamm sailed CHEMINÉES POUJOULAT across the submerged peaks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is heading due east directly towards the southern reaches of the Bay of Biscay and the finish line in Bilbao, 950 miles away, and if he retains his lead is expected into Bilbao on Monday 1st May.
At the head of the VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet, race leader Bernard Stamm and second place Kojiro Shiraishi are piling east, matching speeds knot-for-knot for the past 24 hours. Overnight, Stamm sailed CHEMINÉES POUJOULAT across the submerged peaks of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is heading due east directly towards the southern reaches of the Bay of Biscay and the finish line in Bilbao, 950 miles away, and if he retains his lead is expected into Bilbao on Monday 1st May.
Slipstreaming the race leader 106 miles astern of the Swiss Open 60, Shiraishi is averaging just under 14 knots, keeping his grip on Bernard Stamm. Yesterday, however, only the Japanese skipper’s quick thinking averted serious problems when one of the lines attached to his Code 5 sail broke on board SPIRIT OF YUKOH. The Code 5 is the forward, furled sail, attached to a furling drum at the outboard end of the yacht’s bowsprit.
Kojiro’s years of offshore experience have taught him to be ready for anything. When the tack line parted, Koji was in south-westerly breeze, sailing off the wind in strong conditions with SPIRIT OF YUKOH fully powered and all sails under immense loads. With disaster averted, Koji is temporarily limited in the choice of headsails.
Since yesterday afternoon, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has continued his climb north through the Atlantic and third place SAGA INSURANCE is now slightly south of the leading duo’s track, but has reached the latitude of Cape Finisterre, 1,200 miles to the east. Overnight, Knox-Johnston’s speed has dropped to just below 10 knots with SAGA INSURANCE losing 33 miles to Shiraishi and he now trails SPIRIT OF YUKOH by 500 miles.
Yesterday, SAGA INSURANCE was sailing through an area of variable breeze requiring her skipper to be constantly alert and going through a zone of squalls, was wiped out once over night due to having too much sail up. Knox-Johnston then opted to gybe north-east and preserve the miles he has gained to the north.
Since a knock-down in a sudden, unpredictable squall yesterday, there has been a new psychological development on board as Knox Johnston starting talking to his boat, praising her on her successful recovery after the knockdown.
While tracking data from Unai Basurko’s Open 60 PAKEA is still sporadic, progress for the Basque skipper has been tortuous. In the past 24 hours, Basurko has averaged only 5.3 knots, although he is still heading north, trailing SAGA INSURANCE by 368 miles.
Kojiro Shiraish, SPIRIT OF YUKOH
“We were very lucky. Yesterday evening, when I was furling the Code 5, the tack line suddenly broke. But I had a spare thin line prepared and was able to furl the sail closed. It was a close thing. If the tack line breaks the Code 5 is no longer connected to the deck, and the sail flaps uncontrolled on the bolt-rope. If in 30 knots of wind the Code 5 is free on the furler, it is a very dangerous situation. To get the sail down we would have to turn into the wind, but the sail would then probably fly against the mast and so not come down easily. A very precarious situation.”
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, SAGA INSURANCE
“Going through a zone of squalls, we have been wiped out once over night, too much sail up.”
“In any case I am seriously worried about my mental state after she pulled out of the wipe-out, the autopilot holding robustly throughout, I found myself patting the boat and saying ‘Well done Saga’ out aloud, which is thoroughly dangerous. Once you start speaking to yourself you are on the slippery path although I suppose I could say I was talking to the boat.”
