Photos: L ©Oskar Kihlborg R ©Martin Stockbridge
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Mon, 29 May 2006 14:35:00 UTC
Update 1535GMT Official finishing times are: ABN AMRO ONE 2 hr, 14 min, 16 sec; Pirates of the Caribbean 2 hr, 18 min, 30 sec; Brasil 1 2 hr, 22 min, 0 sec; ABN AMRO TWO 2 hr, 24 min, 56 sec; Ericsson 2 hr, 26 min, 55 sec; Brunel 2 hr, 27 min, 44 sec.
Update 1520GMT Pirates finishes second, yet another podium for Paul Cayard, but no pole position yet for the American who must have thought that there was a chance today after a fine start. Torben Grael and his Brazilian team take a solid third.
Update 1416GMT ABN AMRO ONE wins!
Update 1415GMT ABN AMRO ONE finally go for a spinnaker after starting the donwwind leg under a jib. She is speeding away towards the finish now, well ahead of Pirates. Up goes their jib again as the wind shifts once more as they close on the line. That spinnaker only was up there for a couple on minutes before it has to come down again. Brasil 1 has eventually hoisted their spinnaker, but might have to drop too like the leader. ABN AMRO ONE now reach to the line under jib and mainsail. Brasil 1 are sailing under a huge black cloud, still managing to hold on to their spinnaker.
Update 1405GMT A 25 knots gust hits ABN AMRO ONE and that big jib they are carrying caused them to have some major control problems. The boat rounds up for a moment until Mike Sanderson regains control and then Black Betty steams off ibnto the distance. The wind shifts as well as gusts and ABN AMRO ONE can crack off slightly, ease the sails and speed off. The boats in the rest of the fleet seem to be having to spill wind and feather their headsails, while ABN AMRO ONE speed away. The leader has rounded and look like going downwind under a jib while Pirates set a fractional spinnaker.
Update 1400GMT All the boats have rounded the final leeward mark and are heading towards a huge black cloud which portends massive wind shifts, velocity increase and a certain amount of precipitation. ABN AMRO ONE is on port, Pirates on starboard. Mark rounding times were: ABN AMRO ONE after one hour 42 minutes of racing, with Pirates two minutes and six seconds astern. Then Brasil 1 loses a lot to be two minutes and eight seconds behind Pirates. ABN AMRO TWO lose a little to go three minutes from Brasil 1 and are just 14 seconds ahead of Ericsson - a good battle will ensure for the windward and then the final downwind leg.
Update 1350GMT Brasil 1 drop early and will struggle in the adverse tide to get to the mark. They are safe on the boats behind, but that will spoil their chances to gain on Pirates. They round and power up - it's amazing how much different the increased apparent wind has on the Volvo Open 70s - and head after the two leaders. In frot of them are some very big rain clouds. All three leaders are on port tack. Brasil 1 and ABN AMRO ONE are using their genoas, Pirates are using the slightly smaller jib that they used on the last windward leg. As ABN AMRO ONE at least has hanks rather than a headsail foil, it will be a difficult exercise fro them to do a headsail change. The wind is increasing already as the big black cloud approaches.
Updare 1345GMT ABN AMRO ONE execute a neat drop into the cockpit as they round the mark, but it bis a very light wind that have for the windward leg. Pirates come in behind them about 300 metres back. ABN AMRO ONE are heading right towards a cloud that might bring them more wind. This is the last windward leg, then the run to the finish.
Update 1340GMT Pirates gybe for the mark and the test will be to see if that have managed to close on the leader in the conditions that are sticky for the Juan K boat. ABN AMRO ONE gybe too, swing the keel first to effect a roll gybe more ueually the province of the dinghy sailor. Pirates are still over one hundred metres behind ABN AMRO ONE. Currently the wind is light, the sun is out, but a big squall cloud is right behind the fleet. ABN AMRO ONE comes to the mark in the lead as the wind goes very light - what will be windward leg hold?
Update 1335GMT Mark roundings at the last windward mark were: ABN AMRO ONE rounded after one hour and 18 minutes and six seconds of racing, Pirates 51 seconds back, a loss of 39 seconds. Then Brasil 1 still 41 seconds back from Pirates, followed by ABN AMRO TWO two minutes and 47 seconds behind; they gained over two minutes on the boat in front. Then it's Ericsson one minute and 16 seconds back, Brunel 39 seconds in last place.
Update 1330GMT These boat carry two masthead and two fractional spinnakers and since Pirates ripped their biggest masthead one on the last downwind leg, they have had to set a smaller asymmetric for this leg and will probably lose more ground on the leader. Brasil 1 might close the gap on Pirates with their bigger spinnaker. The wind is still light. Ericsson passes Brasil 1 on their way to the mark, Brasil 1 is going downwind, Ericsson still trying to get to the mark. It is still ten knots or less, but there could be a squall on its way if the clouds are anything to go by. We are over halfway through the race now and the chances of the boats behind making major inroads are slipping away.
Update 1320GMT The wind lightens at the top of the windward leg and ABN AMRO ONE is covering Pirates closely, sailing ahead and to windward of Pirates. This is a battle now between Mike Sanderson and Paul Cayard. The wind is easung and might be playing into the hands of the Pirates as it sdrops to what looks like ten knots or even less. Further back down the course the wind has died away dramatically. If the wind holds at ten knots or so, the big daggerboards of ABN AMRO ONE will come into play on this windward leg, that have xcome to the mark in the lead and will set their big spinnaker. The question is, has Pirates a masthead spinnaker left after their last run troubles, or will they have to set a smaller fractional kite and give away a lot of area.
Update 1315GMT Mark rounding times at the leeward mark were: ABN AMRO ONE round one hour and one minute after the start, Pirates 12 seconds back, Brasil 1 46 seconds behind them. Then a huge gap to ABN AMRO TWO at four minutes 39 seconds, Ericsson a further one minute and three seconds behind, with Brunel closing up to be within 22 seconds.
Update 1310GMT Wind shifts have caused a change in the course to the next windward mark, but all the boats are heading out in starboard tack first of all, out to the right - east - side of the course. ABN AMRO ONE leads Pirates by a hundred metres and there is a major battle on the cards for these two. Ericsson seem to be having major problems and are being closed down by Brunel.
Update 1300GMT A big squall hits the fleet causing Pirates to blow their spinnaker and they are now setting a jib as a big right shift and they are reaching to the mark. There is plenty of rain and a big wind on the course at the moment. Ericsson blew their kite on the mark. ABN AMRO ONE have taken the lead from Pirates, then Brasil 1, ABN AMRO TWO in fourth, then Ericsson and then Brunel.
Update Rounding times at the second windward mark were: Pirates after 49 minutes and four seconds, ABN AMRO ONE 55 seconds behind, a gain of 27 seconds. Then Brasil 1 in third 41 seconds back, followed by Ericsson at one minute 33 seconds, then ABN AMRO TWO 43 seconds and finally Brunel two minutes and one secind behind ABN AMRO TWO.
Update 1255GMT Pirates are approaching the top mark for the second time. A bigger spectator fleet is waiting for them in sunny conditions. It looks as though ABN AMRO ONE has made a gain on the Pirates who had tacked below the layline and than had to tack twice to lay. Pirates round in the lead. Ericsson and ABN AMRO TWO are still battling, with ABN AMRO TWO on the lay line with Ericsson having to tack twice. Brasil 1 rounds in third in a sharp turn as Torben Grael makes one of his very accurate approaches to the mark. Spinnakers up, and off on the high speed running leg. Ericsson rounds in fourth a long way behind Brasil 1 which must be a disappointment for them. Brunel bring up the tail end. Ericsson rips their spinnaker during the hoist which meand that ABN AMRO TWO should be able to come through into fourth. Ericsson's spinnaker is in the water and completely in two. Brasil 1 and Pirates spin out and Pirates have spinnaker problems too in the first part of this leg.
Update 1245GMT Pirates have tacked back into the middle of the course, all the other boats going right, though ABN AMRO TWO did take a short hitch into the middle soon after rounding. They are having a tight battle with Ericsson. Brunel don't seem to be having a good time in conditions in which they wuld have thought they would have done well.
Update 1240GMT Mark times were, Pirates at the mark 30 minutes and 20 seconds after the start, ABN AMRO ONE following one minute and 22 seconds later - a loss of 16 seconds - then Brasil 1 29 seconds after ABN AMRO ONE, a gain of eight seconds. Then it's Ericsson 40 seconds after Brasil 1 and ABN AMRO TWO at 14 seconds, Brunel are one minute and 51 seconds after fifth place.
Update 1235GMT The order stays the same as the boats round the first leeward mark. It looks as though Pirtates are pulling out. ABN AMRO TWO seems to be taking ground from Ericsson and this could be the closest battle in the fleet. Pirates have gone right up the windward leg this time as that cloud that gave them the greatest benefit has moved off. There is less tide on the right side.
Update 1230GMT This has turned out to be a one gybe run as the wind shift has had a major effect. It took 18 minutes to get upwind, they seem to have gone down to the leeward mark in about half the time. Pirates drop their spinnaker still in the lead over ABN AMRO ONE. Pirates round and head upwind, can they continue to hold off ABN AMRO ONE? Then Brasil 1, Ericsson, ABN AMRO TWO and Brunel. ABN AMRO TWO were the only boat to use an fractional asymmetric on this run and seem to have had to sail higher as a result.
Update 1225GMT Mark rounding times are as follows. Pirates first round after 18 minutes and two seconds. Then ABN AMRO ONE one minute and six seconds behind, Brasil 1 37 seconds behind second place, then Ericsson 17 seconds, ABN AMRO TWO another 11 seconds and finally Brunel one minute and six seconds behind ABN AMRO TWO.
Update 1220GMT The boats aren't too far from the mark and spinnakers are already coming on to the deck. Pirates look as though their hard left strategy might have worked fairly well, having made a big gain from a wind shift. Brunel seem to be sailing better now. Pirates approach on Port tack, ABN AMRO ONE on starboard. It looks as though Pirates are there first in front of ABN AMRO One. That left side strategy was a winning one. Brasil 1 look to be in third ahead of ABN AMRO TWO who have dropped a long way behind Brasil 1.
Update 1215GMT Dark clouds are on the horizon and it looks like rain is due. We will wait to see what effect the clouds have on the wind. ABN AMRO ONE and TWO are leading from Ericsson and Brasil, with Pirates coming in from hard left and we wait to see where they slot in in due course. Wind conditions are all in the favour of the ABN AMRO boats, but it is surprising that Brunel, another very powerful boat, isn't going better, but it seems as though they are having problems in the wind at the moment. ABN AMRO ONE and TWO have tacked and are crossing Brasil 1 who holds third from Ericsson. Pirates still have to come in to the fleet.
Update 1210 Both ABN AMRO boats seem to be leading, but Pirates have gone hard left and are about a mile and a half away to the left. ABN AMRO TWO seems to be the only boat that can live with ABN AMRO ONE. Pirates have tacked towards the right, have they sailed into a shift?
Update 1205 Pirates plough a lone furrow on the hard left, with Brunel alsdo going their way. Brasil 1 in the middle and Ericsson, then the two ABN boats. It looks as though ABN AMRO ONE is now getting into her stride and is taking ground on all the other boats. Brasil 1 might be getting the better of Ericsson. ABN AMRO ONE seems to be leading, at least on the right side of the track.
Update 1200GMT The gun goes. A tight start with all the boats fighting for the starboard end. Brunel is the boat fighting to hold on to the right. Ericsson gets the best start at speed. Pirates are the lone boat on the left side. Both ABN AMRO boats have had to tack away from Ericsson as they have been given dirty wind from Ericsson.
Update 1155GMT Five minute gun gone. Will Mike Sanderson do as he has promised and really go for an agressive start? Ericsson is close to ABN AMR TWO, boats looking to set up fro the starboard end of the line. The clouds might have an effect on the left side of the course on the first windward leg.
Update 1150GMT Ten minutes to the start. Perfect conditions. Bright sun and 20 knots of north north westerly wind. The course is course two, the straight windward leeward.
Update 1140GMT Ten minutes to the ten minute gun. The fleet are sailing in winds of about 20 knots out to the south south east of the Nab Tower waiting for the start in 20 minutes time. Clouds, sunny spells, wind now from the north north west.
Spectating on the water is going to be wet for the RIB riders, but spectacular. The Volvo Open 70s will be reaching speeds of up to 25 knots in these conditions.
Update 1115GMT Wind speed and direction have changed. The wind is now at 22 knots mean with gysts of 27, having gradually climbed from about 12 knots at 0900GMT. Direction is north north west, with a sea height of 0.2m, air temperature is 13.4 degrees C.
It looks like we will have a high speed, exciting race ahead of us, ideal for spectating and hopefully for our live streaming. If it all goes to plan, we will be getting helicopter pictures too to mix with the on board footage.
In Port race, morning preview The fleet should be afraid, very afraid. It has nothing to with any undercurrents which may or may not pervade through the Solent, rather it is down to the demeanour of Mike Sanderson since he arrived in Portsmouth last week.
No more Mr Nice guy is the message. No more throttling back; the leash has been loosened and the full potential of ABN AMRO ONE will be seen. The fact he has claimed 81 points from the 87.5 available until this stage, while apparently sailing with restraint, will doubtless leave his rivals twitching nervously at the potential of his yacht when the foot is firmly on the gas.
Admittedly skipper Mike Sanderson explains the effect of throwing caution to the wind is less profound on an inshore circuit than an offshore leg, but it will make some differences.
He said, “The start is where we might make a change. We have always gunned hard in the inshore, but we could mix it up more at the start; we have been worried about people having a go at us a bit. Our starts have been conservative. We don’t have to worry about that so much anymore.”
The only chance his rivals have, it would seem, lie in the cheeks of Aeolus, whose puffs determine whether the black boat wins at a canter or gallop. If the winds are above ten knots, then game over, if the wind sock suggests it is anything less then game on. This morning the wind has been steadily building. Most recent estimates suggest the race will be sailed in a 15 knot breeze, reaching 25 knots in the gusts. Today’s result could be all too similar to those in Cape Town, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro.
Sanderson added, “The forecast looks good, think we are going to have a good race.
“The forecast says 15 knots plus, so I think it will come down to crew work and pace. Crew work is a big, big factor on these boats. They are hard to get around the course. He who can get around the bottom and top mark tidily goes a long way.” Very philosophical, but his prophecies are rarely wrong.
And as far as crew work goes not many of the defeated in the remainder of the fleet can compare to the black boat either. Around each turn of every course sailed so far Black Betty has redefined sleek. She’s never gybed, certainly never been protested and her track record tells you places are not often lost. Only movistar’s record could compare, but this afternoon it isn’t even known if she is collecting barnacles or not.
movistar’s spirit or rather her navigator, however, continues on in this race. Andrew Cape will sail this stretch of water in the team colours of Ericsson. His new skipper, Neal McDonald, who lives in nearby Hamble and grew up on the Solent, you would assume to hold a home court advantage.
“No not at all,” said McDonald, looking to build on promising recent performances. “I only sailed the other side of the Solent. I don’t have much advantage over anyone on this bit.
“I’ll have a lot of friends out on the water, though, always nice to have. Hopefully it can raise our game a bit more.”
One team looking to raise its spirits is ABN AMRO TWO. Andrew Lewis came out with an understatement when explaining it had been “a hard week” as the team mourn the loss of Hans Horrevoets. His intent, however, was fiercely charged. “We are going to do it for him.” With the windy conditions added to the determination, the white boat makes for a good each way bet.
Brasil 1 is also in confident mood, provided the wind sock doesn’t get any more vibrant. Alan Adler, sailing as the team’s eleventh man today, said. “If it stays at 15 maybe we have a good chance, even with ABN AMRO ONE, if it gets more then we could see another good result for them. Us, we are confident, we have an excellent team, especially for this kind of racing.”
The Brazilians, however, have their eyes trained on another accolade, that afforded to the boat which finishes second on the leaderboard overall. To get it they must rob the Pirates, who currently hold a seven point advantage. The battle between those two yachts will be the one to watch this afternoon. First place, however, may not be much of a battle at all.
0950GMT In Port race day dawns with a cloudy sky, but a good 12 knots of north to northeasterly wind with substantial gusts under the clouds. It's not warm by any description.
At Gunwharf Quays the boats have gone through a moving blessing where Hans Horreovets was remembered by all present, and are now starting on their way to the race muster area. It looks as though the likely course will be staring somewhere south east of the Nab Tower, heading to a windward mark close to New Grounds buoy some five miles south of Hayling Island, seven miles south east of Portsmouth harbour entrance.
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