Day 25, Tuesday March 2, 1999

© Photo Richard Konkolski

It looked like it was going to be Soldini's last day on the sea before he'd finish. He had only 148 miles to go. His only one Class I rival, Marc Thiercelin, was resting in the Falkland Islands. His project manager, Jacques Guilmain, sent a few boat pictures to the race headquarter. Previously described simple hole in the deck was in fact a large tear in the deck and cabin roof. His new aluminum mast should leave France this day on it's way to England. It should arrive in the Falklands on Friday. Marc was planning to restart the next Monday, March 8.

Cray Valley © Photo Billy Black

Jean-Pierre Mouligne was finally able to gain some miles on second placed Garside. He reported in his mail that he kept too much sails and that his autopilot lost control twice during last three hours. He wrote: "The South West wind finally filled in last night and Cray Valley has been rushing along at 12 to 15 knots. In my obsession to go fast I set up too much sail and twice in the last 3 hours the autopilot lost control and we rounded up into the wind. It is not necessarily dangerous but that is how things break and I have to bring the boat back on course manually as quickly as possible." Garside fell to 95 miles behind his stern.

© Photo Richard Konkolski 

The conditions were getting better around the Cape Horn, but 2,000 miles back the rest of the fleet was experiencing the worst storm ever remembered during BOC Challenge and Around Alone races. Minoru Saito suffered steady wind of 60-75 knots with strong gusts of up to 100 knots. He was sailing bare-poles but still doing 7-8 knots and reporting many knock downs. A messy breaking sea and strong wind did not allow him to pass Harry's last know position because the conditions forced him to sail in NE direction. Fortunately the worst of the condition for him was past.

Over 200 miles to Minoru's north Petersen was averaging the fleet-best 10-plus knots. Neal reported: "My weather has eased up a bit, but it is still blowing between 25 to 30 knots. The seas are still very big and we are progressing with just headsails set. I took the mainsail down in the severe gale and will wait for a better sea to set it. Even with just headsails, I am still making good mileage. I expect today's run to be in the 170's-180's."

"During severe weather, I get a fair amount of water into the bilges, particularly coming in through the two hatches. So my bilge sounds like a washing machine. Yesterday I took a very severe knockdown that dumped water on the cabin top inside of the boat."

At the same time Neil Hunter was suffering from lack of wind. At his location they were variable at 3 to 7 knots and his speed was less than knot. He was still 3,418 miles from Punta.

© Photo Richard Konkolski

Retired Fedor Konioukhov reached 50S and 140W. He reported that he had an unexpected visitor: "I was knocked down and when the boat came up there was a dolphin in my cockpit," he said. "I heeled the boat and threw him back in the water. I have seen a lot of 'flying fish,' but never a 'flying dolphin.'"

© Photo Richard Konkolski

Positions:

Class 1

Class 2

Copyright © Richard Konkolski
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