Day 24, Monday December 28, 1998

While the fleet leaders were beating up toward Cape Reinga, the Australian Maritime Rescue Authority continued its work. They already picked up 60 survivors out of the stormy sea. The toll had risen to three dead, one boat sunk and at least seven sailors missing. Only 48 of the 115 boats were still racing to Hobart. The authority put 25 civilian and 6 military aircraft in the air as well as a number of ships to the area.

Fila © Photo Billy Black

On another hand, Around Alone's overall leader Giovanni Soldini was on another side of the storm and facing light air and averaging less than 5 knots. With 682 miles to go, second placed Golding trailed Soldini by 136 miles. In third, Marc Thiercelin was 894 miles from the finish line.

Isabelle Autissier
Isabelle Autissier, who had rejoined the race, was making great progress. She was only 46 miles behind Thiercelin and she was averaging 12 knots. Isabelle described her progress: "My position behind the fleet has helped me, for once. Somewhere was slowed in the center of the low while I, being behind, had good following breezes. So that was a few miles easily made up. The wind now is pretty strong, and the low is still moving to the south. The forecast is for light airs. It feels great to have a boat that's really alive again."

By the fleet forecast, the wild weather in the Tasman Sea would be replaced by two merging high pressure systems to the west and light winds might become a problem for the leaders in Class I.

© Photo Richard Konkolski

In Class II, Mouligne continued to hold a lead of over 357 miles on Mike Garside. Jean-Pierre emailed: "I have been very lucky to be on the back side on the storm that has decimated the traditional Sydney-Hobart race. I happened to be just 200 miles South of the center of the storm and had very strong but favorable Southerly winds allowing me to do 600 miles in 2 days. The storm has moved to the west and the wind is moderating quickly. The next challenge is going to be the opposite: A high-pressure system is moving in from the west and we expect very light winds for several days."

Garside © Photo Marek Slodownik
Second placed Garside had the following boat almost 500 miles behind him but he still seemed to be lost. "This is where the game starts to get difficult. I have about a day to go before clearing Tasmania and then about another five or seven to cross the Tasman Sea. And I haven't a clue what to do next, " he messaged.

Robin Davie, at the end of the fleet and almost 4, 500 miles behind Mouligne, wrote: "The calm came and got me, and now it has passed me by as it moves on eastwards, and the winds returned, so that is good. If only I could move as fast as that high-pressure area..."

Positions:

Class 1

Class 2

Copyright © Richard Konkolski
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