ENDEAVOUR 40 KTH

Boat: ENDEAVOUR 40 KTH

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Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4 - Fleet Closes on East Cape


Author: Volvo Ocean Race Media

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet have bunched up together close to the coast at East Cape as they struggle to beat around the point in the predicted lighter winds. Tyco still leads the fleet and has just rounded East Cape some half a mile off the point, with Amer Sports One close behind and also round, followed by djuice. illbruck has opted for a slightly more offshore route, and is around two miles from the coast in marginally less breeze. News Corp, SEB and ASSA ABLOY still have to put in some more tacks to make it round, but are nevertheless in the same light winds as the leaders. Amer Sports Too has yet to sail into this lighter air and is currently sailing in around 10 knots of wind.

With the high pressure predicted to move to towards the east later today, winds are expected to pick up a little to around 15 knots with possible showers.

Volvo Ocean Race Position Report Leg 4, Day 2, 0416 GMT

PosYacht NameLatLongDTFDTLCMGSMGVMGETA1Tyco37 42.40S178 33.88E651201207.47.519 FEB 02 18:42 GMT2Amer Sports One37 41.00S178 34.00E651421167.67.519 FEB 02 18:45 GMT3djuice37 40.24S178 33.88E651531197.77.419 FEB 02 18:51 GMT4illbruck37 39.84S178 35.16E651641157.67.419 FEB 02 18:56 GMT5SEB37 38.68S178 33.04E651641177.67.419 FEB 02 18:58 GMT6News Corporation37 38.56S178 31.76E651751077.27.319 FEB 02 19:02 GMT7ASSA ABLOY37 36.60S178 29.96E651971037.37.319 FEB 02 19:12 GMT8Amer Sports Too37 34.80S178 23.12E6524121198.17.119 FEB 02 19:38 GMT

Update from Tyco - Thanks To Our Shore Team

The people of Auckland once again lived up to their reputation and the fleet enjoyed a fantastic send off from the dock and once again by the armada of boats on the water.

Things panned out nicely for us on Tyco and we enjoyed a small lead at the first turning mark after a fast reach from the start line. Since that time the racing as we have come to expect has been very close. We lost our lead to News Corp for a while but managed to regain it rounding Cape
Colville and we are currently beating in light air across the Bay of Plenty towards East Cape with most of the fleet just behind but very much in sight.

It looks like light winds will be on the menu for some time as we negotiate a high pressure system to the south of us blocking our route to the good strong westerlies that this leg is all about. It has been an easier first day than we often experience and the guys have been able to get some decent rest overnight which everyone is pleased about.

The reality that we are back on the boat for at least three weeks is sinking in but the atmosphere on board is very positive. We are all very aware that this leg is one of extremes, so we know that we will be tested to the full. A big thanks as always to our shore team who have done a great job of getting us ready and also to the many Tyco employees and supporters that gave us such a great send off yesterday and were so vocal in their support.

Update from Nick White, News Corp - Good News and Bad News

It's Monday afternoon, so all our friends in Auckland will be on holiday and those in other parts of the world will be fast asleep. We've had a few things go against us, which isn't good, but we can see the other boats so it isn't all bad news. The good news is that this is extremely enjoyable
sailing. One thing I've noticed after having the last leg off, is that the standard in the fleet has improved noticeably since legs one and two.

We've just rounded East Cape are heading south towards the Southern Ocean - it's still a few days away - it's very easy to forget what is coming when it is sunny like this! The GPS says Cape Horn is 4260 miles away. We have to sail a bit further than that, but it will become a focus shortly.

Better get back to working on a course for the guys on deck ...

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Volvo Ocean Race Information Page
• www.VolvoOceanRace.org

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ENDEAVOUR 38

Boat: ENDEAVOUR 38

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Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4 Preview - Cape Horn to port


Author: Volvo Ocean Race Media

It's back into the freezing Southern Ocean for the crews when they start the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, 6,700 nautical miles from Auckland, New Zealand, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday January 27th, 13h00 local time.

This is the leg of the race that takes the fleet around Cape Horn, a very symbolic landmark for seafarers, and back up into the South Atlantic, and it is the last of the long ocean passages.

For Jez Fanstone, skipper of News Corp, currently in third place, it will be the second time he passes Cape Horn. "It is a great place to sail; it is a scary place, but at the same time, it's a very exhilarating place," he says.

But for many, this will be their first time rounding the famous Cape. Will they take a little alcohol to pour into the sea in honour of the sailors who have lost their lives there in years gone past? Will they pierce their left ear and wear a golden earring as they have earned the right to do?

First, the teams have to get there, and this competitive fleet of eight boats will be pushing hard all the way. Only djuice, currently in seventh, and Amer Sports Too, in eighth, have yet to finish a leg among the top three. They are only too aware that, unless they are averaging 18 knots or so in the Southern Ocean, they are probably going to get left behind. "We, as a fleet, were scattered like marbles as we hooked a tow on the first windy system moving eastward, setting the stage for the wildest ride I have ever experienced" wrote Nick Maloney from onboard Toshiba during the Cape Horn leg of the last race.

Much of this leg will be raced in the high latitudes, where the best measurement of wind speed is the helmsman's face. During the Cape Horn leg of the last race, Knut Frostad wrote, "Hell isn't over yet. There is more wind to come."

Wind is what the Volvo Ocean racers want, and plenty of it! They will search for the depressions and strong winds of the roaring forties and the screaming fifties. The most direct route would take the fleet to 65 degrees south, increasing the risk of icebergs and very cold weather significantly. Too far south and they run the real risk of being to the south of the depressions and finding strong headwinds. In the last round-the-world race, Gurra Krantz took Swedish Match to 60.03 degrees south.

Krantz, now skipper of SEB, says that his team has taken the whole boat apart and checked and serviced everything in preparation for the next leg. "It's good to be on top of the game when it comes to having a boat in perfect shape for the Southern Ocean" he explains.

The sailing will be fast, with mainly following winds, until Cape Horn, where the seas and the wind will funnel between Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic peninsular. The weather can feature some of the roughest conditions in the world before the fleet turns hard left and enters the South Atlantic.

"The Southern Ocean is always a pretty wild place" says Neal McDonald, skipper of leg three winner, Assa Abloy. "One thing we do know is that we will see plenty of wind and we will see big waves. The unexpected things that will crop up will be icebergs, secondary lows that you get on the wrong side of and end up on the wind - all those nasty things are there and always will be."

Cape Horn marks the dividing line between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic to the east. The Cape is the southernmost point of a not-very-large island and therefore is not part of the landmass of South America being separated from Tierra del Fuego by the Beagle Channel. Tierra del Fuego itself is separated from S. America by the Straits of Magellan.

Once round Cape Horn and heading north, the winds become lighter and more variable. "You go from wild and cold to possibly very humid, hot and thundery" explains Neal McDonald. "You have to cater for all those conditions with sail selection, food, clothing. It's the leg that takes the most organisation, and, statistically, it is the leg that causes the most carnage" he added cheerfully.

Crew changes for leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race:

AMER SPORTS ONE

Off Dee Smith (USA)
On Paul Cayard (USA)

AMER SPORTS TOO

Off Genevieve White (AUS)
Off Sharon Ferris (NZ)
Off Melissa Purdy (USA)
On Miranda Merron (UK)
On Emma Richards (UK)
Carolijn Brouwer (NED)

ASSA ABLOY Racing Team

On Roberto Bermudez de Castro (SPAIN)
On Joshua Alexander (NZ)
Off Chris Larson (USA)
Off Jason Carrington (UK)

Djuice Dragons

Off Erle Williams (NZ)
Off David Blanchfield (AUS)
Off Steve Gruver (USA)
Off Espen Guttormsen (NOR)
On Thomas Coville (FRA)
On Peter Merrington (AUS)
On Grant Wharington (AUS)

illbruck Challenge

NO CHANGES

Team News Corp

Off Peter Isler (USA)
Off Jon Gunderson (NZ)
On Nick White (NZ)
On Nigel King (UK)

Team SEB

On David Rolfe (NZ)
On Pascal Bidegorry (FRA)
On Anthony Merrington (AUS)
Off Matthew Humphries (UK)
Off Tony Rey (USA)
Off Sean Clarkson (NZ)

Team Tyco

On Damion Foxall (IRE)
Off Richard Dodson (NZ)

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Volvo Ocean Race Information Page
• www.VolvoOceanRace.org

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ENDEAVOUR 37

Boat: ENDEAVOUR 37

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Steve Nicholson Memorial race at Northampton Sailing Club


Author: Peter Travers

Northampton Sailing Club held the second Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy last Saturday, 19th January. The event is fast becoming one of the premiere early season inland meetings. Following the success of the inaugural meeting last year, the event once again brought together some of the top UK sailors including several National and World champions. The fleet was large, 104 boats arrived at Pistford to be greeted by near perfect conditions.

The double handers got the day under way with some very competitive racing from the Fireball fleet who were using this event as the last time to check the boat handling out before they go off to the Worlds in Tampa USA. As the breeze increased, several of the fleet practised their capsize drills, but eventually Kevin Hope & Rob Gardner came out on top.

Single handlers were once again dominated by the Laser Vortex. The winning boat was sailed by Keith Escritt, who was closely challenged by Anthony York in his RS600 throughout the racing. The U18 were giving everyone a run for their money lead by Nicholas Scott in his Laser with two fourth places. Alan Burrell sailing his Phantom once again had good day racing, keeping up with the Vortex and RS600 to finish fourth overall.

The asymmetric racing took place while everyone else was resting and proved to be great viewing for every one. Several spectacular capsizes and some very near misses from the leading boats gave everyone the chance to stay in contention for the lead. The Laser Stratos sailed by Bruce Bonar and Will Hall came out on top. Kevin Anderson sailing his Musto Skiff closely followed them in second place.

The day racing was a great success, only thanks to relentless effort of Chris Wright and his team on the water, the many helpers on the shore and, of course, those who turned up to sail.

In total, the day raised Ј1600 for the National Asthma Campaign.

Overall Results:

More Information:

• Northampton Sailing Club
  

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ENDEAVOUR 37

Boat: ENDEAVOUR 37

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New Recruits talk about the Volvo Ocean Race


Author: Volvo Ocean Race Media

It's not an easy task, jumping onto a boat you've never sailed before, with a crew you don't know very well, and heading straight out into the Southern Ocean. It's high expectation all round for Miranda Merron and Emma Richards, the two new recruits onboard Nautor Challenges' Amer Sports Too and we caught up with them shortly after their arrival in Auckland.

Miranda Merron

"I have taken on a very big job I think. I have navigated for double handed races before and the odd trans Atlantic, but never for this many people on a team. The level of navigation and skill within the fleet is incredibly high and I couldn't possibly think that I could be anywhere
close to that. I am also not that familiar with navigating within the southern hemisphere, my speciality is the north Atlantic, so I've got rather a lot to learn.

"It's very much like being back at school. Not only do I have to remember that systems go the other way round in the southern hemisphere which is not too difficult, but it's learning all the systems that these boats use and all the routing programmes that we use, some of which I am familiar
with already, and some of which is totally new to me. I'm very looking forward to it; it's quite a challenge.

"When there are only two of you onboard you take decisions together, one person will look at the weather maps and when there is a watch changeover, you look at them together and discuss situations. Another advantage is that we are quite often entitled to weather routing in those races, which helps us out a bit. But at the end of the day, there are only two of you. You are skipper and co-skipper and you are responsible for your own actions and you are not going to irritate anyone else if you make a mistake. When there are twelve or thirteen people onboard, it is quite a different matter.

"People have been very helpful so far. I know about half the crew and I have sailed with some of them before. In fact, Emma Westmacott, Emma Richards and I were on Royal & Sun Alliance a few years ago.

"I know I am supposed to be under a lot of pressure, but I have been steadfastly refusing to look at the press reports or listen to a great deal of what's being said outside of our team. I am just trying to get on with the job and not worry about it too much. There is a limited amount of time now and I am doing my very best to get up to speed and see what we can do with the race. Navigating is not a totally solo job, it is a shared task and you are not the only decision maker. Hopefully between us we will be able to do something good with it.

"When I was a youngster, the Volvo was always a race I wanted to do and certainly wanted to do four years ago, eight years ago. In the interim I have got very involved with shorthanded sailing and my future lies in the Open 60 class and I had rather forgotten about it. I'd very much hoped to do it sometime but it just didn't seem to fit in with my programme. I had a big race in November from France to Brazil and then suddenly Lisa called up and asked me to come along and I was delighted.

"I had to sort out with my own sponsor and some other races that I was supposed to be involved with that clashed, to be able to come here and a few phone calls and it was done.

Emma Richards

"Lisa just called up and asked if I fancied sailing round the southern Ocean and I could say yes immediately. I had been thinking about it for a while. Lisa had asked us in the summer when she first found the sponsorship, but both Miranda and I were taking part in the Jacques Vabre so it wasn't possible then. We were already set up, we both have our own sponsors and this is our rest period between our next events with our other sponsors so what better to do that go sailing in the southern Ocean.

"We are looking forward to the challenge. We have been down there before [Southern Ocean], so we might have a little experience to bring to the other girls. My forte is steering - I like steering in heavy winds. It is just going to be a case of getting used to this boat before we go down there.

"I know the girls that were on Royal & Sun Alliance, both Miranda and Emma (Westmacott) I know well. Miranda and I have spent the last three years doing double-handed races and crewed races with. Anna Drougge was my skipper at the beginning of 2001 on the sixty-foot trimaran and so I know
her very well and various others I have met at other times, so I am really looking forward to it. I know it is a strong team and it is a privilege to be part of it.

"I think it can be taken that pressure will be handed to you. Everyone on the race at some point will be criticised. I think it is something you face when you take part in something that is in the public eye. You put yourself under your own pressure, but as long as you are aware of it and
it is there and you know you are going to get a few digs, it is just part of life really.

"The boats look fantastic, they look grand prix. I am feeling really ready to go actually."

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Volvo Ocean Race Information Page
• www.VolvoOceanRace.org

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ENDEAVOUR 35

Boat: ENDEAVOUR 35

Builder: Endeavour Yacht Corp.

Designer: Bruce Kelly

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OK Worlds, Napier Sailing Club New Zealand Overall


Author: Robert DeavesRace Seven: (by Roger Blasse)

The breeze for the first time was blowing from the south at 180 degrees. Initially it promised to be a heavy air race with a few smiles on some of the larger competitors. As with all the other races very shortly after the start the breeze died. Nick Craig took the initial advantage up the first half of the beat. Unfortunately for Nick though the breeze shifted and the people that looked like dog tucker on the right got lifted up to the mark with Gauch (Paul Rhodes) leading at the top mark with Bart second.

The breeze continued to lighten off down the two reaches with the next beat being sailed in under 10
knots with 40 degree shifts. It was anyone's race.

Bart took advantage of these tricky conditions to work his way to a handy lead by the second windward mark.

Down the run the breeze began to shift left and increased slightly.

There were no major positional changes down the run, but by the time the fleet reached the leeward mark the committee had already shifted the finishing line 40 degrees to the left.

Shortly after rounding the mark the breeze increased substantially and continued to rotate left as the ex-tropical low pressure system made its impact.

Alastair Gair, Roger Blasse and Gauch who made a short clearing tack after the leeward mark picked up on this shift early.

Bart and Nick Craig who continued on towards the right missed this opportunity and were passed. The breeze continued to increase to 25 knots with one leg to the finish line with few opportunities for passing.

Some of the big boys were happy to have some wind finally, although only for one beat.

Overall Results:

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ENDEAVOUR 33

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Kilroy prepares to defend Farr 40 title at Acura SORC


Author: Shawn McBride

New Boat, Sempa Pa Ti II, and New Crew Add to Challenge

Among the early registrants for the 2002 Acura SORC, March 6-10, in Miami Beach, FL, are the top two finishers in last year's Farr 40 class. El Segundo, CA - resident John Kilroy, Jr. won the Farr 40 title aboard Sempa Pa Ti in a close competition, defeating James Richardson of Boston, MA, aboard Barking Mad, by .25 points. Both return in 2002 to take another run at the Farr 40 title and the coveted Mark H. Baxter Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the low point yacht in the Farr 40 fleet.

Adding to the drama, Kilroy has "retired" 1999 Farr 40 World Champion Sempa Pa Ti and will be helming a new boat, Sempa Pa Ti II as well as sailing with several new crew, including Jeff Madrigali, who will be taking over the role of tactician from John Kostecki who is currently leading the Volvo Ocean Race aboard illbruck. Kilroy will break in Sempa Pa Ti II at Key West Race Week and anticipates being up to speed in time to defend his Acura SORC Farr 40 title in the waters off Miami Beach.

"The Acura SORC is a terrific regatta and viewed by many as the preeminent annual Farr 40 event on the East Coast," said John Kilroy, Jr. "On Samba Pa Ti II we have identified the Acura SORC as one of our primary events for 2002, while working to optimize our team for the 2002 Farr 40 World Championships."

At the 2001 Acura SORC, Sempa Pa Ti had several strong finishes early in the week and entered the final race needing a sixth place finish to wrap up the regatta. Unfortunately, Kilroy and crew found themselves in a tough spot at the start and combined with an aggressive tack by their main rivals, Barking Mad, slipped to 17th place halfway up the first weather leg of the race. Sempa Pa Ti eventually rounded the first mark in 13th place and went to work reeling in the rest of the fleet. They ultimately battled back to finish in sixth place, winning the class.

"The Acura SORC is a terrific regatta and as a tribute to how strong the Farr 40 class has come, its truly not over until the final race," explained Kilroy. "You learn to think big picture and recognize you must sail fast and smart to be successful."

In its 61st year, the Acura SORC will be raced off Miami Beach, March 6-10, 2002. The regatta once again features racing on ocean courses with all shore-side activities headquartered at Miami Beach Marina.

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ENDEAVOUR 32 CB

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Paul Cayard to sail leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race


Author: Volvo Ocean Race Media

Today in Auckland, New Zealand, Nautor Challenge announced that Paul Cayard, skipper of the winning yacht EF Language in the last Whitbread race, will join the crew of Amer Sports One.

Cayard will replace American tactician Dee Smith, who has returned to the United States for an operation on his right shoulder. Had Cayard not been available, then Smith would have sailed leg four.

Amer Sports One skipper, Grant Dalton, said, "Dee has been doing a great job, but has had trouble with his shoulder for several months. It's painful and restricts his movement and, sooner or later, he would need surgery. The fact that Paul is available for leg four allows Dee to get it over with now.

"Dee left New Zealand on Sunday nigh and had the surgery on Tuesday. He will return to New Zealand, and the team, next weekend. The medical advice is that he will require five or six weeks of rehabilitation and is expected to be fit for leg five."

Cayard is no stranger to the Nautor Challenge team as Dalton explains, "Paul has been involved with the Nautor Challenge syndicate from its inception. We have conferred a number of times about various aspects of the campaign. He is also a board member of Nautor's Swan and honorary
chairman of Nautor Challenge."

Dalton, second to Cayard in the 1997-98 Whitbread, said "I chased Paul around the world four years ago and I would rather have him sailing with me than against me.

"Paul will take over Dee's tactical role working with navigator Roger Nilson and he will also have a role on deck. Dee offered to have the operation after the race, doing it now will allow him to get stronger through to the finish.

Cayard is looking forward to the race. "Leg 4 is the best leg of the race. It has it all. you start in pouring rain, sail through gales, 30 foot waves and ice, and finally finish in extreme heat. I am looking forward to sailing with Grant and his team and racing for Nautor Challenge"

Naturally Dee Smith is disappointed to miss what he agrees is the best leg of the race.

During the last race, Cayard described this leg saying, "At times we have been sailing in a tunnel of water created by the bow wave which shoots 15 feet up in the air on each side. We have had two full moon, clear sky nights...indescribable."

It's not really surprising that he wants to come back and sail it again.

Grant Dalton on Cayard joining Amer Sports One

Q: News today of Paul Cayard joining Amer Sports One. Your reaction:

A: Well it's a planned move. We got to Auckland and said 'what have we got to do to make the boat go faster?' We're in second, but second can quite easily turn into fifth, sixth or even seventh in a quality fleet like this, it is much harder to go up a step, it is a lot easier to go backwards.

Dee's shoulder injury was at a point where he really needed to do something about it so that he's right when we get into the short course racing up the coast of the US. Paul has been involved on the fringes of this campaign right from the start. He was the logical person to join and he was really the only guy I would only ever consider joining in place of Dee. If Paul had not been available then Dee would have remained.

Q: It does look now that you finally have got the dream team. What sort of message does this send out to the rest of the fleet?

A: If I was listening to the news that Paul Cayard had joined Assa Abloy or illbruck Challenge then I wouldn't have been happy about that. I would say that it strengthened that other team. I don't think we have taken it seriously in this campaign to date, we are so late, we are in a totally
different design, our sail programme hasn't really happened yet. We're just taking it bit by bit. We're three legs in and we somehow managed to get ourselves into second. I'm probably more surprised than anybody that we're in second place. We're just trying to get better.

Q: What will Paul bring to the party?

A: He brings every strength to us. He's a fast driver, he's a great tactician, he has huge energy, he is a good motivator, he will be good for me. It's been a long two years for me and even though I don't feel tired I am sure I'm probably off the boil a little bit. Just in the exchange of emails in the last few days, he is starting to get his head round the campaign. He's got me working harder than I was expecting with nine days to go which is a good thing. I think he strengthens us in every way.

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Volvo Ocean Race Information Page
• www.VolvoOceanRace.org

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