The Race - 1030 - 20/2/01

Cam Lewis and Team Adventure (orange) speared south in their efforts to catch the low pressure and then the Poles in Warta Polpharma (orange). Lewis is already hooked into that low and gybing in the westerly breeze on the top of it. There is plenty of breeze down there and it's all going the right way - but Lewis will once again be reorganising his watch system, 13 at the start, they are now only eight.

Both boats should have no trouble staying with that low pressure, looking at the forecast for tomorrow morning (right) it's movement to the east isn't that quick.

Team Legato will definitely lose three crewmen in Wellington, Armand Coursodon and Olivier Cusin, together with Bristol-based radio journalist Rob Salvidge, have all stepped off the boat for medical reasons. Coursodon requires treatment to his back and Cusin is in need of extended dentistry to repair teeth he chipped when thrown forward. Navigator Jason Owen was also injured in a Southern Ocean nose dive, but he has been cleared to continue in The Race. Rob Salvidge is leaving for personal medical reasons.

The rules do not allow crew replacement, and after learning of the loss of three crew the team took a vote and decided to take a 60 hour break in Wellington to check over the boat and make one or two small repairs including servicing one of the generators. Bullimore and his remaining crew will restart at 16.14 GMT on February 21st.

Standings (at 0700 GMT, 20/2/01)

1 Club Med 3852.4 nm to the finish
2 Innovation Explorer +1020.7 nm
3 Warta Polpharma +6651.3 nm
4 Team Adventure +6976.6 nm
5 Team Legato +7464.7 nm

Map images courtesy of Virtual Spectator, click here to go to The Race site for a free download of the software.