Record within their grasp

Great American II endures storm as Wilson remembers his capsize at Cape Horn

Asked today in an interview by Melbourne radio talk show host Derryn Hinch why he went back to sea for a second attempt at that record, Wilson replied simply: "We had a lot of kids following the voyage. We wanted to show them that you have to keep trying in order to succeed. You have to get back on the horse again!"

Wilson said that during recent days of the current record attempt, emotions and attitudes on the boat had been up and down as they struggled with light, adverse weather conditions and watched their lead over the Mandarin dwindle from over 800 miles to less than 400.

"The last week has been a real struggle," he said. "What a yo-yo! - We were stymied by a high pressure system. We tried to go north of it but faced very strong headwinds. It wouldn't work. We faced 1,800 miles of sailing into the wind and would not have got to Melbourne in time.

"Then we tried going south but were almost buried in the light winds of the high. We were able to save ourselves by heading back north, first crawling, then walking and finally running out of there.

"Five days ago, I didn't think that we still had a shot at the record, but now we have the opportunity to ride the strong winds of a storm system that is building to the south of us. We have a chance to make it."

After entering Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, Great American II will complete her voyage off the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Williamstown where her finish will be officially recorded by the club's race officer.

To beat Mandarin's record, Great American II must arrive off Williamstown, before 5:21 pm, summer time, on November 28.
The 53ft Nigel Irens trimaran, Great American II