Stelmar back in the race

North south divide in Global Challenge

Team Stelmar are back in the Global Challenge. Following the injury of crew volunteer Tim Johnston, they have left Ushuaia to restart racing through the Southern Ocean and on to Wellington.

Johnston is currently on a plane bound for a hospital in Buenos Aires where his arm will be operated on in very modern facilities. Despite having a badly broken upper arm Tim is said to be comfortable having been prepared for the onward journey in Ushuaia. Hopefully the flight to Buenos Aires will be easier and less painful for him than being strapped into his bunk for a week in the violent southern ocean.

The yacht will make best speed (sail or motorsail) to the point at which they ceased racing where they will resume racing to waypoint Alpha and Wellington, albeit on a more northerly track than they might otherwise have taken. The implication is that it might take longer than the preferred southerly route but will hopefully avoid some of the ferocity and extreme cold of southern ocean conditions.

It should take them about a week to get back to where they stopped racing.

The heat is still very much on for the rest of the fleet with some exceptionally close racing still prevalent throughout. With 11 yachts now past Waypoint Alpha the North or South debate has started, with BG Spirit kicking off the gambling proceedings by taking a southerly flyer, putting them back into fourth place.

Spirit of Sark is still commanding a lead over the rest of the fleet, of 38 miles, but neck and neck are VAIO and BP Explorer. BP Explorer looks like they’re chasing a more southerly route, although they could just be shadowing the lead yacht.

This is yacht racing at its very best. Barclays Adventurer, SAIC La Jolla and Samsung - all of which have lead on a number of occasions, Barclays Adventurer winner of leg 1 - are now in a three way combat, all with exactly 98 miles to the leader. Actually seeing other yachts around in the depths of the Southern Ocean, after 3,500 nmiles of racing, must be both comforting and frustrating as they desperately try to shake one another off and get back up to the top.

A low pressure is due in the next 24 hours bringing with it lighter winds. Loz Marriott, skipper of Pindar describes his thoughts about the great north/ south divide and the ever changing weather game: "Looking at the fleet, most of the yachts are staying to the north of the Rhumb line and one yacht (BG Spirit) has taken the straight south route.

“Looking at the information we have so far the north part of the Rhumb line seems a slower option but as the low develops in a few days this could give rise to better winds at a faster anglee. We will look at this in the next few hours to make the decision on where to put ourselves. If this wind and direction continue for a few days then the Rhumb line will be the best option.”

Paul Kelly, skipper of Team Save the Children further elaborated: "Plan is to stay as close to the line as possible and make the most of the light winds that will be with us for a couple of days. Trying to keep the boats outside of us to cover all our limited options. Tactically there is not a lot that can be done, apart from straight and fast."

Positions (distance to leader)

Spirit of Sark - 0
VAIO - 38
BP Explorer - 38
BG SPIRIT - 40
Me to You - 73
Team Save the Children - 88
Barclays Adventurer- 92
SAIC La Jolla - 92
Samsung - 92
Imagine It. Done - 141
Pindar - 319
Team Stelmar - 1,996