Calm before the storm

Two days of gales ahead for Rolex Transatlantic fleet warns meteorologist Ken Campbell

Positions at 0800GMT

Boat	Cl	Elaps	Corr	Lat long	DTF	CMG	SMG	Time
ATLANTIC (1905)	-	-	-	40°00' N 67°30' W	2634.2	126	8.5	24.05.2005 08:20h
MARI-CHA IV	GP	2	3	38°08' N 67°27' W	2702.6	148	10.8	24.05.2005 08:00h
CARRERA	GP	4	2	39°33' N 69°02' W	2707.8	157	8.9	24.05.2005 04:00h
MAXIMUS	GP	1	1	37°53' N 67°44' W	2722.6	153	11	24.05.2005 08:00h
SOJANA	P1	5	2	38°57' N 68°56' W	2724.9	161	8.9	24.05.2005 08:00h
LEOPARD	P1	3	1	38°29' N 68°40' W	2732.6	160	9.7	24.05.2005 08:00h
NORDWIND	CL	19	3	39°37' N 71°11' W	2807.6	113	3.5	24.05.2005 08:00h
OCEAN PHOENIX	P2	15	7	39°24' N 70°32' W	2811.1	113	4.3	24.05.2005 08:00h
STAY CALM	P2	9	3	39°20' N 69°24' W	2816.7	108	5.7	24.05.2005 08:00h
SARIYAH	P2	14	6	39°16' N 70°21' W	2817.3	114	4.6	24.05.2005 08:00h
WHISPER	P2	11	4	39°09' N 69°38' W	2825.1	112	5.5	24.05.2005 08:00h
MARIELLA	CL	18	2	39°07' N 71°27' W	2839.2	126	3.6	24.05.2005 08:00h
SUMURUN	CL	17	1	39°03' N 71°26' W	2843.1	128	3.7	24.05.2005 08:00h
PALAWAN	P2	16	5	38°52' N 71°01' W	2846.8	127	4.2	24.05.2005 08:00h
TIARA	P1	12	5	38°44' N 70°28' W	2849.9	124	5.5	24.05.2005 04:00h
DRUMBEAT	P1	8	4	38°44' N 69°14' W	2853.3	116	6.2	24.05.2005 08:00h
ANEMOS	P1	13	6	38°40' N 70°21' W	2853.8	124	5.1	24.05.2005 08:00h
STAD AMSTERDAM	CL	20	4	39°10' N 72°26' W	2860.5	141	2.6	24.05.2005 08:00h
WINDROSE	P1	6	3	38°25' N 69°01' W	2873.9	119	6.7	24.05.2005 08:00h
TEMPEST	P2	10	2	38°18' N 70°03' W	2875.1	127	5.7	24.05.2005 08:00h
SELENI	P2	7	1	37°25' N 70°20' W	2928.2	139	6.5	24.05.2005 08:00h

The second morning of the Rolex Transatlantic Race, sees most of the smart money heading southeast to avoid the clutches of a severe depression that is due to pound the fleet for the next 48 hours. Interestingly the position of Wilson Marshall's Atlantic from the 1905 race is currently ahead of of all the 21st century state of the art racers...

Robert Miller's Mari-Cha IV has now overtaken Carrera in terms of distance to the finish. While Joe Dockery's maxi has been taking a route closer to the great circle, Mari-Cha IV and Maximus have been heading more southeast and there is now a 113 mile split between them across the race course. It should be noted that as the chart above shows the direct route to Point Alpha (which the boats must leave to port) is now on a bearing of northeast - thus the leaders are sailing at almost 90 degrees to the course...

The progress of the British performance cruisers Peter Harrison's Sojana and Mike Slade's Leopard is also impressive - both within ten miles of Maximus and holding the middle ground on the course. Those astern haven't been so fortunate - still wallowing around making five knots or in some cases less...

Of concern for the fleet is the weather ahead. "The main storm system will be coming off the Virginia coast this afternoon, and that will turn into a major gale," Ken Campbell of Commanders Weather warned yesterday afternoon. The message from Campbell is that the yachts should head south. "It is going to be a very rough two days for the fleet." Campbell predicts 30-50 knot winds and 20-30ft seas to the northeast of this depression.

The reason for the present southeasaterly track of the yachts is to attempt to hook around the south side of this depression rather than face the strong northeasterlies to the north of it.

100 years ago aboard the schooner Atlantic, Frederick Hoyt wrote:

"After sunrise we kept looking up all the time and by 8am were heading east by standard compass of N 80deg E true and with large jibtopsail and two staysails on we were doing between 11-12 knots. At 1000 a schooner was made out on the leebeam which later proved to be Hamburg, and when at noon she bore two points abaft the beam the faces of the watch on deck wore an expression of delight. The gods were good to us, for at noon, the sun broke through long enough for us to get a latitude sight. Although it did not clear entirely, the sun would show himself once in a while and give us an afternoon sight much to our relief."

The Rolex Transatlantic Challenge is sponsored by Rolex and also by Moran Towing Corp., Sandy Hook Pilots, P&O Ports North America, and MedLink. The race is supported by the City of New York and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Showboats International is the event's official marine publication; program sponsors include Rolex, North Fork Bank and Holland Jachtbouw.

From on board Mariella Sophie Luther writes:

24hr Distance Run - 82 nm

What a first day it has been out here in the Atlantic practically no wind to speak of and very shifty tactical decisions to be made. We currently have about 3-5 knots of breeze from the south but are making very good progress considering. About two hours ago we crossed infront of our friends on Anemos and had a little chat on the VHF so we must be doing well. It's a cold, mirror like day where you can see for miles but it has given us some time to look at weather for the next couple of days and get used to being back out at sea.

Whales and dolphins have been spotted this morning and as well as this we have been playing our normal game of spotting random bits of floating flotsum and jetsum, i.e. ballons, fishing nets, tree trunks etc. You would be surprised at the amount of stuff out here.

Our newly recut Ghoster is serving us well at the moment and powering us along. This sail is a classic version of a code zero and we're all pretty glad we declared it now!

From the last report we recieved it looks like we are infront of our rivals! Of course it's a long race but still it's great to have this moral boosting news.

Thank you all for your Good Luck and Congratulation emails. They are spurring us on in this light, fluky weather. Keep your fingers crossed.

Love the crew of Mariella xx

Weather at 2000GMT



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