Multihulls pull ahead

An update from day three of the Faraday Mill OSTAR

Positions at noon today

Pos	Boat Name	Lat	Long	DTF	Rating	Comments
	MONOHULLS
	Open 40 (Pen Duick)
1	ROARING FORTY	50 53N	15 36W	2,359
2	VM MATERIAUX	51 27N	14 58W	2,388
3	LA PROMESSE	50 46N	14 36W	2,397
4	DESTINATION CALAIS	50 30N	13 46W	2,435
5	SPIRIT OF CANADA	50 23N	13 18W	2,435
6	HAYAI	50 02N	11 25W	2,511
7	ROBOSAIL	49 44N	10 13W	2,562
	IRC 1 (Gipsy Moth)
-	ATLANTIX EXPRESS	50 19N	12 28W	2,473	1.311
-	BLUE SHADOW	49 03N	04 47W	2,790	1.121	Retired
-	CHIVAS III	---	---	---	1.045
-	ECHO ZULU	50 04N	11 58W	2,511	1.109
-	OCTAVUS	50 18N	08 43W	2,624	1.063	DISMASTED HEADING TO KINSALE
-	OLYMPIAN CHALLENGER	51 07N	13 44W	2,425	1.152
-	VIJAYA	50 59N	11 54W	2,511	1.056
	IRC 2 (Jester)
-	ADRIENNE MAY	49 39N	09 46W	2,600	0.982
-	DE FRANSCHMAN	---	---	---	0.978
-	REALITY	50 11N	08 48W	2,624	0.937
-	SEA BERYL	50 12N	07 45W	2,662	0.939	RETIRED HEADING FOR PLYMOUTH
-	SUOMI KUDU	49 54N	09 07W	2,600	0.941
-	TROIS MILLE SABORDS	50 50N	12 24W	2,473	0.998
	IRC 3 (Eira)
-	AMELIE OF DART	51 08N	10 47W	2,537	0.843
-	AYESHA OF ST MAWES	48 29N	07 28W	2,692	0.899
-	CHIMP	50 26N	11 16W	2,511	0.909
-	QUEST II	---	---	---	0.932
-	TAMARIND	50 52N	10 50W	2,549	0.892
-	ZEAL	50 24N	07 43W	2,662	0.922	No Position Report Received
	MULTIHULLS
	Open 50 (Manureva)
1	ACANTHE INGENIERIE	50 03N	17 50W	2,283
2	BRANEC IV	50 34N	16 41W	2,321
	MOCRA 1 (Three Cheers)
-	COTONELLA	52 36N	16 13W	2,306	1.653
-	HOUD VAN HOUT	50 47N	11 31W	2,511	1.063
-	MOLLYMAWK	49 08N	06 20W	2,715	1.627	RETIRED AT PLYMOUTH
-	SHOCKWAVE	50 34N	12 48W	2,473	1.478
-	SPIRIT	50 03N	17 21W	2,283	1.510
-	UP MY SLEEVE	50 49N	09 06W	2,586	1.422	No Position Report Received

The players are beginning to show their hands in the Faraday Mill OSTAR singlehanded transatlantic race between Plymouth and Newport, RI.

Michael Kleinjans on Roaring Forty, the monohull leader since the start in now facing his first real threat from the wily French round the world veteran Patrice Carpentier who has taken his Open 40 VM Materiaux well north of the Belgium Figaro and Mini sailor.

Meanwhile the multihulls are now beginning to show their pace, even upwind. In the 50ft trimaran match race Anne Caseneuve on Acanthe Ingenerie has now overtaken Roger Langevin's new Branec IV. Caseneuve has also finally overtaken Spirit. The unknown factor is Italian skipper Franco Manzoli on 'the underwear boat' Cotonella who seems so far north that his position may have been mis-reported (all skippers have a two hour window to report in their noon position each day).

Although this data isn't available from the boats in this race, one would imagine most skipper are close reaching in a WNW direction in the southwesterly winds preceeding a depression to their northwest. This depression is due to trundle over the top of the fleet in about 36 hours time at which time they will tack as the wind veers round to the northwest.

The force 5-6 winds have caused a few problems for three of the skippers. Bram van de Loosdrecht dismasted Octavus at 09.00 on Wednesday morning and has informed the race office of his retirement and that he would be heading for Kinsale under his own steam. An hour earlier Bertus Buys on Sea Beryl retired due to irreparable damage to his mainsail and would put into Plymouth on his way home to The Netherlands.

This brings the total retirements in the first three days to four. Although he is still racing, Pieter Adriaans has reported that he is having problems with his hydraulics. This for Pieter could be serious as Robosail is reliant on the system for most of her operation.

The Corinthian sailors are only just beginning to feel the effect off the stronger winds and consequentially are still fairly well bunched but one boat, Ayesha of St Mawes is beginning to fall astern. Paul Heiney is bringing up the rear 60 miles behind Huib Swets on Vijaya.