Eight days to go for Ellen

B&Q poised for grand tour of the Far East

The countdown of to the start of the Asian Record Circuit 2006 has started. Just eight days remain until Ellen MacArthur and an international crew of four set off from Yokohama, Japan on Saturday, 25 March to cover around 4,505 miles of very new territory [the equivalent of sailing from England to Mexico!]. The objective is to establish a series of crewed record times between key Asian ports [or gates] Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Malaysia to Singapore - it is a first of its kind for a major sailing campaign to take to these waters with the aim of setting benchmark times that can be challenged in the future by other sailors.

The 75ft trimaran was shipped to Asia from Southampton onboard CMA CGM’s container ship the Bizet and arrived in Hong Kong 11 days ago where the shore crew quickly re-assembled B&Q and started their delivery trip to Yokohama, Japan. B&Q is expected to arrive in Yokohama by this coming Monday (20.3.06) and Ellen will join the crew to make the final preparations for the start of the record circuit.

A word from the Blair

On hearing the news of MacArthur’s new venture, British Prime Minister, Tony Blair sent Ellen the following message of support: “The trip will be another formidable challenge to add to the list of impressive achievements which you already have to your name. Your readiness to take it on seems entirely in keeping with the uniquely adventurous spirit you have brought to the world of sailing. I look forward to following your journey in the news and send you my best wishes for its success.”

China

Nearly half of the miles covered on the Asian Record Circuit will take Ellen and her crew from the most north-eastern major port of mainland China, Dalian, to the most south-westerly point at Sanya (Hainan Island). China is the third largest country in the world, with the world’s largest population of 1.3 billion accounting for more than one-fifth of the entire world population. China is a country with an unrivalled maritime history that is not widely known but as its doors open to the west, the full story is being revealed.

Between 1405 to 1433, Admiral Zheng He led a huge 300-strong armada of vessels carrying 30,000 men on a journey of seven voyages reaching as far as West Africa - nearly a century before Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas and Vasco de Gama’s in India. Some of the vessels were known as baochuan, or treasure ships - a giant 400ft (122m) long and 170ft (52m) wide baochuan would be able to carry 16 B&Q trimarans on its deck alone! China’s greatest seafarer was born far from the sea in the mountainous region of Mongolia and was taken captive by the Chinese army in 1382. He was ritually castrated and trained as an imperial eunuch to the court of Zhu Di’s Ming dynasty. Within two decades, the young boy was transformed, becoming one of Zhu Di’s principal chief aides and was chosen to lead one of the most powerful naval forces ever assembled. The fleet are believed to have sailed to what the Chinese call Xi Yang, the Western Ocean – their business a mix of exploration and trade. Zheng took his fleet from mainland China in 1405 through the Strait of Malacca to Sumatra, Ceylon and India. They crossed the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf and onto the Arabian Peninsula. The final voyage of 1431-1433 saw the fleet navigate Africa’s Swahili coast. Zheng is believed to have died on the return voyage and was buried at sea.

B&Q is expected to arrive in Yokohama by Monday (20.3.06) to get ready for start of circuit; Ellen departs UK tomorrow to join crew in Japan. Last night the boat suffered a collision with a large log, no major damage sustained, but highlights one of the greatest risks of sailing through busy waters navigated by hundreds of ships and fishing boats.

Itinerary:
20-24 March: stopover, Yokohama
25-31 March: Leg 1: Yokohama, Japan to Jeju Island, South Korea, leg 2: Jeju Island to Dalian, China
1-4 April: stopover, Dalian
5-6 April: Leg 3: Dalian to Qingdao
7-8 April: Stopover 3: Qingdao
9-10 April: Leg 4: Qingdao to Shanghai
11-15 April: Stopover: Shanghai
16-18 April: Leg 5: Shanghai to Taipei
19-20 April: stopover, Taipei
21-23 April: Leg 6: Taipei to Hong Kong
24-30 April: Stopover: Hong Kong
1-7 May: Leg 7: Hong Kong to Sanya (Hainan Island), leg 8: Sanya to Nha Trang, Vietnam, leg 9: Nha Trang to Terengganu, Malaysia
8- 11 May: stopover, Terengganu
11-12 May, leg 10 Terengganu to Singapore
13-17 May: Stopover: Singapore