illbruck steps out

Kostecki sets his mark on leg seven

Positions at 10.00 30 April 2002

		Latitude	Longitude	DTF	SMG	TFHR	DTL	DTL-C	Pts
1	illbruck	38 05.96N	066 30.84W	2934	19.2	415	0	0	49
2	Assa Abloy	37 55.08N	066 47.52W	2950	19.1	401	16	1	41
3	Tyco	38 00.80N	066 54.12W	2953	18.9	398	19	2	33
4	SEB	38 02.08N	066 57.72W	2956	17.9	396	22	8	26
5	Amer One	37 51.67N	066 55.92W	2957	19.2	399	23	0	36
6	news	38 03.80N	067 00.36W	2957	17.7	394	23	9	34
7	djuice	37 47.44N	067 21.16W	2977	16.1	381	43	19	23
8	Amer Too	37 46.60N	067 58.92W	3006	16.3	361	72	18	10

illbruck has stepped on the gas in the last 24 hours and has pulled out a lead of some 14 miles on the pursuing pack. illbruck's gain seems to have come from pure speed rather than tactical advantage. Though sailing almost exactly the same course as those behind, illbruck has done so nearly one knot faster than the others.

At the back of the fleet, Amer Sport Too's early tactical move to the south has proved unsuccessful. Now more than twice as far behind the fleet as second-last placed djuice, Amer Sports Too is so far proving as slow as illbruck is fast.

The reasons for who is fast and why are so far unexplained with little information coming from the boats in the last 24 hours. On past form it seems reasonable to speculate that illbruck has a well developed set of sails for the downwind conditions the fleet is now experiencing. Perhaps the surprise of the leg so far is SEB who seem destined to spend the entire race steeped in either joy or despair with little in between. So far on this leg they have been showing good speed without suffering the problems that have beset them in previous legs.

Amer Sports One are struggling to keep on the pace, and despite claims and counterclaims from Dalton and others, it seems likely that Grant Dalton is not so far from the truth when he says that his boat is just a fraction off the pace broad reaching in moderate conditions.

For the time being at least, leg seven looks set to continue as a boat-speed race offering the navigators few tactical options. Winds for the next few days look set to remain north or northwesterly and moderate in strength. By the end of the week, the fleet should have picked up the low pressure system which is currently forming over Newfoundland. This will propel them on their way at high speed to and past the edge of the 'ice-box' set by the race committee to keep the fleet out of danger.

Only when the fleet are past the ice-box will the options start and open up. The big decision than will be whether to sail further north in search of stronger winds or keep south on the more direct track.

More pictures from the start on pages two and three