Sport-heute: Sailing - TEAM RUSSIA LEG ONE DAY 13: received 23.10.08 0408 GMT-TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG ONE DAY 13 QFB: received 23.10.08 1341 GMT

23. Oktober 2008, 23:13

TEAM RUSSIA LEG ONE DAY 13: received 23.10.08 0408 GMT-TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG ONE DAY 13 QFB: received 23.10.08 1341 GMT

DELTA LLOYD LEG ONE DAY 13: received 23.10.08 0105 GMT ERICSSON 4 LEG ONE DAY 13: received 23.10.08 1304 GMT

To be honest, I was quite happy how we entered the doldrums and quite disappointed how we left them. The first half of the crossing was ok, then we were faced with light head winds which took us nowhere.

International Ocean Race (mk) At the end we left the notorious zone at the same time as Delta Lloyd with them experiencing the better wind angles to Fernando than us. It's just a question of time until they roll us.

With the leaders 200 miles away by now, there is some work left to do to gain back some places.

On the positive side of things is the fact that the boat speed is ok, as we are not losing ground on the boats ahead even though they should be in slightly favoured conditions the further south they get.

The boat feels very bumpy as we are heading into the waves, the trades have built up over thousands of miles all across the Atlantic. Everything on board is stacked to windward to get every bit of righting moment we can.

Regards
Andreas Hanakamp - skipper

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DELTA LLOYD LEG ONE DAY 13: received 23.10.08 0105 GMT

We have been in upwind mode most of today cracked to 70 degrees TWA (true wind angle) after getting lifted, weather rail fully stacked with all sails. All the internal stacking is also maxed to achieve higher righting moment and we are chasing fleet as we approach scoring gate.

We are pulling in some miles on the Russians (Team Russia) (15nm ahead) and Ericsson 3 (49nm ahead). It would be nice to pass these by the gate from our hotter (we hope) sailing angle and do less miles, let's wait and see. The leaders are over 200nm ahead but with over 4,000nm of sailing still to be done they are within our sights. They have done well with the right hand side. Delta Lloyd's race focus now is on weather routing for second part of the leg to Cape Town. We have some amount of sailing miles yet before that cold beer.

We are happy to be finally punching out of the Doldrums this morning It is a boring, hot, environment while in a black carbon boat sweating from sailing and daily duties aboard. Last night when it was pitch black we sailed through a large rain cloud where after we hoisted the R1 and furled the code zero, we got showered for 20 minutes by very heavy rain, during which Housty (Ryan Houston) decided to have a shower pa rty getting soap from the galley stripping to nothing but his smile and singing. Before we knew it the whole crew decided to make the best of this opportunity. It was a sight to remember! All I can say is that you would have to be here to appreciate the humour of this (our media member caught on video).

The crew and boat are in good shape.

Cheers
Ger O'Rourke - skipper

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It's tight with Puma

We can see them about 6 miles to leeward and its a marginal lay to the western point of the scoring gate at Noronha, if they tack and we lay then we will get 2nd - any lift will make it really tight - plus TELEFÓNICA BLACK are steaming in above us both.

It is really hard work onboard as we beat in a very choppy seaway in 20 - 25kts of wind. Everything takes 3 times as much effort as the boat pounds into the waves.

The media computer keeps telling me of an 'unexpected fault' so often that I expect the unexpected - it just happens to coincide with us launching off a big wave - of which there are numerous.

Nobody has time to chat as all concentration goes into getting to the gate quicker than the boats around us, that is why it is my report to write.

The strain of being a man down is showing in the harder conditions - but we seem to be coping, although if Tony (Tony Mutter) were here we would probably have that extra gear he often provides us with.

King Neptune visited yesterday evening in all his Brazilian style, the craftiness of Rolandinho, the killer instinct of Kaka and the power of a Zico volley. Horacio (Carabelli) and Joca (Signorini) did a fantastic job and I don't think that the mental and physical scars will last too long with Phil (Jameson) and Ryan (Godfrey). A lot of fun was had - even by the victims and it was very quickly back to business.

The next couple of hours will be intense.

All the best

Guy Salter - mcm
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As I write the first boat has just passed the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha. Good work Ian and crew - I think they have sailed a great leg so far, going as west as we probably all should have done but didn't quite have the guts... They stuck by their strategy and have been awarded maximum points. However, with another 3000 miles to go I hope we can catch them - We have every intention of doing so, mile by mile, sched by sched we will slowly try and grind down the boats in front.

The last 24 hours have been good for us. Whilst it would take something major to improve on our placing to the island we have been very encouraged by our speed of late. We have slowly been knocking off miles on the guys in front and leaving the guys behind. The boys on deck are definitely motivated and seem to feed off the good news every three hours. Upstairs it is wet and bumpy as we smash through the waves doing 15+ knots. Downstairs, luckily is pretty dry but still really bumpy! Typing has become a bit of a challenge - every time we launch of a wave I seem to invent a new word as my fingers stumble around the keyboard!

We passed the Equator late last night, but so far we have not seen any sign of the mighty King Neptune. It turns out that he may be a fair weather sailor. However it would seem that plans are afoot and those of the crew
who have crossed the line for the very first time shouldn't relax just yet... I am sure the media all are hankering for some photos and video of the action too. Maybe Neptune is having his own fun by keeping them all in suspense!

Cheers,

Si Fi

Simon Fisher - navigator

All Image's to Day from Team Russia

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