Must acknowledge the 2nd stage: "Team Stelmar"
Even after almost three weeks at sea, the field of the Global Challenge is still very close. The German participants sail on ranks one, four and six.
For four days the amateur yachts of the round-the-world regatt (against the prevailing winds) have left Cape Horn in the wake (we reported). Less than a day earlier, the fifth-place yacht "Team Stelmar" had to change course and call into the Chilean port of Puerto Williams to evacuate the seriously ill 35-year-old Karen Smith. She was received by the Chilean Navy, given medical attention and flown to England two days later. Although this emergency threw her out of the regatta for almost 24 hours and she was the penultimate yacht in Cape Horn, "Team Stelmar" made it back to fifth place out of the twelve identical yachts in the fleet.
However, yesterday, Monday evening (9 p.m. German time), the race management received the message that "Team Stelmar" had changed course by 180 degrees in order to approach Chile again, albeit with the engine. What happened? Foredeck man Tim Johnston had been knocked over by a large wave during a foredeck maneuver. He fell so unhappily that he suffered a complicated fracture of the upper arm and now urgently needs medical care to prevent permanent damage.
"Team Stelmar" will be at sea for about three to four days before the crew reaches land. The yacht does not receive a time credit either for this or for the previous evacuation. The regatta rules only provide for a time credit if other yachts or castaways are helped. This rule, although it has been in force for this regatton for twelve years, is the subject of intense debate in the English specialist press. However, giving up during this stage does not mean dropping out of the entire race. The crew is only credited or credited with zero points for this route. The other yachts in Wellington will be staying for six weeks, so it shouldn't be a big problem if the ship arrives in New Zealand a few days later.
However, there is also good news from the regatta. When "BP Explorer" passed Cape Horn in second place, crew member LaurAlexander received a radio call from Graham Thompson on the yacht "Pindar", which was in twelfth position. While a "BP Explorer" crew member was kneeling in front of Laur, Graham asked for her hand from the "Pindar". She was completely surprised and immediately said yes. She then received the engagement ring from the crew member kneeling in front of her. As for the course of the regatta, many yachts are still sailing almost in visual contact. There are currently just 69 nautical miles between the first nine ships
As expected, the weather and the sea are stormy. Wind speeds of 35 knots and a sea up to seven meters high stand in the way of the sailors. The crews will need another three weeks to New Zealand. Christmas and New Year's Eve are celebrated at sea. (Rainer Seifert
Ranking on December 14th 2004:
1. Spirit of Sark, 3,360 nautical miles to the stage destination (SzZ) in Wellington / New Zealand 2. BG Spirit, 3,379 (SzZ), 19 nautical miles from the leader (AzF)3. Sony VAIO, 3.387 (SzZ), 27 (AzF)4. BP Explorer, 3,399 (SzZ), 39 (AzF)5. Team Save the Children, 3.411 (SzZ), 51 (AzF)6. Me To You, 3.413 (SzZ), 53 (AzF)7. Barclays Adventurer, 3.416 (SzZ), 56 (AzF)8. Samsung, 3,426 (SzZ), 66 (AzF)9. SAIC LJolla, 3.433 (SzZ), 73 (AzF)10. Imagine It. Done, 3.474 (SzZ), 114 (AzF)11. Pindar, 3,632 (SzZ), 272 (AzF)12. Team Stelmar, has given up the second stage