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Frenchman set to take
first leg of solo race
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If he can keep up the passage
times he has averaged for most of
the voyage, Frenchman Philippe
Jeantot will complete the first leg
of the BOC Challenge solo around
the-world race in the next two
weeks.
The 27,000-mile race started from
Newport, Rhode Island, on August 28
with 17 competitors.
American Thomas Lindholm pulled
out within two days when his automatic
steering system failed in heavy seas and
strong winds. Six days later race leader,
American David White, also pulled out.
The forward bulkhead of White's new
17-metre cutter. Gladiator, had begun
to break away from the hull as it was
pounded in heavy seas.
White gave up his 300-nautical-miIe
lead, leaving Jeantot and his 17-metre
cutter. Credit Agricole, in the lead.
Race organisers had had some doubts
about Jeantot's experience in long-dis
tance sailing before the start of the race.
The 30-year-old Le Harve sailor failed
to deliver the required log of a 1,000
mile solo voyage before the start of the
race. However he convinced officials
that the iog had merely been lost in the
mail and he was allowed to start.
Later, race committee member Rich
ard Hegeman announced that a dupli
cate log of a 1,000 mile voyage through
the Mediterranean earlier this year had
been approved. It was just as well. By
then Jeantot was leading the race!
The aluminium Credit Agricole was
specifically designed for long-distance
solo racing and was tipped "the boat to
beat" by Australia's lone entrant,
Neville Gosson.
Credit Agricole built up its lead
during a spell of heavy weather early
in the race and by late September was
more than 1,000 miles ahead of its
nearest rival, Britain's Paul Rodgers
sailing Spirit of Pcntax, a 17-metre
schooner.
Neville Gosson, sailing Pier One, the
former Sydney ocean racer Leda, was
apparently well placed at that stage, but
complied only with the race require
ment that he radio his position once a
week. His 16-metre cutter now seems
likely to be one of the first few yachts
to reach Cape Town, South Africa, at
the end of the first leg.
At the last report, Jeantot was hold
ing on to his lead but second place had
been taken by American Tony Lush.
Lush, who is sailing Lady Peppercll, a
16.5 metre cat-rigged ketch, gave his
position as 1,000 miles north but further
east than Jeantot.
Rodgers was about 1,200 miles be
hind Jeantot but was to the west of
Credit Agricole. Close at hand were the
English yachts, the 16-metre cutter Per
severance of Medina, sailed by Richard
Broadhead, and the 17-metre ketch
Gypsy Moth V - the late Sir Francis
Chichester's yacht which is being sailed
by Desmond Hampton. Pier One was in
the same area.
These yachts were all clearly being
headed south rather than east which
could prove to be to their advantage.
The hardest part of this passage is to
clear the equatorial doldrums and reach
the steady west-to-east breezes of the
trade winds close to the latitude of Cape
Town.
Neville Gosson has never been afraid
to push his boat hard downwind and
Pier One carries larger spinnakers than
most of the fleet. It is possible that
Gosson may manage to pick up a few
positions once he reaches the edge of the
trade winds belt.
Meanwhile the former leader is re
ported to be rejoining the race. At last
report David White was reported to be
ready to set out from Miami, Florida,
in pursuit of the fleet after doubling the
thickness of Gladiator's forward
bulkhead.
He told race officials he estimated he
had a month to make up on the leader.
In a 27,000 mile around-the-world race
that would not be impossible.
The second leg of the race will take
the fleet from South Africa to Sydney
where the leaders should arrive in early
December.
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