.jpg "Image") Hilary Lister, 35, the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the English Channel exactly two years ago, today became the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around the Isle of Wight. Lister, who is able to move only her head and neck, used a ‘sip-puff’ method of steering to control her boat, by breathing down two straws enabling her to steer and adjust the sails. |
.jpg "Copyright onEdition 2006") Bernard Stamm, onboard his Open 60 CHEMINEES POUJOULAT, this evening crossed the finish line of leg 1 in the VELUX 5 OCEANS at 19:18 local time (10:18 UTC). After 43 days and 12,000 miles of racing, the defending champion arrived in Fremantle (Western Australia) to the cheers of friends, family and sailing fans. Stamm’s victory establishes a commanding lead at the head of the Ultimate Solo Challenge and reflects a flawless display by the Swiss hero since the boats left Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain) on October 22. |
.jpg "Copyright onEdition 2006 - Photo Credit: Kojiro Shiraishi") Kojiro Shiraishi, the Japanese skipper competing in the VELUX 5 OCEANS solo round-the-world yacht race has in the last 24 hours taken 100 miles out of race leader Bernard Stamm. Koji, aboard SPIRIT OF YUKOH has been flying along at an average speed of 15.75 knots, the fastest in the fleet by far. Stamm, who has led the fleet from the first week of the race, is encountering lighter conditions as Koji storms towards him en-route to Fremantle, Western Australia, 2,000 miles away. |
.jpg "Copyright onEdition 2006 - Photo by Mike Golding") Second-placed skipper Mike Golding and Japanese sailor Kojiro Shiraishi today find themselves dwindling in a Southern Atlantic high pressure system while Bernard Stamm and Alex Thomson storm ahead in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race. According to the latest position report, Alex Thomson, the youngest skipper in the solo round-the-world race remains in fourth place overall, but looks set move up the leaderboard as he relishes in stronger winds. Further to the west and the south of Golding and Shiraishi, Thomson has strategically positioned himself out of the clutches of the high pressure system, which brings characteristically light winds. |
.jpg "Photo credit: Dan Nerney / Rolex") From January 21 to 27, 2007, the world's top Olympic and Paralympic class sailors will be sailing on the waters of Biscayne Bay at US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR. For Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, the 18th annual event is one of the world's top competitions that will help the sailors prepare for the competition in China in 2008. The event is ranked by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) as a Grade 1 event and features competition in all 14 Olympic and Paralympic classes. In 2006, more than 610 sailors representing 40 countries competed. |
.jpg "©2006: Kojiro Shiraishi") Kojiro Shiraishi, the lone Japanese entry in the VELUX 5 OCEANS, the world’s toughest solo round-the-world race continues to close in on the race leader, Bernard Stamm (SUI). With 382 nautical miles separating first and second place the leaders are passing through the Doldrums on their way to the Equator. Mid-fleet in fourth place, Alex Thomson recorded the fastest VMG (Velocity Made Good) overnight (the fastest route from A to B taking into account other factors, such as wind speed, direction and current), as he surfed down the waves towards the Cape Verde islands which Mike Golding (GBR) passed during the night. |
.jpg "Image Credit: Onne Van der Wal") Despite some technical issues onboard Artemis, solo sailor Brian Thompson is in contention for the top positions in the Route du Rhum, solo transatlantic race. Thompson reported this morning that his concerns with his autopilot are under control and he is making good progress. With only 78 miles between first and fifth place the front runners in the Open 60 fleet are setting a fast pace. With the latest position report polling Brian in fifth place, the British sailor is just 6 miles behind fourth placed Temenos and with Roland Jourdain (FRA) taking a gamble with a very southerly course there is all to play for out on the race track. |
.jpg "Copyright onEdition 2006") Just 27 hours into the VELUX 5 Oceans race, British skipper Alex Thomson has experienced gear failure on HUGO BOSS. He has been forced to turn his boat round and head back to port, in order to carry out the repairs. |
.jpg "Copyright onEdition 2006") For the VELUX 5 OCEANS fleet that left Bilbao, Spain yesterday afternoon it has been a tough first night at sea. With winds upwards of 45 knots and big seas the skippers were given no time to adjust to life at sea before being thrown into difficult and testing conditions. Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS, who shot out of the starting blocks in pole position, had a particularly tough night having broken the top off the starboard runner winch and snagging his keel on a heavy fishing net. Fellow Brit Mike Golding also experienced difficulties when the lashing holding his main halyard to the mainsail broke, bringing his mainsail crashing down. Mike was forced to climb the mast in big swell to repair the halyard. |
.jpg "Photo by: Carlo Borlenghi/ Rolex") The big three SuperMaxis may not be going very fast, but they're still going a lot faster than the rest of the fleet in the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Alfa Romeo led Morning Glory and Thuraya Maximus around the growling volcano Stromboli in a trickle of wind yesterday afternoon. At least they had enjoyed a trickle of wind. When ABN AMRO ONE reached Stromboli just before midnight, there was no breeze, not a sniff of it. |
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