1 SAIC LA JOLLA STORY from Interpersona ... - Interpersona Oy

many others. We faced the defeat together and decided
to work through the worst disappointment before the
end of the leg. We decided to drop all speculations,
everybody knew that a victory on this leg would have
lifted us to the second position and included us in the
struggle for the victory of the whole race. It was so near
and then so far away.
Now it’s time to look to the future once again, to
stake everything on our know-how and experience
on the last leg without making further calculations on
what impact it will have on the whole race before the
entire job is done. Secretly we have always dreamt of
winning the leg and what would be sweeter than winning
the final leg. We will do our uttermost for it and
whatever happens we will end this fight proud of our
achievements and numerous experiences wiser.
The results from the sixth leg
1. Team Stelmar
2. BG Spirit
3. Image It. Done
…
11. SAIC La Jolla
The yacht race around the world in hard conditions
puts the crew to the test both physically and mentally.
Leg 7: La Rochelle – Portsmouth, ca 550 sea
miles
The last leg of the race started at the Bay of Biscay in
a really light easterly wind. So we sailed off into a fair
wind in a favorable current; always an interesting exer-
cise with a big and heavy yacht.
In the light and torn wind we managed well to the
first turn sign that was first rounded by Stelmar; we
were second and Samsung was third. In the leading
group the distances were short, but a few yachts (Spirit
of Sark, Me To You, BP Explorer) got caught in a bad
wind hole and were left behind pretty much already
during the first miles. The leading group disappeared
into a faint fog, the wind rose and the spinnakers were
taken down as our course changed to the north and the
wind turned. We managed to round all the signs without
tacking, though, and thereafter the wind opened
up for spinnaker angles again. During the first morning
we were the first to raise the spinnaker and were able to
slide to the top. Right behind us BG Spirit and Barclays
Adventurer were holding the following places, only 1-2
sea miles behind us. The other group was left further
behind and the gap was 6-7 sea miles. BP Explorer,
which still in France had blustered about winning the
entire yacht race, faced the toughest destiny. By mistake
it hadn’t rounded one sign and had to turn back when
it was already 15 sea miles away from the compulsory
turn sign. This meant that the dream of win finally fell
flat and in fact the fall from the winners’ rostrum was
closer than anybody could have expected.
We came to Ushant Waypoint about 2 miles from
the lead, followed by BG Spirit, Barclays and Vaio. The
others were already behind the horizon and we were
steadily going strong. We were only afraid that the wind
would die out completely; otherwise we were convinced
that we would be able to keep our competitors
behind us. During the second night we passed Ushant’s
shipping lanes, which we did not have the permission
to enter. The wind died out just as we had come to
the outer corner of the lanes and the current started
pushing us towards the forbidden zone. As duty yacht
of the fleet I was in contact with Ushant Traffic Control
on the VHF and got the answer I expected: ”Race or
no race, you have no business on the boat lanes – start
the engine if you are not able to stay outside the lanes
when sailing.” At the last moment we got enough wind
to be able to steer the yacht again and we staid away
from the boats. BG and Barclays sneaked quite behind
us and the race was truly exciting.
On Friday morning we were already 2.9 sea miles
behind BG, while we sailed towards Plymouth and the
Eddystone Rock lighthouse in an improving fair wind.
We set as a target to catch up with BG before sunset
and started to attack, constantly sailing slightly diffe
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