Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 2 Day 11
by Volvo Ocean Race media 12 Jan 2006 11:06 GMT
Pirates’ drama
Overnight, Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) was overtaken by movistar when the crew noticed cracks in the area of its keel support structure. Water was coming into the boat from those cracks and still is. The rate of water flow is manageable at this time. Paul Cayard has sent this report:
”Sail was immediately reduced. Photos and video of the cracks were recorded and sent to the designer of the boat.
”Several hours were spent discussing this issue with the designers of the boat. A certain level of comfort was achieved and we proceeded, with reduced sail, east at 12 knots through the night.
”This morning we have reviewed the drawings of how this area was designed. It is not clear to us if this is structural damage or superficial. The fact that water is coming into the boat is not reassuring. We have a made a new video and photos in the daylight, and sent them off to the designers.
”We have run tests with 0, 20 and 40 degrees of cant while inspecting the area. 40 degrees is definitely alarming. The cracks open and close as the loads change and the water flow is more and less accordingly. 20 degrees seems tolerable.
”It is not clear to us, and probably will never be clear to us or anyone, how serious this damage is until we reach land. We simply can't properly inspect the area out here.
”On the weather side, the best winds to help us make the progress toward Australia are during the next 30 hours. We currently have winds from the northwest. Eventually, we will fall "of the back" of this system and be hit with less favourable winds from southeast. There is danger in being out here for long time.
”Therefore, considering all of the above, I have decided to run the boat up to 80% of full speed at this time, with a maximum of 20 degree of cant, to make as much progress as reasonably possible in these conditions.
”Naturally we are taking all precautions necessary for any eventuality.
”In general, all is well and stable onboard the Black Pearl.”
Position Report: (10:00 GMT)
| Pos | YACHT | LAT | LONG | DTF | SMG | 24 Hour Run | 24 Hour Speed | DTL | DTLC | SGPTS | LPTS | TLPTS | RPTH | ETA | OVERALL |
|---|
| 1 | ABN1 | 42 30.56S | 093 45.49E | 2554 | 19.5 | 513 | 21.4 | 0 | 0 | 3.5 | 7 | 10.5 | 25.5 | 19/01/06 | 1 |
| 2 | ABN2 | 41 56.50S | 088 44.84E | 2767 | 21.7 | 529 | 22 | 213 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 20/01/06 | 2 |
| 3 | MOVI | 41 20.77S | 086 07.45E | 2881 | 21 | 510 | 21.3 | 327 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 21/01/06 | 4 |
| 4 | POTC | 41 51.92S | 085 01.38E | 2932 | 16.7 | 417 | 17.4 | 378 | -17 | 2.5 | 4 | 6.5 | 11.5 | 21/01/06 | 6 |
| 5 | AUS1 | 41 33.26S | 067 35.28E | 3712 | 12.4 | 274 | 11.4 | 1158 | -40 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 28/01/06 | 7 |
| 6 | BRA1 | 40 11.77S | 037 07.19E | 5083 | 19 | 396 | 16.5 | 2529 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14.5 | 02/02/06 | 3 |
| 7 | ERIC | 33 57.56S | 025 37.90E | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ABN1 - ABN AMRO ONE
ABN2 - ABN AMRO TWO
BRA1 - Brasil 1
INGB - ING Real Estate Brunel
ERIC - Ericsson Racing Team
MOVI - movistar
POTC - Pirates of the Caribbean
DTF: Distance to finish, SMG: Speed made good, DTL: distance to leader, DTLC: distance to leader change; the difference between the distance from the boat to the leader taken at the time of the last six hour poll, and the distance from the boat to the leader at the previous poll
LPTS: leg points at first scoring gate
TLPTS: total leg points to date inc. scoring gate points if yacht maintains current position
RPTD: Race points to date inc. in-port race points, scoring gate points and leg points the yacht would score if yacht maintains current position.
OVERALL: position in race overall if yacht maintains current position.