Team Legato racks up a 500 mile day

by Barry Pickthall on 10 Feb 2001 Tony Bullimore and his TEAM LEGATO crew broke through the 500 mile barrier
overnight with a 24 hour run up to 03:00 this morning of 507.2 miles - an
average of 21.13 knots!
And they should improve on that over the weekend, for the 102ft Nigel Irens
designed catamaran is riding the back of another Low pressure system which
formed ahead of her yesterday, which will keep the boat trucking along on
this Southern Ocean expressway for another day at least.

'We're running along touching speeds of 33 knots at times' Tony Bullimore
told a packed audience of supporters last night in a live link-up between
the boat and Legato Systems' UK offices in Maidenhead. With the waves
crashing audibly around them, navigator Jason Owen discussed tactics with
Mike Broughton, TEAM LEGATO's shore based weather router, to maximise their
performance on this next stage below Australia and up the Tasman to Cook
Strait. 'We would like to be level with the Poles by the time we get to
Wellington, and the crew are pushing hard to do just that' said Bullimore.

During the live link-up, Tony revealed one concern. They are running short
of food. This is Day 41, and the boat has freeze-dried fare for only 75
days. With another 14,800 miles to the finish, they could end up a week
short. 'We are making up a lot of time now, but Rob Salvidge, our cook, is
beginning to ration us, saving something back each week for the finish.'
Bullimore reported. If all else fails, the crew has a fishing line onboard.
'If we ever get becalmed again, then we will get it out.' The TEAM LEGATO
skipper promised.

Leading positions at 15:00 GMT today
1. Club Med 7,742 miles to finish - Passed thru' Cook Strait 2.02.01
2. Innovation Explorer +931miles - Cook Strait 3.02.01
3. Team Adventure 5,035 miles - LEFT CAPE TOWN ON 26.01.01
4. Warta Polpharma 6,029 miles
5. Team Legato 6,848 miles Position: 51 11' S; 94 56' E
6. PlayStation - RETIRED 14.01.01

For further details, pictures and daily audio feed from the boat, contact
Barry Pickthall at the Team Legato Race office
Mobile Phone: +44 (0) 7768 395719
Office +44 (0) 1243 555561 Fax: +44 (0)1243 555562
E.mail: ppl@mistral.co.uk Web site: www.teamlegato.com