BT Global Challenge close racing as fleet approaches Sydney

by BT Global Challenge Media on 25 Feb 2001 Logica has held onto the lead from LG FLATRON but by less than half a mile. During the last 12 hours the lead has passed backwards and forwards between these two but now Logica just has the edge. LG FLATRON has headed further north and is now the most northerly yacht in the fleet 10 miles north of Logica and almost 50 miles north of Compaq.

Being north should hold an advantage for the run in to Sydney but for FLATRON, who leads the race overall, it is more important to cover the fleet than to risk being isolated to the north. The weather does not always do as expected and it is usual in yacht racing to consolidate your gains and put yourself firmly between the finish line and the rest of the yachts. Compaq who is second overall has nothing much to lose as they are currently in 8th place on this leg. By being the most southerly yacht there is an outside chance of getting into a different weather pattern than FLATRON and making some gains.

The fleet has been closing up on the leaders with Olympic Group making the biggest gains (16 miles). They are still in 10th place but are only two miles behind Norwich Union who continue to slide, dropping another three places to ninth. After a tactical mistake in the Cook Strait they fought their way back to within two miles of the leaders but have since dropped and now trail Logica by 44 miles.

With the exception of BP (who lost one mile) and Norwich Union the other yachts made reasonable gains on Logica and FLATRON with VERITAS leaping three places up the leader board to sixth. The racing is still very close and all 10 yachts are in a box just 50 miles square. Within this area two pairs of yachts can see each other; Compaq can see VERITAS, and Olympic, Norwich Union.

With the leaders 242 miles from the finish line they are expected to arrive late Sunday GMT, with the bulk of the fleet following them in on Monday.

Latest rankings, 07:45 GMT - 24/02/01:

1 Logica - 242 miles to finish
2 LG FLATRON - 0 miles to leader
3 BP +13 miles to leader
4 TeamSpirIT +27 miles
5 Spirit of Hong Kong + 36 miles
6 VERITAS +43 miles
7 Isle of Man +44 miles
8 Compaq +44 miles
9 Norwich Union +52 miles
10 Olympic Group +54 miles

Quadstone & Save the Children - in Wellington for repairs

For the latest fleet postions click here