Team Legato encounters fierce winds

by Team Legato on 7 Mar 2001 In the mother of all storms on the dark side of the Moon.....

In a final message last night before sailing out of satellite phone range some 1,200 miles from Cape Horn, Tony Bullimore
reported that fierce winds had forced them to slow TEAM LEGATO right down.

'It's cold - bitterly cold, and we are being tossed around like mad because the boat is continually smashing into big
waves. There is water just everywhere - including our bunks - and with the continuous banging and bouncing, it is almost
impossible to sleep. We had no alternative but to slow down, but we still expect to get to Cape Horn at the weekend.'

Up until 23:00 yesterday, TEAM LEGATO had been the fastest boat in THE RACE with an average of 17.0 knots after
chalking up 400+ mile runs on three successive days, but the southerly blast from the Antarctic has sent temperatures
and expectations down. Nevertheless, during the 24 hours up to 07:00 today, Bullimore and his crew still covered 9 miles
more than their 320 mile daily target and took 2 miles out of their Polish rivals on Warta Polpharma.

The crew will now be out of voice communication until they reach around 83 Degrees West, but the RACE Office
continues to monitor their performance every four hours. 'It's rather like sailing round the dark side of the Moon' said
Tony, adding. 'It's certainly just as deserted except for the Albatrosses which fly effortlessly alongside us.'

Leading positions at 07:00 GMT today
1. Club Med Finished Marseilles 19:56GMT 4.03.01
2. Innovation Explorer Finished Marseilles 11:32GMT 6.03.01
3. Team Adventure +5,011 miles - Cape Horn 28.02.01
4. Warta Polpharma 5,803 miles - Cape Horn 02.03.01
5. Team Legato 8,507 miles - Left Wellington 21. 02. 01
6. PlayStation - RETIRED 14.01.01