DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge - Day 4
by Dana Paxton 19 Jun 2003 11:46 BST
Zaraffa rounded Point Alpha first
Photo © Daniel Forster / DCNACC
Zaraffa round Point Alpha first |
At 1300 (UTC) on Wednesday June 18 the fleettracker software reported that Zaraffa had honored Point Alpha (40N 50W). The next mark for the Skip Sheldon’s Reichel/Pugh 65 is Skroo Lighthouse on Fair Isle. Famous for birds, knitwear and historic shipwrecks, Fair Isle is a tiny jewel of an
island lying halfway between Orkney and Shetland. But before then, there is a lot of ocean to conquer.
Aboard Zaraffa is Mark Rudiger, arguably the most well known navigator across the oceans and winner of the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race. Rudiger gave the crowd of over 75 journalists gathered for the pre-start press conference last week some insight into the race. “We’re
sailing with the minimum weight of 12 crew,” said Rudiger. “We plan to pace ourselves and play it conservatively by picking our course and keeping an eye on the boats behind us.”
Preparation included analyzing historic wind data and building sails to match the conditions. “For a race with a the distance of this one, we expect a wider range of wind angles and wind strength,” said Sheldon. “Especially at the time of the year, from roughly June 1 to August 1, the winds get lighter and the number of weather events that come through are diminished.”
This is the first time that a transatlantic race has taken competitors from Newport and into the River Elbe, in Germany. “As a professional racer, it’s exciting to see ocean racing events like this flourishing,” said Rudiger. “It’s been a year since my last transatlantic crossing and I
swore I’d never do it again, but it’s hard to resist the challenge. I don’t even put ice in my drinks!”
Zaraffa’s crew includes veteran around-the-world racers Richard Clarke, Neal MacDonald, Richard Mason, Greg Gendell, Michael Joubert and Justin Clougher, who are joined by SAIL magazine editor Josh Adams.; Quantum Sails’ Dave Flynn; dinghy champion Geoff Ewenson and Rodger Erker, the boat’s captain since its inception.
Built in 2000 by New England Boatworks, the young ocean racer made a name for itself by winning both the 2002 Newport to Bermuda Race and the 2001 Rolex Fastnet Race (superzero class).
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