Leaders push for Fair Isle in DaimlerChrysler Challenge

TEMPEST from Sweden, SNOW LION from the USA, DISCOVERER from the UK, ZUKUNFT from Germany with others in close pursuit continued their close struggle today to round Fair Isle in this epic DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge. Shetland Coastguard gave today’s weather forecast for Fair Isle: “Wind variable becoming SE 2-3 later increasing 4. By 20.00 tonight the wind is expected to back to NE 2-3, locally 4.” All the yachts will report to Shetland Coastguard by VHF radio as they pass.

In the Atlantic the vigorous low pressure system which gave the fleet heavy weather during recent days, is moving slowly away to the SE, allowing wave heights to reduce and surface winds to ease though fresh to strong NE winds are still being experienced by many boats. The forecast is for winds to back slightly (move anti-clockwise). Boats on port tack this morning will be hoping for a “lift” as the wind direction allows them to head more nearly for Fair Isle.

Britain’s TEAM888 – better known as Ellen MacArthur’s KINGFISHER – has been giving strong competition to their fellow second-start competitor UCA (Klaus Murmann). TEAM888 skipper Mark Denton: “We’re under grey skies with 25 knots of wind – just had a drama as a halyard broke – we brought it down to re-splice it then hauled Johny Malbon up the mast to replace it. We had to run downwind on 150 degrees while we did this but now we’re back in the hunt and keen to get up to Fair Isle. We are having a great race. Keep some cold beer for us in Hamburg! Next arrivals in Cuxhaven are expected early Thursday morning.