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2006 Rolex Sydney to Hobart
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Fastnet Tuesday Morning Report

[ 09 / 08 / 2005 ]

After a frustrating night which saw ICAP Maximus and her crew tantalisingly close to the Fastnet Rock as the sun set, they waited for several hours in extremely light and variable winds before the breeze finally started building during the early hours of this morning, enabling them to round the rock and its famous lighthouse at 03.30 local time.

ICAP Maximus is now racing back to Plymouth and the finish of the 2005 Rolex Fastnet Race.

During Monday, the crew, skippered by co-owner Charles St Clair Brown, made the most of their strong start and capitalised on some perfect weather predictions provided by navigator Mike Quilter.

On board are a number of other legendary kiwi sailors, including Richard Bouzaid, Tom Dodson and Jeff "Scottie" Scott, who himself holds the current course record for the race, which he set in 1999.

During the early stages of Monday it still looked possible that ICAP Maximus could itself take the record, but reducing wind strength in the Irish Sea, caused by a high pressure system, now looks to have put this beyond reach. However, good crew work and rapid sail changes to maximise opportunities from the altering wind strength and direction had put ICAP Maximus well in front at the half way stage.

Astern they watched the battle develop between Grant Wharrington's Skandia Wild Thing and the new Volvo 70 Telefonica Movistar, which itself holds the 24 hour distance record for a monohull. Watch leader and crew boss George Hendy commented: "At one stage, just before the start in Cowes, it didn't even look as though Skandia Wild Thing would be racing. Then at the last minute they appeared from Southampton Water, crossing the line well back in our class"

Initially the closest competition came from the Volvo 70 as the fleet made its way down the western Solent towards The Needles and open water, but ICAP Maximus, with the yacht's designer Greg Elliott among the crew, soon saw both their main rivals disappear over the horizon behind them. By mid afternoon Monday there was no sign of either boat and ICAP Maximus was alone in the Irish Sea, heading for the Fastnet Rock.

The 11 hours prior to rounding became agonisingly slow, with the wind strength dropping throughout Monday afternoon and through the night. Assessing the weather situation this morning, Mike Quilter explained to crew member Graham Sprigg, reporting from on board: "The predicted high pressure expected in the area has materialised and in fact has its centre positioned over the Fastnet. Having now passed the mark, we are now sailing south in an effort to find some improving wind strength that will take us back to the finish in Plymouth, which lies 180 miles away."

ICAP Maximus has performed faultlessly throughout the race, which has been a real test of light airs sailing. "The design and build of this boat is fabulous" said Charles St Clair Brown. "The canting keel gives such stability, we can really optimise sail trim to suit conditions." Crew spirits on board are good, with everyone quickly settling into a three watch system as they concentrate on driving the yacht to its maximum speed in variable winds.

Photo: Daniel Forster/ Rolex

Media Room Archives ...

[ 20 / 10 / 2006 ]	Thuraya Maximus Sights Set on Rolex Middle Sea ...........................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 10 / 10 / 2006 ]	Le Frustrazione della Trieste! ............................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 21 / 09 / 2006 ]	Paul Cayard Joins Maximus ..............................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 09 / 09 / 2006 ]	Blow Out The Cobwebs Not Batten Down The Hatches .................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 08 / 09 / 2006 ]	Spreading your Wild Oats .................................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 06 / 09 / 2006 ]	Maxi Worlds, Minimum Wind ..............................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 05 / 09 / 2006 ]	More Light Conditions For Day Two ..................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 04 / 09 / 2006 ]	Light Winds Make Heavy Work For Maximus ....................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 03 / 09 / 2006 ]	The Worlds Best Gather In Sardinia ..................................................................................................................................	[ read article ]
[ 04 / 08 / 2006 ]	An Interview With The Maximus Record-Breakers ...........................................................................................................	[ read article ]

[ more archived news ]