PRIZE GIVING IN SALVADOR
13th April 2003

The prize giving for Leg 4 of the Around Alone took place at the very prestigious Yacht Club da Bahia on Thursday evening. It was a warm tropical night, typical of this part of Brazil and the heat and sultry air added to the excitement and exotic atmosphere. Two hundred guests joined the Around Alone sailors for a sumptuous dinner which was followed by entertainment by a samba group who performed tribal dances from the African-Brazilian Condomblé religion. The Trophies awarded for the podium finishers for Leg 4 were unique silver models of Lemanja, the Queen of the Sea. They were made by Lasbonfim Jewelers, one of the Salvador stopover sponsors. There was a special draw to win an aquamarine stone, and Thierry Dubois' daughter Salomé pulled out the winning ticket. It was new dad Bernard Stamm that won and he is sure to keep the treasure for his daughter Camille who was born last week.

After the tribal dances there was a spectacular Caipoeira performance. Caipoeira is the traditional Brazilian fighting dance where the men 'kickbox' whilst moving around but not touching their opponent. Then all the Samba dancers pulled people out from the crowd and got everyone dancing Brazilian style until the very early hours of Friday morning. This was the last time the sailors will have a chance to let their hair down; the count down to the start on Sunday has begun in earnest.

The start of Leg 5 will be at 13:00 local time off the breakwater in front of the CENAB, the Central Nautico de Bahia. The start gun will be fired from a Brazilian navy vessel with special guests of the governor of Bahia on board. The boats will head up to the point of Mont Serrat and round a channel marker mark after which they will sail along the waterfront of Salvador towards the Farol da Barre lighthouse where there will be two marker buoys laid 150 meters offshore. The boats must pass through these marker buoys in order to stay inshore to provide those on land with a great spectacle. There will be a big fireworks display at the lighthouse as the boats pass by. Thereafter they will be on their own for the 4,000 mile leg to Newport. The first boats are expected to arrive in New England on May 1.

--- Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net

Source: Around Alone Official Site