START DAY SALVADOR
13th April 2003

Latest update 13:03 local time: Alan Paris on BTC Velocity was first across the line just seconds after the gun fired. He was closely followed by Emma Richards on Pindar with Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet close behind. A minute later Thierry Dubois on Solidaires rolled over the top of Ocean Planet to move into third. In a group at the committee boat end Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, Bermard Stamm on Bobst Group Armor lux and Kojiro Shiarishi on Spirit of yukoh were all a few seconds late for the start, but all sailing at full speed. Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali was also a few seconds late but he too was sailing at full speed. The boats are now sailing downwind with Gennakers set heading for the first turning mark 3 miles away.

Latest update 12:58 local time: BTC Velocity is on the start line. Skipper Alan Paris is clearly hoping to take the start. Emma Richards is just off the line while Brad Van Liew, Bernard Stamm and Bruce Schwab are reaching in towards the start line. It's going to be a very close.

Latest update 12:55 local time: The 5-minute gun has just sounded and the boats are all gathering around the Brazilian minesweeper that is the start boat. There was a last minute scramble to get the spectator boats out of the start zone, but they are all gone and the way is now clear for the skippers to set up for the start gun.

Latest update 12:45 local time: Fifteen minutes until the start and all the shore crews are off the boats. The skippers are finally alone on board. They are all in the start area sailing with full sails. The wind has picked up and is now blowing at around 15 knots from the east.

Latest update 12:30 local time: Thirty minutes until the start of Leg 5. All the boats have their mainsails up and are sailing in the start area. It's slightly cloudy with 10 knots of wind blowing from the east. There is a large speactator fleet out on the water.

Latest update 12:00 local time: All the boats have left the dock in Salvador and are heading out to the start area. There is a large spectator fleet also leaving the docks. Check out the image gallery for images of the skippers leaving.

Original story: It is a big day today for the Around Alone fleet. Not only will the yachts start the final leg of the race from Salvador, Brazil this afternoon at 13:00 local time, but Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada has also officially rejoined the race. After leaving Tierra del Fuego yesterday afternoon, Derek sailed back to the area where he capsized, passed over the exact point where he turned his engine on, turned his bow north and resumed racing Leg 4. "At 01:52 GMT on Sunday, April 13th, Spirit of Canada and I rejoined the race," he wrote in a brief email to Race Opps. "I will send in a full report in the morning. I am totally exhausted right now." A long and very difficult sail lies ahead of the plucky Canadian skipper, but it's most certainly better than the tedious rebuilding of the boat in Ushuaia. The wind is currently blowing from the northeast at 17 knots and it's raining and foggy.

Meanwhile in Salvador the docks are abuzz with activity. The skippers will be attending a Raymarine sponsored breakfast at the CENAB this morning before leaving the docks and heading out to the start area. It's only a short distance from the marina to the start line, but most of the skippers will want to get out there early to get the sails up, settle the boat down and prepare for the start. The boats will have to sail a short inshore course to allow the spectators on land a view of these incredible machines, but by mid-afternoon they should be out of sight and heading towards the equator and points beyond.

The weather today is fine. It's warm with a light easterly wind blowing. The wind is forecast to strengthen to around 10 to 12 knots; perfect conditions for getting back into the rhythm of life at sea. Stay tuned to this page as the start approaches and remember to refresh your browser so that you can get the latest updates as they happen.

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

Source: Around Alone Official Site