NICATOR
TO BREAK MULTIHULL RECORD
The mood in Rio is hotting up, as they wait expectantly
for the first boat to cross the finish line in
the shadow of Sugar Loaf Mountain.
The
Swedish trimaran, Nicator will most definitely
break the multihull record of 18 days when she
reaches Rio early Friday morning after just more
than 13 days of sailing in the SAP Cape to Rio
2003.
Thursday’s
position report indicates that German maxi; Morning
Glory has slipped a place in the handicap standings
and is now lying in 7th spot. Still leading on
handicap is the inland crew onboard the 42 foot
Baleka, albeit that they still have 1700 miles
to the finish.
Another
42 footer, Investec with a crew of doctors onboard,
is in second with 77-year-old Gawie Fagan’s
30 foot Suidoos II in third.
It’s
scary to note that 7 boats still have in excess
of 2000 miles to Rio.
Daly’s
Insurance an 80 foot maxi, that also acts as the
communications boat is enjoying a good tussle
with Thunderchild and the Australian pocket maxi,
Helsal II. At this stage they all have passed
the half way mark, with Thunderchild leading on
handicap in 8th position and Daly’s Insurance
and Helsal II 9th, and 10th respectively.
Skipper,
Mike Daly said that although things have been
a bit slow, the wind is with them now. When discussion
the light winds of recent times, he said that
the atmosphere onboard can get heated, the problem
being that boredom sets in. Daly said that sailing
is 90% boredom and 10% total terror.
According
to Mike Daly's calculations, Nicator will be in
Rio real soon, but had some unpleasant conditions
to deal with on route, with a lumpy sea, and little
wind.
Magnus
Woxen, Navigator onboard Sweden’s 60-foot
trimaran, Nicator, reported that although they
would beat the multihull record of 18 days, they
would not be able to beat the 12 days/16 hours
set by Zephyrus IV three years ago. At 11:00 local
time, they still had 437 miles to Rio.
Brazil’s
Adrenalina Pura has fallen further back, and is
now 220 miles behind Nicator.
Source:
SAP
Cape To Rio Race - Official Site
