In this Issue:
Whitbread- Around Cape Horn
Gold Race- The other way to round Cape Horn
New Great Lakes J22 Fleet
Royal Sun Alliance- Progress Report
ISAF Team Racing

Whitbread Fleet Rounds Cape Horn
    The majority of the fleet has rounded that most significant of landmarks Cape Horn. The race is led by EF Language- a whopping 473 miles in front of 2nd place Innovation Kvaerner. She leads a tightly bunched group. Swedish Match is next
(8 miles back), then Merit Cup (another 8 miles) and then Toshiba (.2 miles back of Merit !) So, at this point it looks like EF Language has secured 1st on this leg. The battle for the next places will likely continue all the way to Brazil.

    Three boats are sailing along with varying degrees of damage. Silk Cut is still in the Southern Ocean with a broken mast. They are sailing steadily along. EF Education has suffered further rig damage. They encountered some typical Southern Ocean nastiness and are now down to a 5 meter stump mast. Progress is very slow. Chessie Racing has a rig, but no 'donkey motor'. This is the engine that powers the water ballast system and water maker. Without these capabilities the team is down to 3 cups of water and 3 meals of chocolate per day. They can't use their normal dehydrated foods due to the lack of water. Needless to say tension is high, and chocolate is not such a favorite anymore.

    Still the race is on, and to check it out, use the outstanding whitbread site: http://www.whitbread.org

Gold Race- Cape Horn the Other Way
    As the Whitbread fleet sails west to east around Cape Horn, the three Gold Race boats sailed east to west around Cape Horn.

    Cape Horn lived up to its billing for the Gold Race fleet. Race leader Aquitaine Innovations had to anchor and take shelter during her rounding due to heavy headwinds. The Horn cost her all but one mainsail batten. 2nd place PRB had to anchor to repair a torn up mast track.

    Still all of the boats are around Cape Horn. Aquitaine Innovations is still leading. PRB is 2nd 272 miles back, with Geodis another 100 miles back.

    Since Cape Horn the fleet has experienced light and at time calm winds. This race is not nearly over as it is still many thousands of miles to San Fransisco. With the equipment problems of the leader, the race could see changes in standing at any time.

    For updates in english go to: http://www.aroundalone.com.
For French language updates please see: http://www.goldrace.com

New Great Lakes J/22 Fleet

    The Great Lakes is home to a new fleet ! It's Tawas Bay Yacht Club J/22 Fleet # 44. If you are interested please contact:

Chris Princing/Fleet Captain
1669 Midland Rd.
Saginaw, Mi 48603
(517) 792-0537 home (517) 7927021 work
Look for more information in GLSOL as it becomes
available.

Royal Sun Alliance Progress Report
    This morning sees the catamaran on her 16th day at sea. The all female crew is in the South Atlantic near the Island of Trinidad off the coast of Brazil.

    At this point in the voyage they have 21,385 miles to the finish. Comparing their
progress to record holder Sport- Elec, they are just about dead even.

ISAF Team Racing
    The Gosling's Rum ISAF World Team Racing Championship is underway at the Strictly Sail Miami Boat show. 14 teams from 9 countries are competing.

    The competition has reached the semifinal stage. Racing in Vanguard 15's there are four teams left. In the 1st semifinal Great Britain will meet up with Australia. In the other semifinal New Zealand will battle the United States.

    Traditionally the US and Great Britain have had great strength in this discipline. Based on the round robin results they should advance to the finals. Great Britain swept the US team in the prior round robin. This makes them the favorite.

    For the results of the final being sailed today go to the ISAF website: http://www.sailing.org/teamrace/