illbruck Challenge, led by Northern California’s John
Kostecki, make it two wins in a row as they crossed the Sydney
finish line in first place at the end of Leg 2 of the Volvo Around
the World Race. illbruck finished in 22 days, 13 hours,
22 minutes, 26 seconds. SEB came in second place one hour,
13 minutes later, followed by Team News Corp in third.
Just seven minutes separated fourth place djuice Dragons
and fifth place Amer Sports One.
illbruck sails under the Sydney skyline and approaches
the Opera House finish line to win the second leg. Photo Will Burgess/Reuters
Skipper John Kostecki points as navigator Juan Vila keeps watch
while crewmembers (from left), Tony Colb of Germany, Noel Drennan
of Ireland, (obscured), Jamie Gale of New Zealand, and Dirk de
Ridder of the Netherlands look on. Photo Will Burgess/Reuters
Amer Sports One
skipper Grant Dalton of New Zealand may have broken ribs, and
has been taken to the hospital. The six-time round-the-world
race veteran was thrown across the Volvo Ocean 60 when it fell
off a wave during a gale in Bass Strait. “I was in the galley
area and I was suddenly launched in space,” said the injured
Dalton. “I broke the stove and the fitting that held it
to the bulkhead and slammed into the side of the boat. Roger
[Nilson, navigator and doctor] suspects broken ribs and maybe
some internal damage. It is very painful, when I breathe or move.”
Nilson, confined Dalton to a bunk and administered
painkillers, “Grant is in severe pain and has massive bruising,”
he said. “He cannot move without severe distress.”
This is the second medical emergency for the team on what must
be viewed as an unlucky leg. Crew member Keith Kilpatrick was
evacuated at Eclipse Island with an intestinal ailment. Kilpatrick
has since made a full recovery.
Grant Dalton is transferred from the yacht by crewmembers and
a paramedic after sustaining suspected broken ribs and possible
internal injuries. Photo Carlo Borlenghi/SEA&SEE
Neal McDonald’s Assa Abloy thundered
through the Sydney Harbour Heads, hardening onto a close-hauled
course, and tearing through short chop at 10-12 knots. The supposedly
fastest boat in the fleet cut through the finish line in sixth
place at 09:31:05 GMT today.
Lisa McDonald’s Amer Sports Too
is still racing and is expected to finish on Wednesday the seventh. Tyco has retired. For more Volvo Race news and photos,
see their Web site at www.volvooceanrace.com.
YOTREPS
December 4 – The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace
Who is out making passages in the Pacific
and what kind of weather are they having? Check out YOTREPS –
‘yacht reports’ – at www.bitwrangler.com/yotreps/
Looking for current as well as recent wind
and sea readings from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena
and the Mexican border? Here’s the place – which has further
links to weather buoys and stations all over the U.S.: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/stuff/southwest/swstmap.shtml.
Pacific Winds and Pressure
The University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology
page posts a daily
map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds.
