Follow the fleet
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Wed 24 Nov 2010 21:25
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I have forgotten to tell readers that you can
follow the entire fleet's position at www.worldcruising.com/arc
Every boat has a tracker fitted feeding an
individual position report via satellite every three hours. We are Arc No
81.
Currently we are lying well back in the fleet,
somewhere around the top of the second half. However, sailing has phenomenally
complicated handicapping rules and it is often impossible to work out who is
truly doing well until after the finish.
There is a racing division in which we are not, who
are not allowed to use their engines. We are in the cruising division where use
of engines is permitted but with a severe time penalty. Winds have so far been
light and contrary, and about half the cruising boats have been under engine -
but not us, so far. We took a strategic decision, after careful study of the
winds maps, to go south first rather than southwest or west. It seems to have
paid off, but with the apparent effect that we are way down the fleet. But no
time penalty!
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