The top four Class 1 boats in Around Alone have now crossed the Equator, and so the attention is turning to the Southern Hemisphere, where the weather patterns are reversed and the dominant weather feature is the St Helena, or South Atlantic High. It is similar to the Azores High, which dictates the wind up North, only the one down south is more dominant. With the same dish on the menu, 15 knots of SE wind on the nose, these four Open 60’s, lead by Swiss Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group-Armor Lux, begin to circumvent the High as if they were in their own particular lanes on an athletics track. This is the only way to Cpae Town as if they cut through the middle on the direct route they would run out of wind.
 

Emma Richards, the 28yr old British skipper on Pindar, eagerly awaits the daily position reports calculated by customised Raytech software in the Race HQ, and is delighted to have gained over French skipper Thierry Dubois on Solidaires even by just a small distance : "This morning was a good one as I gained on Thierry 5 miles, which puts the biggest distance between us since the 28th Oct."
 

The other big news of the day is that Class 1 contender, Italian Simone Bianchetti, and his sponsor Tiscali, have together announced that Bianchetti will be able to continue in the race after his unfortunate dismasting 8 days ago off Northern Spain. The story of how an almost abandoned dream was resurrected exemplifies the spirit of Around Alone, as without the timely and considerate assistance from two of his Class 1 rivals, Pindar and Bobst Group-Armor Lux, he would not have been able to continue.

When Class 1 leader Bernard Stamm heard that Tiscali had dismasted, he got on the satellite phone straight away to offer his old mast to Bianchetti. "Bobst Group-Armor Lux’ spare mast was in the boatyard in Caen, France in case I ended up dismasting at some point, and I thought to offer it to Simone instead as I prefer that he continues in the race. I’m pretty sure now I won’t dismast this leg, touch wood, and it’s better to have more competition on the next start line." Race rules state that in order for him to be an official entry in the Around Alone he would have to sail his boat singlehandedly to South Africa.

Once Simone and Stamm and had worked out an agreement, Emma Richard’s sponsor joined in to help get the mast from France to Spain. Pindar owns a large converted North Sea tug by the name of the ’Hatherleigh’. When Andrew Pindar heard that Tiscali needed a way to get the mast from France to Spain he immediately stepped forward and offered the Hatherleigh as a transport ship. Shore team manager Robin Gray explained : "The crew were all for it ’Yippee, let’s go !’ was the cry, and they came down from Scotland to Portsmouth, and set off on Tuesday morning after the storm across the channel to Caen. The mast fitted like a dream on the starboard side, with 4ft to spare, flat on the deck. They left the same afternoon and were docking in Spain first light this morning. The mast is already off the boat ?"
 

A mad scramble ensues to get the boat ready. A set of sails are being adapted for the replacement mast in Brest, France, and two small holes where the old mast damaged the side of the boat, have to be patched. If Simone leaves no later than November 10 and has a reasonably fast passage to Cape Town, there is no reason why he would not be ready for Leg 3. Because the race is scored on points, his last place finish for this leg will not cripple his chances of a podium finish in Newport. Anything is possible.
 

Class 2 fleet are enjoying more trade wind sailing, not without some hiccups as the skippers have been reporting various wipeouts in the 20 knot NE breeze. One skipper who has surprised himself is Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi on Spirit of yukoh, polled in second place behind leader Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. "Looking at the position reports it looks like I have found myself in second place. Lucky boy ! But there is almost nothing in it between all the boats behind Tommy Hilfiger and I am continuing to sail with the philosophy of safety first."