Madeira marks the end of Stage One - they sail here from La Rochelle (France). The first boat to arrive in Funchal from La Rochelle was captained by Isabelle Joschke, and she’s got nearly a 4.5 hour lead for the second leg, which ends in Salvador da Bahia. They reckon it should take 25 days to get from Madeira to Brazil: it's a 3000 nautical-mile journey.
The race's website is good fun: it zooms around the ocean to show you the current positions, and if you hover over any of the boats it shows the sole occupant, their speed, co-ordinates etc. There was one little red boat-marker still in Funchal: turns out Tom Braidwood had trouble with something on the Wombat and had to turn back, but hopes to set out again tonight - he'll be about 240 miles behind the others, who are now just approaching the Canaries...
3 comments:
Wow. Very cool. Sailing solo across those waters. Did you go down and se the boats when they were in?
Er... no - but I saw them last year, if that helps! Looking at a non-moving regatta only works if you have someone knowledgeable around, someone who talks you through every little sail and knot and hookey thing. Someone you can then tease about being such a boat-nerd. Someone like, let me think...
You're funny!
Post a Comment