| COWES, UK-(9-8-2005) The VO 70 “movistar”, the Spanish yacht set to take part in the Volvo
Ocean Race 2005-2006, continues to put on miles in its first race, the
Rolex Fastnet Race, which set out last Sunday in the waters of the
Solent, off the mythical Isle of Wight. The Royal Sailing Club of
Sanxenxo boat is currently lying third in the fleet of 286 yachts,
chasing the two maxis ahead: the 100-foot New Zealand yacht, ICAP
Maximus, and the 98-foot Australian yacht, Skandia Wild Thing.
The fleet report received first thing this morning from Lands End, on
the southern tip of England, indicates that the leader of the fleet in
real time was Charles St. Clair Brown’s ICAP Maximus, which passed Lands
End at 0615 hours. Grant Wharington’s Skandia was a mere 15 minutes
behind, with a lead of less than an hour over the movistar, close on its
heels, despite being 30 feet shorter.
“The difference in length is decisive –remarks Pedro Campos, general
manager of the movistar–, especially with the light winds we have had
since the beginning of the race. But, when we start reaching and running
before the wind, we hope things will change, because this boat is
designed to show its full potential in those conditions”.
In the second report of the day, at 1400 hours, the ICAP Maximus
maintained a lead of almost 7 miles over the Skandia Wild Thing, in
conditions of light breezes, barely reaching 6 knots. The movistar
reduced the gap on Grant Wharington’s maxi, sailing a mere half mile
behind the Australian at this point.
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