Temperatures Soar on Cessna Citation

GLOBAL OCEAN RACE – With the stable breeze continuing, the Global Ocean Race (GOR) Class40s are all making good progress along the coast of Brazil with Colman and Cavanough on the fleet leader, Cessna Citation, managing to squeeze extra speed from their Akilaria RC 2 as they slide round the easternmost point of Brazil heading for maximum points at the Celox Sailing Scoring Gate.

Trailing the leading Kiwi-Australian team by 212 miles on Saturday afternoon, Nannini and Frattaruolo on Financial Crisis in second and Leggatt and Hutton-Squire in third with Phesheya-Racing are separated by just under 70 miles with Nico Budel and Erik van Vuuren trailing the South African team by 82 miles on Saturday afternoon with Sec. Hayai.

“The drag race towards the Celox Sailing Scoring Gate continued all day today with Phesheya-Racing and Financial Crisis apparently in very similar trade wind conditions and making very similar courses and speeds,” reported Nick Leggatt from the South African Class40 early on Saturday morning as they gained five miles from Marco Nannini and Sergio Frattaruolo overnight. “I guess it’s called the trade winds because we seem to trade gains and losses in miles back and forth all day with the net result being a handful of miles in our favour at the end of 24 hours of racing,” reasons Leggatt. With the trio of near-identical first generation Akilaria Class40s spread over 151 miles, gains and losses are currently measured in single figures with Sec.Hayai gaining three miles on Phesheya-Racing in the past 24 hours. “Most of the day saw very easy sailing conditions,” continues Leggatt. “But this evening the shifty, gusty winds of the rain squalls have returned and we have our work cut out trying to maintain a good course and speed.” MORE STORY