News
Day 43 Race Roundup
As we start the seventh week at sea in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009, the close of the previous week has brought some position changes right across the racing fleet.
Whilst Boat No. 7 ‘Bexhill Trust Challenger’ extend their lead to 176 nautical miles over the next closest boat, the out of class eight man crew onboard Boat No. 88, ‘Aud Eamus’, the battle for the official second placed boat is really beginning to hotten up between Fours Class teams, Boat No. 5 ‘Rowing for Prostate’ and the all female crew onboard Boat No. 13 ‘Pura Vida’.
Overnight, the New Zealand boys onboard Rowing for Prostate overtook the Ocean Angels onboard Pura Vida. However, the gap between the two of just 25 nautical miles is marginal and depending on localised weather conditions, second place as with all race positions, is by no means determined.
Both Rowing for Prostate and Ocean Angels, as well as the eight man crew onboard Aud Eamus, all with Southerly routes, have been experiencing the same weather systems over the past weekend. Changeable conditions, strong winds (not always in the right direction) and confused sea states have made progress towards Mauritius difficult with yet more valuable rowing time spent on the sea anchor. On one day, the sea can be as still as a millpond and the next, the teams are reporting brutal conditions with 25 to 35 knots, gusting 45 knots, driving rain and 4 to 5 meter swells. It's certainly a
exhilarating rollercoaster ride like no other.
Further down the fleet, the two Pairs Class Boats, Boat No. 6 ‘The Flying Ferkins’ and Boat No. 9 ‘Southern Cross’ are also locked in a fierce battle as The Flying Ferkins stole the lead away from Southern Cross last week. Again, only a small gap of just 61 nautical miles separates these two teams but Southern Cross who have altered their course to a more Northerly route are hoping to capitlise on the better conditions that have benefited the race leaders, Bexhill Trust Challenger up till the current time.
Although the Indian Ocean Rowing Race has three classes for Fours, Pairs and Solo class entries, it is amazing to see how close the fleet is to each other. Despite being the one remaining Solo entry in the Race, Simon Prior onboard Boat No. 3 ‘Old Mutual Endurance’ may be at the back of the fleet but is only 78 nautical miles behind the Pairs Class boats – a pretty impressive achievement by anyone standards.
To see the latest positions for all the teams competing in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009, please go to the Progress Page on this site.