Skip to main content
CNN.com /SAILING
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SERVICES
 
 
 
SEARCH
Web CNN.com
powered by Yahoo!

MacArthur rival helps Kingfisher2

Kingfisher2
Kingfisher2 will be repaired in Plymouth.

   Story Tools

LORIENT, France (CNN) -- One of Ellen McArthur's rivals has stepped in to help her get back on track in her Jules Verne round-the-world record attempt after a technical problem delayed her start.

Fellow British skipper Tracy Edwards, who had to postpone her Jules Verne attempt until 2004 in Maiden II due to a lack of funds, has offered to lend a piece of mast off her laid up yacht to get McArthur, sailing in Kingfisher2, back on schedule.

MacArthur had to delay the start of her attempt, in the 34m (110ft) maxi catamaran Kingfisher2, on Tuesday just miles from the start after discovering a fault with a crucial metal runner along the mast.

Edwards said: "The weather window they are hoping to set sail in will close in 48 hours and we are the only boat with the same mast track, so their only option to start the Jules Verne this week would be for us to lend them ours.

"Although Ellen and I are obviously rivals on the water, it would be great for British sailing if she was able to capture the Jules Verne record and, as a result, we were more than happy to provide whatever assistance."

Kingfisher2 was rigged with a new mast and track just eight weeks ago and has shown no previous indication of any problems despite nearly 3,000 miles of testing.

Edward said: "I hope the guys from Kingfisher2 can now get our mast track fitted as quickly as possible," Edwards said.

"We broke four world records with it in 2002 so I hope that it brings them the same good fortune in their Jules Verne attempt!"

While Kingfisher is being repaired in Plymouth Sound, her on-the-water rival, French skipper Olivier de Kersauson posted another record on Tuesday making McArthur's task even harder.

Kersauson, sailing the giant 34m trimaran Geronimo with 10 crew, left Brittany on January 11 and, after 18 days at sea, has set a record breaking pace, smashing both the Ushant to the Equator and the Ushant to Cape of Good Hope records.

Geronimo is now the fastest yacht ever between the English Channel and the southern tip of Africa with a new time of 16 days, 14 hours, 35 minutes.

Jules Verne holder Bruno Peyron was 2 days, 4 hours and 5 minutes slower on the section when he set the round-world record in May 2002.

McArthur and de Kersauson are trying to beat Peyron's time of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes set in the 34m catamaran Orange, which is now being sailed by McArthur as Kingfisher2.

Peyron covered the 28,035 nautical miles at an average speed of 18.15 knots.


Top Stories
Iran poll to go to run-off
Top Stories
CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards
 
 
 
 
  SEARCH CNN.COM:
© 2004 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.