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30 January 2005, 09:58 am

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Ellen MACARTHUR

Overnight Ellen hit something, probably sealife, and at 15 knots could not free the leeward rudder of the object...so she did a complete 360 degree turn via gybe, thereby lifting the leeward rudder out of the water and libertaring the object...fortunately she found no damage on the rudder that took the impact.

Another reminder of just how much can happen to scupper the record attempt in the next 2,600 miles...

B&Q is keeping just ahead of the pace of her virtual competitor IDEC, gaining another two hours since yesterday morning. Latest 24hr run of Distance Made Good to the finish for Ellen is 317 miles compared to 257 miles for Joyon, but today IDEC was fast clocking up a 300 mile run towards the finish.

This morning, B&Q was approximately 740 miles north of the Equator and 455 miles south-west of the island of Fogo, the most easterly island of the group of Cape Verde Islands that are situated 400 miles east off the coast of Senegal. B&Q maintaing her advantage over IDEC.

Winds should turn more easterly today/tomorrow and more south-easterly on Tuesday, freeing B&Q to take a more north-easterly course to keep away from the strong gales midweek west of 35 degrees west. The 'show-stopping' high pressure continues to cause the most concern....

Team Ellen Media (As Amended by ISAF)

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