Sailing: Field deals with adversity
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ROSS FIELD in Yamaha yesterday opened up an eight-mile lead over the new overall leader in the Whitbread 60 class, Lawrie Smith in Intrum Justitia, in the Whitbread Round the World Race, writes Stuart Alexander.
The severe weather has pounded the yachts during the first five days of the fifth leg from Uruguay to Fort Lauderdale. Field has minor sail damage and two broken safety line stanchions, which will not trouble him too much, nor will a broken radar, or screen popping out of a navigation computer, slow Intrum.
The need to go for a break which would allow him to cut deeply into Chris Dickson and Tokio's overall lead of 14 hours evaporated for Smith when Dickson's mast collapsed. Now Smith can afford to match-race all the way home, and he has three and a half hours in the bank over Yamaha from the first four legs.
The weather has also hit the maxis, who have seen the top four 60s go past their leader, Pierre Fehlmann in Merit Cup. Second-placed Grant Dalton in New Zealand Endeavour was another said to have suffered damage, to sails, to a mainsail sheet traveller and electronic instruments, but by yesterday afternoon she was again the fastest boat in the remaining 12.
WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE Fifth Leg (5,475 miles, Punte del Este, Urug to Fort Lauderdale, US): Positions with miles to finish: Maxis: 1 Merit Cup 4,256; 2 New Zealand Endeavour 4,279; 3 La Poste 4,297; 4 Uruguay Natural 4,535. Whitbread 60s: 1 Yamaha, 4,223; 2 Intrum Justitia 4,231; 3 Galicia '93 Pescanova 4,236; 4 Brooksfield, 4,251; 5 Winston 4,258; 6 Heineken 4,264; 7 Hetman Sahaidachny 4,318; 8 Odessa 4,364.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments