Thursday, December 01, 2005

Sanderson Out in Front; Disney's Pirates Pull Out

(The Independent) - World records fell as the Double Dutch marauders put pedal to the metal on the charge for home in the Volvo Race. Mike Sanderson's ABN Amro 1 went through 543 miles in 24 hours and was still climbing as he charged at full pelt south and eastwards, while his supposed junior partners on ABN 2, skip-pered by Sébastien Josse, hit 537 miles, both beating the record of 530 miles, set by Bouwe Bekking on an-other Volvo 70-footer, movistar. That is an average of over 22 knots for every one of the 24 hours, three times the speed of the average cruising yacht at its best. Grael was 114 miles adrift in third, Neal McDonald fourth, 139 mile astern in Ericsson, and Grant Wharington's Melbourne-based Brunel Sunergy fifth, 1,200 miles be-hind.

Meanwhile the Disney-backed boat, The Black Pearl, which is also a promotional tool for the launch next July of Pirates of the Caribbean 2, starring Johnny Depp, has imposed an almost total news blackout after re-tiring damaged from the leg after less than 24 hours. It was due to be shipped from Lisbon to Cape Town to complete major repairs last Friday.

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