Make or break time for racers

This weekend could well be make or break time for the 10 crews competing in leg one of the Whitbread Round the World Race. Tactics overnight and today will decide the best approach to the notorious doldrums region and, after two weeks at sea since the start at Southampton, the race on this 7,350-mile leg could easily restart.

The race has, so far, been more about luck than boatspeed and even the more favoured skippers have been caught out by the untypically light and flukey conditions on their route south. What should be the halfway point in the leg this weekend is barely one third the distance as the race lags behind predictions by more than two days. The light and sunny weather hasn't made for easy sailing either. Crews respond to the slightest wind shift and several boats reported 360 degree changes earlier this week. Typically, sail bags are shifted about the boat in an effort to distribute weight without using the water-ballast pumping system that only adds to the load, that would further hamper progress.

Of critical importance is the estimate of the duration for the stage to Cape Town. This has determined the amount of food supplies and diesel each boat is carrying.

Many skippers ordered a last-minute reduction of non-essentials in Southampton in an effort to cut weight when the forecast indicated light weather, at least for the early part of the course.

Already the fleet has introduced food rationing and cutbacks in power consuming activities such as water-making and communications. The leading boats on the approaches to South Africa are likely to be determined by the ability to pump water for the ballast systems as well as power the navigation systems, thus ensuring a constant stream of weather data. Crew welfare will also be under pressure and minimal on-board television footage will be relayed by satellite.

But the most immediate concern is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or doldrums. As the fleet is spread between the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands, all navigators are considering what angle to approach the ITCZ while still keeping close to the southwards Rhumb line. As the trade winds finally start to kick in after a prolonged absence, a variety of choices create a tactical dilema.

Current thinking by the leaders suggests a westward approach as the satellite imagery is indicating a weakness in the zone closer to the coast of Brazil and the first waypoint of the Fernando de Noronha island. Should this prove accurate and stable, minimum delay could be expected from this route.

This choice has already seen several boats gybe across for a south-westerly course and the leaders passed the Cape Verdes yesterday afternoon.

Originally, Americas Cup veteran Paul Cayard on EF Language hoped to time his arrival at the islands for mid-afternoon but has since opted to shadow Grant Dalton's Merit Cup in second behind Norwejian Knut Frostad on Innovation Kvaerner. His theory was that the trade winds will funnel through the islands and, based on his experience in Hawaii, could give a five hour advantage and still give a reasonable angle for the doldrums.

Further back the field, where the breeze has finally filled in to about 20 knots, American entry Chessie Racing still leads Britain's Silk Cut by just less than 30 miles. "Life aboard Silk Cut is continuing as normal with no gear failure or injury. It is nice to be moving again," was the comment from Lawrie Smith's crew where Ireland's Gordon Maguire is second-in-command.

But, if 143 miles to the leaders in fifth place is disappointing for Smith, spare a thought for race favourite Chris Dickson who is another 90 miles astern. "Life in the cheap seats is not a lot of fun," reported the New Zealander. "Having gained on the leaders, it was tough yesterday to sit again in a glass ocean drifting with no wind, while the boats 50 miles ahead sailed away and the boats 50 miles behind caught up."

Last Monday's results section incorrectly reported the outcome of the runner-up position at the ISA National Dinghy Match Racing Championship. Michael O'Connor and Dermot Boylan were beaten 3-2 in the final by Tom Fitzpatrick and David McHugh; Sean Craig and Heather King took third after the sail-offs against Paddy Oliver and Melanie Morris.