FOLLOW THE RACE

September 27, 2001

News Flash!

START OF THE TRANSAT 650!!

Ye editor just returned from France last night...after I get reorganized I will provide my account of the pre-race activities and start, but for now... Hartoft Marine Survey Ltd., the highly regarded the Annapolis-based marine surveying firm, provided significant financial & consulting support to Gale & Team US Challenge and the boat carries the firm's name & logo. Headed by Peter Hartoft, Hartoft Marine Survey Ltd., 410 263-3609, performs all types of surveys for both power and sail throughout the northeast region of the United States.

To follow Gale's progress in the Transat Race: Each boat is required to have a satellite transponder and the race organizers "poll" the fleet regularly to keep track of the racers' locations. Race organizers have set up a race website, www.transat650.com and likely the racers' positions and results will be posted there. The website is is presently in French only, but the webmaster promises me that soon he will set up a report in English. A French website, www.seasailsurf.com, also follows the Mini races. Although the text is in French, a summary in English is provided. The British Mini class also follows the races, www.ryasolo.org.uk, as does www.madforsailing.com, and Offshore Challenges, www.offshorechallenges.com, posts results as well. The following is an account of the start from Offshore Challenges:

REPORT FROM THE START OF THE RACE ON SATURDAY 22nd September 2001 There were almost as many sailors out on the start line of the Mini Transat at 1533 today off of La Rochelle as there will be for the Volvo tomorrow (23rd) in the Solent. However their preparation, budgets, boats and challenges are somewhat different. 60 solo sailors from 11 nations set out on what will be for most of them the biggest event of their lives, 4300 miles to Brazil, alone, on a 6.5 metre skiff-like sailboat. Sunshine, moderate breeze and an accommodating forecast for the Bay of Biscay was welcomed by the fleet as Ellen MacArthur fired the start gun on the 13th edition of this classic event. [Ed. note: Ellen came by Gale's boat before the start on Saturday to personally wish her luck and give her some special weather data] It was race favourite Ronan Guerin (L'ARTISANAT) who led the fleet to the top mark placed just off the beach, but he was closely followed by Yannick Bestaven (AQUARELLE.COM) and then Brit Simon Curwen (QDS) with an excellent 3rd place as the fleet sailed away in to the sun in a perfect 20 to 25 knots. The freshening breeze promises a fast first night, as the skippers settle in to what should be 8 or 9 days to Lanzarote on leg one - but some big tactical calls to be made early on due to an occluded weak front sitting just south of the rhumb line, almost like a barrier in to passing the famous Cape Finistere - exit of the Bay of Biscay. That same Bay last time half destroyed the fleet, with 7 people lifted off their boats. One of the pre-race favourites, and winner of the Prologue race early this week, was Brian Thompson (LIGHTHOUSE LIFE FOUNDATION) - fresh from KINGFISHER's EDS Atlantic Challenge win, and previously 5 years on Steve Fossett's megacat PLAYSTATION and LAKOTA. As one of a dozen professional sailors in the race, Brian's preparation has been distinctly different to the classic, slightly chaotic campaign often seen in this event. As he rounded the top mark very much in contact with the leaders in 5th place, he took his time to pick the gybe to leave the bay and hoist a spinnaker - the mark of confidence and experience that might help him pull off a result in this testing race. NEWS FLASH ON MINI-TRANSAT, THE SOLO TRANSATLANTIC RACE IN 6.5 METRE BOATS : LEG ONE LA ROCHELLE (FRANCE) TO LANZAROTE MINI BOATS - MAXIMUM CHALLENGE! THE FIRST SOLO EVENT OF ELLEN MACARTHUR'S RACING CAREER IN 1997 * 240 miles in the first 24 hours, there's probably never been such a fast start to the Mini Transat as they surfed their way through the first night across the Bay of Biscay - two casualties on day one, tragically Britain's Paul Peggs, on his second attempt, was dismasted during Saturday night. He's heading for port with the aim to restart with a spare mast being rushed from the UK. * A second boat was dismasted, that of Bernard Sourisses, and two others reported broken rudders. Another Brit who made a good start was Brian Thompson, only to be slowed by shredding his spinnaker in the surf...but he's hanging on to 8th place. * First boats expected to pass Cape Finistere today despite battling with calms which will be an early test of nerves - nearly a 100 miles already separates the first and last boat...however competition at the front is stiff with just a few miles in it. For now Yves LeBlevec on the Finot/AMCO boat "ACTUAL INTERIM" is holding the lead...this boat although from 1995 being considered one of the fastest boats. * Britain's Simon Curwen (QDS) has so far maintained an excellent 3rd position in his Lombard designed boat, the best placed 'foreigner' at this stage.

TITLE SPONSOR STILL NEEDED! NOT TOO LATE AS HULL & SAIL SIGNAGE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE TEN DAY LAYOVER IN LANZAROTE, CANARY ISLANDS...

Some interesting statistics about the value of the publicity generated by sailing events: In the 2000 America's Cup, the all-women team, America True, attracted 1.4 billion press impressions, 255 million in broadcast and 160 million in radio.

Sixteen competitors entered the last Around Alone Race which started September 1998 in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The media coverage of this race generated:

Kvaerner ASA, an international conglomerate that sponsored the Whitbread 60, Innovation Kvaerner, that competed in the 1999 Whitbread (now Volvo) Ocean Race. Reportedly the return on their investment in the sponsorship was a multiple on the order of five to six...$55 million dollars value of print, TV and radio exposure for a $10 million investment. The other benefit to sponsorship is team building and enhancing corporate morale. The EDS Atlantic Challenge Race website had an email clearing house where email was forwarded to and posted from the boats as they were racing. Here's a letter to the crew of Mike Golding's ECover, sponsored by a Belgian manufacturer & distributor of environmentally friendly cleaning products, soaps & shampoos of the same name, from one of their employees...

24 Aug 2001 09:12 GMT

Hello everyone aboard ECOVER!

What an exciting leg it is! Maybe not for you at the moment, from what I hear you ran out of wind. I am constantly logged on to see what progresses you are making and keeping my colleagues informed.

Whatever you do, do not lose Ecomoose! We all hope you come in first this time, but don't worry, even if you don't, we'll still be very impressed with your achievements !

We hope to meet you all sometime and to see this beautiful yacht for real. Keep sending us pictures, I love them - got one as screensaver! Keep up the good work and have a nice weekend !

To Web site editor: Your site shows super exciting stuff! I have been enjoying the pictures and articles as from the start and I wanted to thank you all for the great job you have been doing ! Keep up the good work !

Angela Hardt
Assistent GM
Ecover Belgium NV

See how Ecover has used the images of the boat on its website, www.ecover.com. Kingfisher plc, one of Europe's largest retailers, sponsors Britain's Ellen MacArthur of Vendee Globe fame and also uses the boat's image on its website, www.kingfisher.com.

We are working on some leads but if anyone has contacts to corporate decision makers or can otherwise help locating a corporate sponsor please let us know. The sponsor gets to name our boat & design the graphics with the name on sails & hull. Plus, the sponsor is featured on all Team US Challenge communications & gear and has rights to Gale & the boat's images for any type of promotional use. The sponsor will be featured at our booth at the Race Village, upcoming boat shows and waterfront festivals, at our speaking engagements, and on team gear. Or, if you know of any individuals who might be interested in becoming a patron for the only American woman to take on the challenge of doing a single-handed transatlantic crossing please contact them. Patronage is tax deductible through the EYC Foundation.

SUPPORTING SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE TOO

Anyone interested in a high exposure, multinational advertising and publicity opportunity, should contact us immediately. We have a very nice informational package in full color that is available and we have developed a variety of signage and branding opportunities at varying levels of financial commitment. Let us know if you would like one to make a presentation to any potential sponsors/patrons. Remember, it's not too late to have your organization represented at the Transat Racers' Village!

Contact Kathy Weber, kathy@2001minitransat.com, or Pete Emens, for more information, pde999@aol.com.

LONG TERM GOALS

The 2001 Mini-Transat is the first stage of Gale's five-year solo racing program that will culminate in the 2006 Around Alone Race, the well known single-handed around the world race.

After the finish of the Mini-Transat, Gale and Team U.S. Challenge will make the decision whether to compete in the Figaro solo races for 2002 or leap into an Open 50 racing program. The Figaro, sailed in 30' Beneteaus, is a series of short-handed point-to-point races from La Rochelle - Gijon, Spain - St. Quay Portrieux, France - Côtes d'Armor, France - Dingle, Ireland - Hendaye, France. The Open 50 program would concentrate on international off-shore races such as the Route de Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Round Britain, and Europe 1 New Man Star.

In 2004, we plan to commission an Open 60 for a venue of short-handed & Grand Prix events to complete Gale's training for the 2006 Around Alone. The Around Alone is the longest race on earth for an individual in any sport. Formerly the BOC Challenge, the Around Alone course spans some 27,000 miles of the world's roughest and most remote oceans. It is a grueling single-handed sailing race, one of the most difficult and dangerous ever conceived where competitors are both the captain and crew, pitting themselves and their craft against the elements, alone, and where the finish line is literally a world away. Compared with the nonstop Vendee Globe Race, the Around Alone has a much greater media, sponsor and public appeal because of its multi-leg structure and stopovers in some of the world's great cities. Also race rules allow for the sailors to make repairs to their yachts during stopovers and because of this, competitors push themselves and their yachts to the very limits of endurance and technology.

TRAVEL PACKAGES

Gale's niece, Tara, and her employer, Global Travel, present the following suggested travel packages for our Team and Gale's supporters:

La Rochelle September 2001

La Rochelle was fabulous place to visit. Biggest marina I've ever seen--4,000 slips. In the heart of Bordeaux country, on the shore with beaches and buildings dating from the Middle Ages. Everyone was super friendly.

Packages from $1800.00 per person double occupancy. Packages include airfare from Baltimore to Paris round trip, 10 days compact rental car, 3 nights hotel in Paris, 3 nights hotel in Bordeaux, and 3 nights in La Rochelle. Can be customized!

Madrid/Lanzarote October 2001

Gale could use some helpers & moral support during the layover.

Packages from $1700.00 per person double occupancy. Packages include airfare from Baltimore to Madrid and then on to Lanzarote round trip, 3 nights hotel in Madrid, 4 day compact car rental in Madrid, and 4 nights hotel in Lanzarote.

Rio/Salvador da Bahia November 2001

Packages from $2500.00 per person double occupancy. Packages include airfare from Baltimore to Rio round trip, Brazil air pass, 3 nights hotel in Rio, 3 nights hotel in Salvador and 2 nights in the Amazon. [Ed. note: I visited Brazil in 1997 for the Penguin Internationals in Rio. Fabulous! Great beaches, food, music, shops! Salvador was the colonial capital of Brazil, like Annapolis--very historic--with restoration of old buildings, neat yacht harbor, beaches & shops. Adding the side trip to the Amazon...this package sounds like a winner!]

All these packages can also be customized for individual preferences. Also, the La Rochelle In-the-Water Boat Show is the week before the start of the Mini-Transat for those interested. No visa needed for France, just passport. Contact Tara at Global Travel, 208-387-1000 ext. 2101, 208-338-6042 fax for specifics.

Please support the following firms who have donated services and/or products to Gale's campaign (also see the full list of our suppliers):

We also want to thank Nancy Noyes for her work on our press releases and other media communications, Elvia Thompson for her website design and maintenance work, and Jeff Borland for website hosting.

DONATIONS

We are grateful for any financial support or simply your wishes for good fortune. Checks can be made payable to Gale Browning Ocean Racing, P.O. Box 4061, Annapolis, MD 21403. For fully tax deductible donations make checks payable to the EYC Foundation, (a 501(c)(3) organization), Attn: Women's Sailing, and mail/deliver to Eastport Yacht Club, 317 First St., Annapolis, MD 21403. Check out the EYC Foundation web page for news about their projects and their mission statement.

YACHT CLUBS

Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, Maryland, is the host yacht club supporting Gale's historic campaign. West River Sailing Club, located in Galesville on the West River has also joined the team. WRSC, founded in the 30s, has active racing programs for dinghies and big boats as well as a popular junior sailing program and a cruising schedule. We invite other clubs to join the team.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Join us in La Rochelle for Transat Racers' Village and the start!! Hotels and airfare are a bargain right now! Gale's team, Team U.S. Challenge, also needs some helping hands to run the team promotional gear program and to coordinate our mailing program. In addition, we will need consultants, outfitters, and support staff for the Open 50 and 60 campaigns. If you can contribute your time & skills, please contact Kathy Weber, 410 263-5983.

Cheers,
Kathryn M. Weber, Project Manager
Team US Challenge
kathy@2001minitransat.com
W PH 410 822-6950, Ext 122
H PH 410 263-5983
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