Photo of Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) boats slicing through the fog after the start in Cape Town:
![[Linked Image]](http://www.boats.com/published/images/se_vorleg2start.jpg)
From todays Scuttlebutt:
SCUTTLEBUTT No. 942 - November 12, 2001
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VOLVO OCEAN RACE
The wind Gods were smiling today for the start of the 6,550 nautical mile
leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race to Sydney, providing spectacular sailing
conditions in Table Bay, under the watchful gaze of Table Mountain. A
freshening westerly 24-knot breeze blew out of a clear and cloudless blue
sky, declaring a true beat to windward towards the 200-metre wide gate set
three miles to the west, 2000 metres offshore northwest of Green Point.
Once out in Table Bay, the eight-strong fleet, set up with full mainsail,
number one jib and full water-ballast, jostled for position in the starting
area which was positioned approximately 500 metres to the north west of Cape
Town Harbour entrance, with two blue and yellow Volvo buoys as inner
distance and outer distance marks.
At the ten-minute gun, fired by Robert Norrman, managing director of Volvo
Cars South Africa, a large fog bank was seen on the horizon, temperatures
dropping rapidly. Two hundred spectator boats were pushing close to the
fleet, churning up a huge wash, while above, eight helicopters circled like
vultures.
The whole fleet made a clean start on starboard tack with djuice choosing
the favourable pin end of the line, next to the breakwater. Tyco was the
first boat to tack onto port, the rest of the fleet followed, forced by the
shoreline to tack out. Djuice continued to work the shoreline, sailing into
clear air, Amer Sports One and News Corp hard on her heels, with illbruck
and Assa Abloy covering each other. The wind dropped to 10 knots as the
fleet sailed into the fog bank, but the fight continued, the lead changing
with every tack, Amer Sports One losing precious distance as she bore away
hard to give way to illbruck now back on starboard tack.
News Corp was the first Volvo 60 to reach the gate, three miles up the race
track, followed by illbruck 30 seconds behind her and djuice 5 seconds
behind illbruck. SEB rounded one minute behind djuice with Assa Abloy right
on her transom 10 seconds behind. There was a gap of one minute 20 seconds
before Tyco turned through the gate followed by Amer Sports One five seconds
behind her and Amer Sports Too a further two minutes 10 seconds later.
The fleet continued to sail on the wind, the wind still decreasing, News
Corp was leading illbruck, djuice, SEB and Assa Abloy inshore on starboard
tack, while Tyco, Amer Sports One and Amer Sports Too opted for offshore
route on port tack.
Positions at 1600 GMT Sunday November 11:
1. Tyco - 6474 miles to finish
2. Amer Sports One - 6474
3. djuice dragons - 6475
4. illbruck - 6475
5. News Corp - 6475
6. Team SEB - 6476
7. Amer Sports Two - 6476
8. ASSA ABLOY - 6479
Event site: http://www.volvooceanrace.org
Daniel Forster took an incredible photo of the fleet slicing through the
fog, see:
http://www.boats.com/common/display...