Marten Holden's blog

The ice map for june 2nd is now displayed on www.ostar2009.com

Hey guys what's the hurry? Our flight to Boston is
not until Thursday and we need a few days to sort ourselves out and get over the
jetlag before you all arrive. There's another thing too, my berthing plan
relies on you all arriving in an orderly fashion with no more than 2 or 3 boats
a day.

Up early today to check the 0400 positions and make sure all my ducks are in a row. Is this the OSTAR? The blogs sound more like the Transat Jaques Vabre with talk of spinnakers up, wraps, surfing down waves & kite destruction. Well they say we have climate change so perhaps in future the OSTAR will be a down wind flyer. I expect OSTAR conditions will return, they always do! Enjoy it while it lasts.

La Promesse (Jan Kees Lampe) has a substantial lead this morning over her nearest rival Jbellino (Rob Craigie). The lead was some 134 miles and La Promesse was logging over 2 knots faster.

Looking at the tracker map this evening reminds me
of a reply Lia Ditton gave during OSTAR 2005 to rather a naive question from a
radio presenter.

The race website www.ostar2009.com has now undergone a revamp.
The news is now on our front page, to include photos of the 2009 start.
The clock is ticking away on elapsed time from the start in BST
Our articles now appear in the order in which they are posted
Our Tracker data is now correct and shows handicap postions in each class
I'm hopeful our Google Map will be live shortly.
Do please have a look.

OSTAR Race Office

I spoke to Paul Brant by Iridium phone at 1610. He is heading for Cork as is Pip Hildesley. Pip has new lower shrouds waiting for her and intends to rejoin the race. Paul has water ballast issues as well as having lost his foul weather gear. He is going to get in, take stock and decide what to do.

Rob Cummings is heading for Falmouth or Newlyn to carry our repairs. Reini Gelder is safely on a mooring in the pool at St Marys in the Isles of
Scilly. For further news on the above and photo of Jonathan Snodgrass back in Plymouth visit www.ostar2009.com and click on News.

Marten Holden

My article below titled "War of Attrition" appears
to be compromised. If you want to read it in full please go to www.ostar2009.com click on NEWS and scroll
down to fourth story today.

The day started badly with the arrival of an email at 0700 from Anne Caseneuve advising of her retirement from the race. We subsequently learnt this was due to a broken rudder and she is making her way back towards France.

We noted last night on the tracker that Lexia (Jonathan Snodgrass) was sailing back towards Plymouth. He has now arrived safely back in Plymouth and has confirmed his retirement.

At 0700 this morning Anne Caseneuve in an email to
the Race Office advised that she has retired from the race and is heading
East.
For further information and updates go to http://www.ostar2009.co.uk/newsFull.php?id=28&start=0
OSTAR Race Office