Whitbread Race
Cayard Wins Whitbread First Leg
Bob Fisher Reports
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Oct. 22, 1997) — Four weeks ago, before the start of the Whitbread Round the World Race, it was possible to lay a bet on Paul Cayard winning the Volvo Trophy at 20-1. As he was first into Cape Town in the early hours of the morning of October 21st, similar bets for the rest of the race are at much shortened odds. Cayard may be a neophyte in this race, but he is far from a beginner in offshore racing, and he has proved that the quality of sailing is singularly important to be at the front of the fleet.
He did not deny, either, that he has been graciously gifted with his
navigator-by-default, Mark Rudiger, who in his first Whitbread has called
the shots with unerring accuracy. Paul and the rest of the crew have
simply piled on the coals to keep the boiler at full steam, utilising the
winds on the top of the low pressure areas to make fast average speeds
towards the Tavern of the Seas. A two-day run of 798 miles is sufficient
testament to their ability.
This delirious pell-mell charge has not been without some risk and even
Cayard acknowledged that it has been dangerous. 'Curtis Blewitt, one of
our bowmen, had to free climb from the hounds to the masthead, 20 feet
more at an altitude of 75 feet above deck, as our only free halyard was
jammed up at the top,' he said, adding, 'He is a tough young kid, but I
decided never to let him do that again. It just isn't worth it if
something were to happen.' On the other hand, Blewitt would need no second
bidding.
One thing Cayard was thinking of was a proper meal — at least, plenty of fast
food, and no waiting for more than five minutes from the time EF Language
hit the dock. There was a hamburger barbecue on the pontoon at which they
moored.
Most of the other boats grossly under-provisioned for this leg,
and it has gone on even longer than they predicted. They are reaping the
harvest of their misjudgement in the worst possible way as Cayard relates,
'The crew is pretty tired. I think the nutrition is one big factor. Also, these boats are very physical. The beating we take when the fire hose [the
constant spray from the bow wave at more than 20 knots] is turned on is
punishing. It adds up and after the yuks and giggles, you're left beat to
a pulp.'
Cayard could have added that Stevie Erickson, who was responsible for
their food, had not skimped, and weight loss among the crew was minimal.
— Yachting journalist Bob Fisher
lives in Lymington, England
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