Having repaired Orange’s cracked beam and patched up the delamination problem, Team Orange are sailing a fine line between optimum speed and cautiousness as they head towards the halfway mark on their Jules Verne Challenge.

Nick Moloney reported from the boat earlier this morning that at 52 degrees south, and with between 20-38 knots of breeze, conditions are tough. They currently have two reefs in the main and storm spi up.

“Everyone is looking forward to the half way mark so we can start the count down.” commented Moloney. “Time has passed very quickly but we still have a long way to go. We have been sailing in a nice stream of weather without too much water ondeck. We should pass Tasman Island sometime today.”

Orange is currently 1,000 miles from the halfway mark and, as of Monday (1 April), is 2,472 miles ahead of Sport Elec, the current Jules Verne record holder.

POSITION REPORT COMPARISON TABLE / JULES VERNE TROPHY

Monday 3 April 2002 at 1124 GMT

POSITION ORANGE

Position: 54°11”S / 149°7′ E

Speed 24h: 20.28

Distance since departure: 13,866.35 miles

Distance 24h: 486.66 miles

COMPARISON TO SPORT ELEC IN 1997

Position: 49°39 ‘S / 129°54’ E

Speed 24h: 18.63

Distance since departure: 11,394 miles

Distance 24h: 447 miles