Around Alone organisers have considered Hexagon skipper, Graham Dalton’s request to avoid incurring a time penalty for missing the qualification passage deadline due to extenuating circumstances and have made their decision?

Hexagon submitted a request to have “extenuating circumstances” considered as a result of her failure to complete her qualification voyage by the published deadline of 1200 DST (Daylight Saving Time Newport R.I.) on 1st September 2002.

The Race Committee has considered the situation of Hexagon and finds that Hexagon failed to meet the qualification deadline of 1200 DST on 1st September 2002. The Race Committee is not prepared to extend the deadline.

In consideration of the request to have “extenuating circumstances” considered as a result of Hexagon’s dismasting on her initial attempt at a Trans-Atlantic qualification voyage and the wind conditions in the North Atlantic, the Race Committee has decided to impose the following penalty and allow Hexagon to compete in the Around Alone Race.

Six (6) hours per 24 hours or part thereof pro-rated from 1200 DST on 1st September 2002 until arrival at her Newport berth. This penalty will be in addition to the late arrival penalty as per rule 7.2 of the Notice of Race.

Mary Ambler