Seventy-seven year old Gawie Fagan aboard the 9-metre Suidoos 2 has shown the rest of the SAP Cape to Rio fleet that sometimes age and size do not matter. After failing to report in on Sunday, Fagan reported a distance of 372 kilometres on Monday at an average of just under 9 knots, which gives him the lead in his class.

The small Miura Julie III, skippered by Robin Green, also continued her good progress with a distance of 171 kilometres since the previous report. She is continuing on a more northerly course than Suidoos 2 and is currently lying second on IRC handicap. FTI Flyer, skippered by Keith Mattison is in third spot.

UK entry SAFARI – CTW had some drama of their own when the steering failed and they had to resort to the emergency tiller. Indaba reported their position by satellite telephone, having broken the microphone plug on their SSB radio. According to skipper John Levin, they had a heavy night but that the wind has now gone light.

In the Rally Fleet, Nauty 40’s is making good progress and heads Albacore, Aquila and the Brazilian entry Acalantis, who is back at sea after dropping an injured crew member off at Velddrift.

Positions (Monday, 6 JANUARY 2003)

SUIDOOS

JULIE III

FTI FLYER

SAFARI – CTW

INDABA

NAUTY 40S

ALBACORE

AQUILA

ACALANTIS

INYONI