Top contender for line honours in the monohull class of the SAP Cape to Rio 2003, German entry Morning Glory, took to the water this morning in final preparation for the second start on Saturday, 11 January. Onlookers who observed her practise run on Table Bay between Bloubergstrand and Robben Island estimated that she was doing at least 25 knots.

The R/P81 was freighted to South Africa on Tuesday for her attempt on the South Atlantic trophy. The current monohull record is standing on 12 days 16 hours and 49 minutes, which was set by the American maxi Zephyrus IV during the 2000 race.

The first fleet, which left last Saturday is still making good progress with Gawie Fagan on Suidoos 2 putting the prevailing wind to good use. She has now covered 833 miles since the start at an average of just over seven knots. Julie III has lost 35 miles to Suidoos over the last 24 hours and is currently holding off Konica/Mallinicks Indaba, who has overtaken FTI Flyer for third place in their class.

The little Miura Inyoni is still showing great pace in the Rally Fleet. She had an excellent run of 126 miles yesterday and has crept up to within one mile of Nauty 40’s. Nauty 40’s maintains her lead in the first place with Durban-based Aquila and Albacore, skippered by Grant Saunders, taking up the next two places.

The forecast breeze for Saturday’s second start is between 10 and 15 knots of south-westerly, which should make for some interesting tactical decisions as the boats will need to go into the wind to round the marks close to shore.

Positions

CLASS A

1. SUIDOOS 2,Gawie Fagan,26deg53.0 S,4deg31.0E,833,162.4,6.77

2. JULIE III,Robin Green,28deg48.0 S,5deg38.0E,723,132.7,5.53

3. KONICA/MALLINICKS INDABA,John Levin,27deg10.5S,5deg47.3 E,767,139.7,5.82

4. FTI FLYER,Keith Mattison,30deg31.0S,5deg4.0E,707,108.2,4.51

5. SAFARI – CTW,David Tideswell,30deg14.0S,5deg18.0E,702,127.8,5.33

CLASS C

1. NAUTY 40S,Falk Graser,30deg2.0S,6deg21.0E,656,109.9,4.58

2. INYONI,HI Ferreira,28deg43.0S,7deg10.0E,655,126.1,5.25

3. AQUILA,Jon Thurlow,28deg51.0S,6deg22.0E,687,122.0,5.08

4. ALBACORE,Grant Saunders,30deg12.0S,6deg46.0E,633,106.0,4.42

5. CUMIN THRU,Alexander Smith,28deg55.0S,10deg56.0E, 486,83.0,3.46

6. ACALANTIS,M Tattavitto,30deg55.0S, 7deg52.0E,564,140.3,5.85