Brits keep calm

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is enjoying himself, back out on the oceans that he left as a national hero nearly 50 years ago. His journey through the opening 2 weeks of the Velux 5 Oceans, his return to solo circumnavigation at the age of no less than 67, has been eventful and frustrating. First came a freak hurricane-force storm in the notorious Bay of Biscay, which forced all 3 of the British yachtsmen in the 7-strong fleet — Knox-Johnston, Mike Golding and Alex Thomson — back into port for repair, then the contrasting emotions of navigating a path through the Doldrums, searching for any sign of a breeze, and next the Southern Ocean is a fortnight away. 

With that storm behind them, the fleet must now cope with no wind at all.Last Saturday night, Golding was off the coast of West Africa in 3rd place, 2 days behind the leader, Bernard Stamm of Switzerland, with the Japanese yachtsman, Kojiro Shiraishi, on "Spirit of Yukoh" 140 miles ahead and Thomson the same distance away in 4th. Knox-Johnston was locked in a duel with Graham Dalton of New Zealand for 5th.

In no other sport do competitors risk their lives as often as they do in ocean racing. For Knox-Johnston, the timing and strength of the initial storm were cruel. Having injured his lower back a few days before the start in Bilbao, he needed time to come to terms with his new challenge and to match his competitive capabilities with those of his Open 60 class, "Saga Insurance", during the first week of the race. He knew he would lose time to Stamm and Golding in the early days of a 6-months journey, but wanted to stay close enough to be competitive through the Southern Ocean. Instead, he was thrown into a battle for survival and a stop for repairs in La Coruña.

Thomson’s patience was being tested by a non-furling headsail that forced the 32-year-old to climb the mast. "I always say 'this time I’m not going to have to do it', but I always, always have to climb the mast," he reported. "It’s three steps forward, two steps back."