New Start Date 29th December 09

Due to the continuing poor weather in the Atlantic the race organisers have taken the difficult decision to postpone the race to 29th December. The problem is that for the forseeable future winds are blowing strongly back towards Africa or North towards the North Atlantic. Forecasts vary but the consensus is that we would have at least 20 knots of wind against us and perhaps 40 plus. If we have winds above 15 knots we cannot create enough power to go forward and would have to put our parachute anchor out andwait until it subsides. This means that all the boats would get battered by the wind and swell which is not good.

I have attached a weather map to give the idea. To view the animated weather forecast for the Atlantic go to passageweather.com and click on the mid-Atlantic area on the map until it brings up a picture similar to the one attached and then click animate.