At 08:00 UTC Friday, (18:00 local time Hobart) Dutch sailor Mark Slats was 230 miles from the BoatShed.com Hobart film drop, making 7.4 knots in what he describes as excellent conditions.
“Flying along. Just made contact with Tasman Maritime,” the Australian born sailor texted Race HQ in Les Sables d'Olonne.
The 41-year old skipper and his Rustler 36, Ophen Maverick, are currently in second place within the Golden Globe Race fleet. Slats, who was born and raised in Darwin, is expected to sail in to Storm Bay and cross the line around 08:00 local time Sunday (22:00 UTC Saturday).
All skippers are compelled to pick up a buoy and stop in Storm Bay for a minimum of 90 minutes to hand across film and letters, be interviewed by the media and meet family and team members. No one can board the yachts or provide any assistance and the skipper cannot disembark.
Each skipper is interviewed live by Race Chairman Don McIntyre and will answer questions from media. These interviews will be broadcast live on Facebook www.facebook.com/goldengloberace.
Coverage of Mark Slats' arrival is planned to start 30 minutes before as he sails or motors into Storm Bay. ETA updates will be published at regular intervals on Facebook.
All information: goldengloberace.com/news/
