Solo Around-the-World Race : Three Leaders Appear Headed for Close Finish

The three lead boats in the solo around-the-world sailing race are inside a 40-mile circle as as they close on Newport and the end of the eight-month BOC Challenge.

France’s Titouan Lamazou, aboard Ecureuil d’Aquitaine, remained in the lead at week’s end--just 23 nautical miles ahead of Jean Yves Terlain, aboard UAP Pour Medicins Sans Frontieres.

Terlain, 42, of Paris, moved into second place ahead of Philippe Jeantot, aboard Credit Agriciole, by sailing a more easterly course as the boats neared Bermuda.

In fourth place is America’s Guy Bernardin on Biscuits Lu, 77 miles behind the leader.

The lead boats, however, have run out of trade winds and moved into a belt of light and variable breezes. At week’s end they were barely moving, each reporting speeds of less than two knots.

Going into this, the fourth leg, Jeantot had a three-and-a-half day lead over Lamazou. Terlain was third, 11 days behind Jeantot.

The first boat now is not expected to cross the finish Line at Brenton Reef Tower off Newport until Wednesday, 25 days out of Rio de Janeiro. That time still would be faster than Jeantot’s winning fourth leg time in 1983 of 28-plus days.

Of more concern at race headquarters is the plight of Finland’s Pentti Salmi, 41, who has a virulent infection in his hand and arm.

Working in the bilge aboard his 46-foot cutter, Colt by Rettig, Salmi reported he cut his thumb. The wound came in contact with diesel fuel, infection set in and soon his hand and arm became swollen as well as the lymph glands in his armpit.

In radio exchanges with other race boats and a doctor on shore, it was determined that competitor Jean Luc Van Den Heede had on board the type of antibiotic needed (Salmi’s antibiotic wasn’t working) and that Van Den Heede on Let’s Go was the closet to Salmi.

Let’s Go diverted 80 miles to a rendezvous with the stricken Finn and passed to him nine injectable antibiotic doses.

Salmi consulted with Dr. Chuck Ashworth of Barrington, R.I., last Thursday and reported that his condition had improved markedly, although he still could not move two fingers. He had used all of Van Den Heede’s injectable antibiotic and was back using his oral antibiotics.

Ashworth and Salmi plan to talk by radio again to see if his condition requires that Salmi alter course for Bermuda. He was then 750 miles southeast of the island.