Californian Leads Solo Global Race

A Californian at the head of his class, a keel swinging dangerously out of control and one dropout--that’s been the first month at sea in the single-handed Around Alone sailboat race that started at Charleston, S.C., Sept. 26.

Brad Van Liew of Playa del Rey, sailing his 50-foot boat Balance Bar, had a 12-mile lead on France’s Jean-Pierre Mouligne in Class II at week’s end. France’s Marc Thiercelin, sailing a boat named Somewhere, led France’s Isabelle Autissier in PRB in Class I for 60-footers.

The overall fleet has numbered 15 since Sebastian Reidl, 59, of Vancouver, Canada, withdrew Oct. 15 after a broken halyard block brought down his mainsail. The leaders are about two-thirds of the way along on the first, 6,865-nautical mile leg to Cape Town, South Africa.

Van Liew, 30, is the race’s youngest competitor and one of only three Americans. Sailing his first global race, Van Liew worked his way up from third place in the early stages by passing Mouligne and Britain’s Mike Garside when Garside’s boat developed a problem with its canting keel, which is designed to swing hydraulically from side to side for stability.

“Things here looking a bit dire at the moment,” Garside reported by e-mail. “I have lost enough [hydraulic] oil to lose control of my keel. I’m sailing on my ear . . . [and] the poor boat is getting shaken like a rat.”

With considerable difficulty, Garside, using engine and cooking oil to replace the lost hydraulic fluid, was able to center the keel, lock it in position and continue.

Van Liew was 2,755 miles from Cape Town and about 400 miles behind Thiercelin. His only problem was a temporary loss of ability to charge his batteries for lights and communication because his engine couldn’t pick up fuel from the tank. He considered stopping at a tiny Brazilian island for repairs, but after consulting with his mechanic at home he was able to get his fuel pump working again.

Van Liew was briefly rousted by the Brazilian navy for entering territorial waters during maneuvers, then was allowed free passage when the Brazilians realized who he was.

Standings:

Class I--1. Marc Thiercelin, France, 2,355 miles to go; 2. Isabelle Autissier, France, 2,372; 3. Mike Golding, Britain, 2,422; 4. Josh Hall, Britain, 2,451; 5. Giovanni Soldini, Italy, 2,712; 6. Fedor Koniokhov, Russia, 4,071.

Class II--1. Brad Van Liew, Playa del Rey, 2,757; 2. Jean-Pierre Mouligne, France, 2,769; 3. Mike Garside, Britain, 3,024; 4. Robin Davie, Charleston, S.C., 3,279; 5. George Stricker, Newport, Ky., 3,372; 6. Neil Petersen, South Africa, 3,521; 7. Minoru Saito, Japan, 3,622; 8. Viktor Yazykov, Russia, 3,748; 9. Neil Hunter, Australia, 3,813.