prodigy closing in on line honours (courtesy of HEINEKEN website)

"Prodigy closing in on Rio and line honours Barring an unforeseen disaster, Prodigy will take line honours in the 2011 Heineken Cape to Rio yacht race early Monday morning.Skipper Chris Frost had earlier predicted a finish as early as Saturday evening, but this was unlikely given the earlier decision by Frost and his navigator Wolf Seitz to sail too far south where they pointed their nose into the high and then skirted around it. Most of the 17-yacht fleet have reported an Atlantic Ocean that is still lumpy and cross swelled.City of Cape Town, skippered by Gerry Hegie, which has led the race on handicap for the past 10 days is scheduled to arrive in Rio about 18 hours later after pushing his 42ft Lavranos to the hilt in the 3,320nm transatlantic race.Mike Robinson’s Ciao Bella is still second, followed by Jon and Andrw Sanders’ Perie Banou II, Dale Kushner’s Xtra Link, Izivunguvungu (Kader Williams} and Cape Storm (Sean Cummings).Race director John Martin has meanwhile clarified the status of Izivunguvungu after reports that the development boat had been disqualified after taking drinking water on board from Xtra-Link.“She has not been disqualified,” said Martin. “As is the norm in any yachting regatta protests are heard after the race and this will be the case regarding Izivunguvungu.”Xtra-Link has requested six hours redress for coming to the rescue of the 42ft yacht, but a decision regarding this matter will also only be heard after the race.

In a report to race headquarters, Izivunguvungu outlined the decision to request help.“After the water maker packed up the crew was stressed not knowing if we would have to withdraw from the race,” said crew member Ryan Pentolfe. “We had 30litres of water left that had to last about 10 days between seven crewmembers and I must say I had my doubts. Kader didn’t want to pull out and toldthe crew: ‘We are not going to give up guys, we will go on till we can’t no more,we came too far to just give up now’.“The crew was happy to carry on and try their best to keep their cool in the burning hot daytime heat with just about no water. Two days went past and I could see a drastic mood change in myself and in the rest of the crew. We were on the point of giving up.On January 26 just after I had finished my watch about 10am, I went down to catch some sleep before my next shift. I had just put my head down and from on deck I heard Kader and other crew saying they had spotted another yacht. “It was Xtra-Link; we dropped our sails and started to transfer water. After the transfer we said our thanks and were on our way. Now that we have water everyone is back to normal, eating and drinking well. Thank you Xtra-Link and Dale Kushner for your good seamanship.

See you in Rio.”After the last reported 24-hour run Prodigy was 598nm from Rio, City of Cape Town 740nm, Grand Filou II 922nm, Xtra-Link 1005nm, Izivunguvungu 1012nm and Cape Storm 1052."