1.
GV START OF VENUE
0.04

2.
MV MEN PREPARE YACHT
0.05

3.
GV CROWD
0.07

4.
MV COMPETITOR IN YACHT PAN TO ONLOOKERS
0.10

5.
SV MME MONIQUE GIMEL PREPARES YACHT
0.12

6.
CU OFFICIAL BLOWING ON WIND GAUGE
0.15

7.
SV STARTER GIVES SIGNAL
0.20

8.
MV COMPETITOR AWAY FROM CAMERA
0.24

9.
SLV COMPETITOR ACROSS SAND
0.28

10.
MV ANOTHER COMPETITOR AWAY FROM CAMERA
0.34

11.
MV COMPETITOR ALONG SAND
0.37

12.
MV PAN ANOTHER COMPETITOR AWAY
0.42

13.
SV YACHTS GOING SLOW (NO WIND)
0.50

14.
LV BECALMED YACHTS WITH TOW VEHICLES
0.52

15.
SLV YACHT TOWED
0.57

16.
LV SIMILAR
1.00

17.
GV THREE YACHTS TOWED IN
1.02

18.
SV THREE TOWED YACHTS MOVING ALONG
1.09

19.
SV MEN PUSH YACHT
1.11

20.
GV GROUPED YACHTS
1.13

21.
MV WOMAN COMPETITOR JUMPS OUT OF YACHT
1.17

22.
GV YACHTS DROPPING SAILS
1.23



Initials PW/VS/JF/GLH


SPORT: YACHT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TWENTY-THREE MEN AND A WOMAN, HEADING ACROSS THE SAHARA DESERT IN THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SAND YACHT RACE, RAN INTO DIFFICULTIES DURING THE FIRST TWO STAGES OF THE RACE FROM COLOMB BECHAR IN ALGERIA TO NOUAKCHOTT, CAPITAL OF MAURITANIA.

LACK OF WIND LEFT THE SAND-YACHTS STRANDED SHORT OF THE FINISHING POINTS ON BOTH THE STAGES, AND THEY HAD TO BE TOWED BY SUPPLY TRUCKS.

THE RACE BEGAN ON MONDAY, HAVING BEEN DELAYED BY 24 HOURS FOR LACK OF WIND. ON THE FIRST DAY, THE TWELVE SAND-YACHTS SPED AWAY FROM THE START LINE, BUT HALTED THREE MILES OUT WHEN THE WIND SUDDENLY DROPPED. THEY WERE TOWED INTO THE DESERT.

ON THE SECOND STAGE, THE YACHTS COVERED 50 MILES (80 KMS) BEFORE FAILING WINDS STOPPED THEM.

THE RACE IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A MONTH TO COMPLETE. IT WILL COVER 1,560 MILES (2,500 KMS). COMPETITORS TAKING PART COME FROM FRANCE, USA, GREAT BRITAIN, HOLLAND AND DENMARK AND ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR TEAMS SAILING A TOTAL OF TWELVE YACHTS. AMONG THE COMPETITORS IS A MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN, MME MONIQUE GIMEL.

IN THE EARLY STAGES, A NUMBER OF YACHTS HAVE SUFFERED MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS. MME GIMEL WAS FORCED TO JUMP FROM HER YACHT DURING THE SECOND STAGE YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) WHEN THE STEERING GEAR BROKE.