Throughout the TAWR, there has been a constant push to arrive in England on schedule. Yesterday's windsurfer's equipment problems and false starts put the KK way behind, so this morning the race committee announced that today's racing would be cancelled to allow the KK to make up the lost distance.

Many of the racers disagreed, so a solution was found. An initial leg would be run by strong sailors from each team, without a chase boat in the water. Ability levels and equipment capabilities are known quantities by now, and there were tight and proven safety procedures in place in the event of a problem. If there were no problems, an additional leg would be run with a chase boat.

This evolved format worked and allowed two legs to be run with no problems or delays. (A leg consist of a endurance run behind the KK for up to 4.5 hours with a short sprint at the end.) In the first leg, Robert Teriitehau-Liberty, Micah Buzianis-Greece, Jason Gilbert-Europe and Eddy Patricelli-USA surfed the waves behind the KK for two and a half hours. Just as they gathered for the start of the final sprint, a pod of pilot whales broke the surface nearby, maybe to warn that the wind was starting to drop.

Teriitehau finished first, followed by Buzianis, who lost the wind near the finish line. Gilbert and Patricelli fought it out neck-to-neck for a while, and then Gilbert's race experience pulled him out in front. Teriitehau found an empty vodka bottle crusted with mussels floating on the water, and says that it will go on his trophy shelf at home.

The second leg was short, but especially sweet for Dave Weiss, USA. Weiss has made two attempts to complete a leg, and withdrew from both due to poor equipment selection. Today's third try was the charm for Weiss, as he, Nichlas Olasson-Liberty, Philippe Adamidis-Greece and Denis Pechere-Europe took to the water for a short, hour and a half leg. Weiss had a crowd of people on the back of the boat -- racers, passengers and RIB drivers -- sending him good vibrations. Everything worked for Weiss, and he was greeted back at the KK with hugs and cheers. Olasson won the sprint in beautiful form, with Adamidis second and Weiss third. Pechere withdrew at the beginning. The KK averaged 13 knots during the racing and is now over the Porcupine Abyssal Plain.