Russian yacht Big Van second in Atlantic Rally for Cruisers.

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, November 29 (Itar-Tass) - Russian yacht The Big Van
has gotten to the second position in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers,
which brought together 209 yachts from 34 countries this year.
For several days on end, The Big Van occupied the third position, but
the crew has changed the layout of leading trio since Saturday morning.
The Stay Calm of Britain that was ahead of others in the drive for the
finish line, pulled back to the fourth position quite unexpectedly while
the German yacht The Bagira took the lead, being 27 nautical miles ahead
of the Russian crew.
The third place is currently occupied by an Italian crew that had set
a record for this race by covering 261 nautical miles within a day. It is
only eight miles behind the Big Van.
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, the world's biggest annual
trans-Atlantic rally, starts in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and ends in
Rodney Bay on the island of St Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands of
the Lesser Antilles.
The non-stop 2,700-mile passage on the northeast trade wind route
takes on average between 18 and 24 days.
This year's ARC started November 22 and finishes December 13. The Big
Van has yet to cover 1,309 miles.
This year has scored a record in terms of participation by Russian
crews - five at a time.
-0-kle