Cyanosis Powerade leads by 35-minutes at CP2

Lisa de Speville / 24.06.2005

South Africa\'s Team Cyanosis Powerade led the dense pack across the bridge, turning left to trek downstream along the Namibian bank of the Orange river. With barely 40-minutes of light remaining, the teams pushed to make the first check point (CP) before dark. Here they encountered their first challenge; a cold swim across the river. It was hardly a simple crossing as the river splits into shallow and deep channels separated by impenetrable reed-covered islands and large rocky slabs.

The American/Kiwi combination, Team Merrell/Wigwam Adventure exited the river next, rushing to keep Cyanosis Powerade in sight. A flood of teams followed, some taking a minute or two to rinse their socks before continuing – time well spent in a race where sand abounds and the trekking discipline makes up a substantial chunk of the race time and distance.

From CP1 the teams had to make their first navigational decision; hug the river or head inland. Both routes are part of the Puffadder Hiking Trail. The river option is around 21km in distance and it is a more technical trail with stretches of boulder hopping. It is likely to be colder along the river. Inland the trail is approximately the same distance but is more difficult to locate and follow. So, while the navigation is trickier the terrain underfoot is firmer. When asked which route he’d choose race director Hano Otto replied, “My first instinct would be to take the inland route.�

CP2 is located on a hairpin bend of the river, downstream of CP1. The location, a working fruit farm (mangoes, melon, grapes) and gemsbok and cattle ranch, is named Coboop – after the local Nama name for the river. Arriving 1hr ahead of Otto’s estimated race time, Cyanosis Powerade have just checked-in. They took the inland route, racing outside of their comfort zone to make a crucial section of the race - the paddle put-in at CP14, which they aim to reach by 10h00 on Sunday, 40-hours into the race. The dark zone, which activates at 18h00 and terminates at 07h00, will certainly affect the overall outcome of the race. To get off the river by 18h00 they will have to be on the water by mid-morning. For every minute that they stay on the water after dark they will receive a 15-minute time-penalty.

While navigator Nicholas Mulder plotted the coordinates of CP3, which was purposefully omitted from their initial instructions, team-mate Clinton Macintosh took a few minutes to answer our questions. “Yes,� he responded, “we’re racing much harder than we usually would… outside of a comfortable race pace. We decided that it would be worth pushing the pace now because if we get caught by the dark zone on Sunday and have to sit out 13hrs until morning we will not only lose all the time we’ve gained on those behind us but will also be out of contention�.

Down below in the valley a telltale trail of headlamps marks the location of the chasing teams. The first big group – Merrell/Wigwam, Halti, 180° Adventures, Subaru USA and Cross Sportswear – are in, some 40-minutes behind Cyanosis Powerade. They all took the inland route but most battled to follow the trail as indicated on their maps. “We tried to stay on the trail but it kinda disappeared on us,� said Merrell/Wigwam’s Robyn Benincasa. “So, we just went cross-country.�

The competitors are hauling heavy backpacks. Averaging 13kg, with 3-litres of water, these are substantial loads. Add to this wet socks and shoes saturated with sand… And, as they only expect to see the first of their two food boxes 40-hours into the race, their packs are loaded with food.

Team Mazda Salomon, one of South Africa’s hopes for a top finish, has just checked in, over an hour after Cyanosis Powerade. They appear to be the only team to have followed the river, a route they admit was less desirable. “We’re wet and were so cold that we had to put on all our warm clothing… jackets, beanies, thermals… everything,� said Martin Dreyer. “We had to scramble over rocks a lot and we took a few swims. Not far from here we got into the water and then couldn’t get out because of the reeds on the bank so we ended up swimming 3km down stream. It wasn’t pleasant.�

During the rest of the night teams will filter through CP2 en route to checkpoints 3, 4 and 5. They will initially follow the river, turning South towards CP3 and CP4. This will take them into a rugged landscape depicted by closely packed contour lines on their topographical maps. The rest of this trekking stage is around 35km and the first teams are expected at 04h00 (Saturday). But, if this blistering pace continues, and their navigation is flawless, we could see them at Pelladrif (CP5) at least an hour ahead of schedule.

On Friday, 24 June 2005 at 23h15

Checkpoint: CP2, Trekking. Race clock: 5h45

1. Cyanosis Powerade, South Africa
2. Cross Sportswear, Sweden
2. Halti, Sweden
2. Merrell/Wigwam Adventure, USA/New Zealand
3. Subaru USA, USA
3. 180° Adventures, South Africa
4. Martin & Scheepers / Pinegold, South Africa
5. Mazda Salomon, South Africa
6. Balance Vector, New Zealand
7. Jeep South Africa, South Africa
7. Tension Structures, South Africa
8. Nike ACG Endure, UK/Finland
9. The North Face, UK

ENDS

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