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Dalton lags behind in Around Alone

Hexagon is now over 140 miles behind the leader

TORBAY, England -- Graham Dalton has lost over 1,600 km (100 miles) to the leader on the first leg of the single-handed Around Alone race after experiencing rig problems.

Hexagon's mainsail fell in rough seas with winds of up to 40 knots. Dalton lashed the mainsail to the deck and continued under headsail alone at reduced speed.

He later climbed up the mast and replaced the halyard used for hoisting the mainsail after the wind had died down.

Hexagon was losing around six knots of speed to the leaders during the repairs, dropping back from third to sixth place.

Dalton, 50, older brother of the veteran sailor Grant, has the only new Open 60 in the race designed by the Owen Clarke Design Group, co-designers of Ellen MacArthur's Kingfisher.

Despite being a fast boat, the run up to the start did not inspire confidence in his ability to complete the full distance.

RESOURCE Profiles: Around Alone solo sailors

He arrived at the start line late and received a 60-hour time penalty, after dismasting on his first attempt at an Atlantic crossing.

A replacement mast was built and refitted in record time in the United States just before the start.

Hexagon is now over 220 km (140 miles) behind the leader -- Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm in Bobst Group Amor Lux in the Open 60 class. Frenchman Thierry Dubois is second position in Solidaires.

In Class II American Brad van Liew has opened his lead up to 135 km (84 miles) in the Open 50 Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America.

The 46,040 km (28,775-mile) five-leg single-handed Around Alone race is held every four years. There are two classes of monohulls from 12 to 18 metres (40 to 60ft).

The race has stopovers in Torbay, England, Cape Town, South Africa, Tauranga, New Zealand and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, before returning to Newport, Rhode Island, USA in April 2003.

Around Alone Leg One - New York to Torbay, England, distance to finish

Class 1 Open 60

1 Bobst Group-Armor Lux Bernard Stamm (Switzerland) DTF 1986 miles

2 Solidaires Thierry Dubois (France) + 47

3 Tiscali Simone Bianchetti (Italy) + 131

4 Garnier Patrick de Radigues (Belgium) + 144

5 Ocean Planet Bruce Schwab (USA) + 147

6 Hexagon Graham Dalton (New Zealand) + 147

7 Pindar Emma Richards (UK) + 230

Class II

1 Tommy Hilfiger/Freedom America 50ft Brad Van Liew (USA) DTF 2268 miles

2 Everest Horizontal 50ft Tim Kent (USA) + 84

3 Spirit of Canada Derek Hatfield 40ft (Canada) + 95

4 BTC Velocity 40ft Alan Paris (Bermuda) + 116

5 Bayer Ascensia 50ft John Dennis (Canada) + 120

6 Spirit of Yukoh 40ft Kojiro Shiraishi (Japan) no poll

Around Alone competitors

Class 1 Open 60

Bobst Group-Armor Lux Bernard Stamm (Switzerland)

Garnier Patrick de Radigues (Belgium)

Hexagon Graham Dalton (New Zealand)

Ocean Planet Bruce Schwab (USA)

Pindar Emma Richards (UK)

Solidaires Thierry Dubois (France)

Tiscali Simone Bianchetti (Italy)

Class II

Bayer Ascensia 50ft John Dennis (Canada)

BTC Velocity 40ft Alan Paris (Bermuda)

Everest Horizontal 50ft Tim Kent (USA)

Spirit of Canada Derek Hatfield 40ft (Canada)

Spirit of Yukoh 40ft Kojiro Shiraishi (Japan)

Tommy Hilfiger/Freedom America 50ft Brad Van Liew (USA)