THE INCA TRAIL

the big South American adventure rally

Day 37: Puerto Natales - Rio Grande (Argentina) (506km)

Hourglass Dolphins played alongside each ferry as they crossed to Tierra del Fuego

Land of Fire

The rally heads even further south, making the crossing by ferry of the Straits of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego - split between Chile and Argentina. One of the highlights of the day had to be the chance to spot baby Hourglass Dolphins playing and leaping alongside the ferry as it made its 30-minute crossing, together with Magellanic penguins. The day had an early morning Regularity section running around a loop and trekking along the shores of Otway Sound, while the 4x4s went onto an Explorer Section through 131 km of empty wilderness. Not for nothing have we called this section Mamba Patagonia...

4x4s: the latest picture

As we cross into Tierra del Fuego and head for the physical turning-point of the Inca Trail - just 1,000km from Antarctica - let's take a look at the overall positions and team standings.

In the 4x4 category, eleven participants are still laying claim to a Gold medal. There were twelve up until Day 32, when Sir Terence English chose to go fishing with an old friend living close to Esquel. He knew then that he would lose his Gold medal chances, but the opportunity to meet up and have a superb day out won hands down. So he missed the day's Futaleufu 4x4 Explorer Section, leaving us with 11 Gold medallists for the time being:

David & Carole Angel
Spencer & Carole Flack
Roger & Sarah Lucas
John & Jill May
Huub Paymans / Bert Klaasens
Anna & Jonathan Pelly-Fry
Vic & Pam Quayle
Paul, Roy and Jane Ranson
Angus Stamper / Ian Rhodes / Richard Beech
James Taylor / Hubert Boger Jr.
Michael & Margaret Waterhouse

But despite his fishing trip, the latest 4x4 Team update shows Sir Terence English's 'The Oldies' (entry numbers A10, A25, A37) leading the Club/Ecurie competition: they have visited 274 controls between them. The 'Motley Crew' (A43, A23, A31) have visited 248 controls, and lie in second place, even though one of their team, Howard Seymour and Ann Bennett, have been having such a difficult time keeping up with us since La Paz. Third are 'Team with no Name' (A22, A33, A51) and fourth the 'Chelsea Blues and Royals' (A42, A46, A47).

There are just two teams entered in the Marque Team Challenge. Out in front are John May's 'Toyota Amazons': all three crews have a 100 per cent record: 106 controls visited each. The 'Three Toy Boys (and Girls)' are a little way behind with a score of 262. But anything could happen between here and Rio.

The 'Daring Dutch Devils' are a slender two points ahead of their compatriots in 'Team El Condor'. They have 192 and 190 points respectively. Definitely one to watch.

Going for Gold

In the Classic Reliability Trial, medal status changed again today. Alexa Scott-Plummer clings onto the A90's Gold, as best in Age Category. But she is picking up a few more Gold 'misses' on the Medal Sections and her position is beginning to look less secure as the event continues to run on gravel.

Another one bites the dust ...

But today saw a disaster for the Escort of David Liddell Mark I'Anson. They have been soldiering gamely on with just three gears for over a week now, with much success. But just before this morning's start, the car's cam belt jumped, throwing the settings out of kilter. The car simply couldn't be restarted without extensive surgery. The pair accrued a massive 3,540 penalties for missing most of the day's Time Controls - their hopes of any kind of medal disappearing in an instant.

Gold Medal aspirants have been whittled down to just four:

Newman / O'Hara (Chrysler Model 75)
Shoosmith / Plummer / Humphries (Austin A90)
Kane / Kane (Ford Mustang Shelby)
Bateson / Francis (Escort RS2000)

More tomorrow with news from the Classic Reliability Trial team standings.