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SABAH, Malaysia, August 21, 2000 (ENS) - Seventy-six teams took off from the start line today, trained and ready to go 320 miles 24 hours a day for 12 days across Malaysian Borneo to win Eco-Challenge 2000.
The 304 racing adventurers launched perahu outriggers from the sandy beach of the sparsely populated coral island of Sabangkat heading towards the first checkpoint on the island of Bohaydulong.
A severe weather system blew up 40-knot winds and three to six foot swells by evening, prompting race director Mark Burnett to advise the teams via walkie-talkie not to continue paddling and sailing in the dark. The teams did not heed his advice, and the seas subsided. Three hours later clear skies and calm waters were being reported on the race course.
Team AussieSpirit captained by world champion paddler Jane Hall, is leading the race at the moment. A seven time world champion in paddle sports, Hall, who holds a doctorate in marine biology has been a fixture at the Eco-Challenge since its inception in 1995 in Maine, when Team Aussie took first place.
Team AussieSpirit. From left, Jane Hall, John Jacoby, Matt Dalziel, Nigel Aylott
The teams of four will jungle trek, mountaineer, cave and, for the first time in Eco-Challenge history, scuba dive and use indigenous crafts to jungle paddle and canoe. All four members of each team will dive to an underwater coral reef checkpoint. Teams will mountain bike on established rainforest trails through the dense jungle.
Teams will rappel down steep waterfalls and navigate deep gorges. They will paddle in indigenous, Murut canoes along a remote, winding river. In inflatable kayaks the teams will paddle through whitewater rapids down a different jungle river.
The toughest competition will come from some of the world’s most experienced teams representing New Zealand, France, Finland, Australia, Spain and Argentina.
Islands on the race course (Photo courtesy EcoChallenge Sabah 2000)
New Zealand's only Eco-Challenge entry is currently in second place. Team Fairydown Fleet CookieTime, captained by window-cleaner John Howard, took first place in last year's Eco-Challenge in Argentina.
Thirty-seven teams are representing the United States. All previous Eco-Challenge winning teams have returned, including members of two U.S. defending champion teams - Team Vail which won first place, Morocco in 1998, and Team Salomon/Eco Internet which took first place in British Columbia, Canada in 1996.
"I feel certain that whoever becomes the World Champion will feel they truly earned it," considering it’s the strongest field of competitors ever assembled," said race founder and race director, Mark Burnett.
Other teams expected to make an impact in the race include Team Playboy X-treme, which includes three former Playboy Playmates and Team Goonies/Netgateway, who claim they are direct from "the couch to the jungle."
Trail through Borneo that Eco-Challenge racers will cover later in the race. (Photo courtesy Eco-Challenge.com)
This year Eco-Challenge is coming into its own as sports entertainment. USA Network is associated with Eco-Challenge for the first time securing the U.S. broadcast rights in a multi-year deal beginning with the Sabah 2000 race. Other American media coverage will include 48 Hours, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and E! Entertainment Television.
Yesterday’s ceremonial start had teams launching their perahus off the shores of the island of Semporna, surrounded by native fishing boats full of musicians and dancers.
The hot Malaysian sun broiled the teams as they sailed, paddled and steered their perahus across the Sulu Ocean. This first start was welcome to most of the teams, who saw it as a way to familiarize themselves with the perahus.
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