Films by Tom Nitsch narrated by Tom
Cunliffe
Atlantic Challenge
In
1997 the re-run of the first official Transatlantic Race of 1905 left no doubt
that the 'Golden Age' of sailing had returned. This was the best opportunity
possible to establish the way this film series can combine current events with
the history of yachting. Perhaps the most interesting element was the
participation of ADIX, a
yacht very close in size and rig to the three-masted schooner ATLANTIC
which won the 1905 race in the record time of 12 days - 4 hours from New York to
the Lizard in England. This was the great challenge for a fleet of the world's
finest yachts to beat. The main camera was on board the Max Oertz schooner AELLO
whose skipper pointed out to his crew that this would not be a race around the
cans. He was right. AELLO lost her topmast and encountered more structural
problems
later on. The action includes footage shot on several other yachts, and the
overall effect can only be described as spectacular.