Bruce Schwab

For 3 1/2 months, the only company Bruce Schwab kept was an occasional pod of dolphins, a school of leaping tuna and an albatross he named Albert, which followed his sailboat for days. His most pressing concern, as it was for 19 other competitors in the Vendee Globe around-the-world solo-sailing race, was to safely navigate the weather he encountered. Seven entries dropped out after the race began Nov. 7 at Les Sables d'Olonne, France.

For 3 1/2 months, the only company Bruce Schwab kept was an occasional pod of dolphins, a school of leaping tuna and an albatross he named Albert, which followed his sailboat for days. His most pressing concern, as it was for 19 other competitors in the Vendee Globe around-the-world solo-sailing race, was to safely navigate the weather he encountered. Seven entries dropped out after the race began Nov. 7 at Les Sables d'Olonne, France.

In a brick building on the waterfront that once housed a 19th century locomotive foundry, a 43-year-old sailing enthusiast races against the clock to get ready for what might arguably be the 21st century's ultimate extreme sport. Bruce Schwab is preparing his 60-foot sailboat Ocean Planet to compete in the Vendee Globe, a brutal around-the-world race for solo sailors who must complete the 25,000-mile course nonstop and without assistance. In the months leading up to the race's Nov.

In a brick building on the waterfront that once housed a 19th century locomotive foundry, a 43-year-old sailing enthusiast races against the clock to get ready for what might arguably be the 21st century's ultimate extreme sport. Bruce Schwab is preparing his 60-foot sailboat Ocean Planet to compete in the Vendee Globe, a brutal around-the-world race for solo sailors who must complete the 25,000-mile course nonstop and without assistance. In the months leading up to the race's Nov.

Alicia Molik defeated top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, 7-6 (11), 6-1, Friday in the semifinals of the Qatar Open at Doha. Mauresmo's loss prevented her from regaining the No. 1 WTA Tour ranking on Monday from Lindsay Davenport. It also ended her bid for consecutive titles after winning the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp last Sunday. Molik, 17, will play second-seeded Maria Sharapova, who defeated Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 6-4, in the other semifinal.

It has been a week since Brad Van Liew crossed the finish line at Salvador, Brazil, the first in his class to do so, after more than a month at sea. And he is still breathing a sigh of relief. "Boats are still out there because there was a lot of carnage," he said, after guiding Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America to a first-place finish in Leg 4 of the Around Alone sailing race. "There were two dismastings and all sorts of problems associated with the wild weather."