With the rise of dawn on Day 1, competitors climbed out of their hammocks and rushed through last-minute preparations before the much anticipated start of Eco-Challenge Sabah 2000. At 7:30 a.m. (Borneo time), the colorful sails of 76 Perahu outrigger canoes took to the water, vying for positioning as teams made their way across the sea to a buoy at PC 2.
Go to News // Teams Set Sail from the Start
At PC 2, teams split. Two team members stayed in the canoes, and two coasteered along the coast en route to reuniting with their teammates at PC 7.
Go to Feature // On Their Own Part 1
Go to Video // Coasteering 
By evening, the weather forecast looked formidable, with 40-knot winds and six-foot swells predicted. Despite the storm, a handful of leading teams had successfully passed through PC 9 by 8:30 p.m. (Borneo time). Team AussieSpirit.com lead the way with Team Fairydown Fleet CookieTime in second and Team Earthlink in third. Race Director, Mark Burnett instructed race officials to advise competitors to hunker down at PC stations until the storm quieted, but many teams pushed on despite the danger of navigating the violent sea in sheer darkness.
Go to News // Weather Forecast: Wind and High
Go to Audio // Race Standings Update 
Go to News // Tropical Weather Pounds Down on Competitors
Race results of Day 1 have demonstrated the true essence of Eco-Challenge. Strength, strategy, teamwork and a little luck are all factoring into the standings of the race.
Go to Gallery // Day 1 Recap 
