One year ago today, 11th Hour Racing Team won The Ocean Race, completing an odyssey of ups and downs worthy of any Hollywood scriptwriter.
The overall victory would be settled by the International Jury, who awarded the team redress after they suffered damage that didn’t allow them to race in the final leg.
But this win was earned on the water, by a team that improved consistently throughout the Race and who outperformed the fleet from Itajaí onwards to claim a well-deserved win.
Here’s how skipper Charlie Enright described the win on American television network CBS.
Our race summary is below.
How 11th Hour Racing Team won The Ocean Race
11th Hour Racing Team started out as reluctant favourites to win The Ocean Race 202-23. They had the longest build-up and preparation for the race, and leaders of the team, skipper Charlie Enright and CEO Mark Towill, were now on their third consecutive campaign to win sailing’s toughest test of a team.
The expectation weighed heavy on their shoulders, and the favourite tag was not entirely fair, as with the COVID-created postponement of the race by a year, other teams had been able to develop newer generation hulls and foils in the ever-developing IMOCA class. Still, all those doubts and fears had to be cast aside as the fleet readied itself for the start of a 32,700 nautical mile adventure around the world.
