Triana and White Shadow Finish McIntyre Ocean Globe Race An Hour Apart
Emotions and Champagne Flood Trinity Landing Pontoon
- Triana FR (66) the smallest OGR entry that nearly won and White Shadow ESP (17) with the grand fiesta crew crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line just 1hr 7mins apart on 23rd April after 7,000 miles and 48 days of racing.
- Emotional scenes in Cowes as family, friends and crews reunite with their circumnavigating heroes.
- Bittersweet success for Triana, long time IRC leader, just missing out on the Overall IRC Gold to Maiden’s UK (03) all-female crew by one day.
Trinity Landing pontoon in Cowes was a busy spot Tuesday afternoon with TrianaFR (66) SWAN 53 and White Shadow ESP (17) SWAN 57 finishing the McIntyre Ocean Globe Race after 48 days of racing. Just over an hour apart separated the two yachts who’d just raced from Punta del Este in the final leg of the race. Both yachts arrived in their own unique style but united in their emotion, relief, pride and knowledge that they’ve completed something extraordinary.
It was slow progress for French Swan 53 and Spanish Swan 57 in the last 36 hours, at times with just 4 nm separating the yachts. Fickle winds and currents making their arrival frustratingly tricky for crews eager to complete the circle.
But finally, the wind Gods looked favorably upon the circumnavigators who’d set sail from the same Southampton waters on September 10th – some 225 days previously.
Triana, skippered by Jean d’Arthuys, finished their epic circumnavigation at 16:25 UTC 23rd April. One of the smallest yachts in the fleet and with only seven crew they’ve impressed many since race start consistently ranking highly – until the final and crucial leg of the OGR. Sadly, no matter how hard the crew worked on this last leg the weather just held them back. After 48 days racing, they finished 7th in line honours and IRC for Leg 4.
Triana’s super competitive crew, including first mate Sébastien Audigane, already a six-time Cape Horner and Jules Verne record holder, looked on track to take Overall IRC Gold for the race thanks to a seven-day lead heading into Leg 4. But slow progress from the start of the Punta del Este to Cowes leg due to strong headwinds or no wind, saw Maiden UK (03) eat away at that lead. Triana needed to arrive on the morning of 22nd April to hang onto the title, but it was not to be. The all-female crew onboardMaiden have been confirmed as the official Overall Winners of the OGR. The Maidencrew were on Trinity Landing pontoon to welcome in Triana.
