Biotherm finish leg to Newport in third place…
With leg 4 now finished, three teams are within one point on the overall leaderboard…
Skipper Paul Meilhat and his Biotherm team had a long wait to get to the finish on Thursday morning in Newport, Rhode Island.
With an initial ETA of 0530 local time, the light overnight winds nearly died completely with the sunrise, leaving the team to battle adverse conditions for a few more hours before they finally glided across the finish line at 08:04 in the morning local time in Newport, 12:04:38 UTC, for a leg 4 time of 17 days 19 hours 49 minutes and 38 seconds.
It’s a third place finish for Meilhat, and leaves his team in fourth spot on the overall race leaderboard, five points behind of Team Malizia and 11th Hour Racing Team, who sit equal on 18 points, just a single point adrift of the race leader, Team Holcim-PRB.
“The Ocean Race is still quite open heading into the race across the Atlantic, which counts for double-points,” said Meilhat. “After our good start on this leg we would have liked to have been able to fight with the top guys a bit more but we are happy looking ahead to the next part of the race.”
The leg from Itajaí to Newport started well for Biotherm, who were in the lead, or very close to it, for most of the race up the coast of Brazil. An unfortunate few hours in the doldrums saw the team completely becalmed, while the others raced away, effectively ending their chances of competing for a leg win.
“That’s sail boat racing. That’s the way it goes sometimes,” said Alan Roberts. “You can get mad or frustrated, but it doesn’t help.”
Roberts was one of three new crew members to join Meilhat for this leg, who said the new group gelled quickly to become a strong crew.
“It’s not easy to bring a completely new group on board, but I’m happy with how everyone worked together to become a team.”
Meilhat said the team suffered minor damage across several areas during the storm three days ago that saw their rivals on GUYOT environnement – Team Europe dismasted. The Biotherm team will focus on getting the boat ready ahead of the Newport In Port Race, scheduled for Saturday 20 May ahead of the leg start on Sunday 21 May.
Leg 4 positions / points
1. 11th Hour Racing Team – 5 points
2. Team Malizia – 4 points
3. Biotherm – 3 points
4. GUYOT environnement – Team Europe – suspended racing
5. Team Holcim-PRB – retired from leg – 0 points
The Ocean Race Leaderboard (through leg 4)
1. Team Holcim-PRB — 19 points
2. 11th Hour Racing Team — 18 points
3. Team Malizia — 18 points (tie is broken by In Port series standings)
4. Biotherm — 13 points
5. GUYOT envrionnement – Team Europe — 2 points
1207 UTC – 0807 local time: They’ve done it, with Paul Meilhat and team crossing the finish line in Newport in third place.
3rd – Biotherm
Arrival : 11/05/2023 12:04:38 UTC
Race time : 17d 19h 49min 38s
1130 UTC – 0730 local time: It really is very slow for Biotherm as they glide towards the Newport finish line on a beautiful morning. Less than a couple of miles to go, but they’re only making about 4 knots of speed. But with no competition from behind, an extra few minutes won’t matter.
1000 UTC – 0600 local time – It’s been a beautiful sunrise in Newport but the wind close to shore is very light. Slow progress on these final miles for Biotherm, but they’ll get here… maybe within the hour.
0820 UTC – 0420 local time – Biotherm is making fast progress towards the finishing line, expected in an hour or so at 0530 local, 0930 UTC.
2115 UTC – 1715 local time: Read our finish report here
2100 UTC – 1700 local time: Biotherm has slowed, so their ETA has slid back into Thursday morning local time.
1919 UTC – 1519 local time: Finish time for Team Malizia is 19:13:22 UTC
2055 UTC – 1455 local time: Team Malizia will be next, and will earn 4 points for a second place finish. Both 11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia will be sitting on 18 points, but the American team will win the tie break with a better position on the in port leaderboard.
2045 UTC – 1445 local time: Finish time for 11th Hour Racing Team is 18:41:41 UTC
2041 UTC – 1441 local time: The ship’s horns are bellowing in Newport in celebration of skipper Charlie Enright and the home team, 11th Hour Racing Team, earning full points on leg 4 of The Ocean Race.
1839 UTC – 1439 local time: They’re going to do it!! 11th Hour Racing Team will win leg 4 into their home port of Newport, Rhode Island.
1830 UTC – 1430 local time: Not far from Castle Hlll lighthouse and the entrance towards Newport for 11th Hour Racing Team. This will be a terrific win for the team.
1805 UTC – 1405 local time: 13 miles to go and a 10 mile lead… surely this is a commanding position for Charlie Enright’s 11th Hour Racing Team. The wind is up at Fort Adams as well, so they should be fast through the finishing line.
1755 UTC – 1355 local time: Breeze is on!! Boat speeds are up and the ETA is now between 1430 and 1500!!
1730 UTC – 1330 local time Newport: Navigator Simon Fisher on 11th Hour Racing Team says, “We are reaching in, the breeze is filling in as forecast and things are looking good for an afternoon finish in Newport. We wanted to be between Malizia and the new breeze… and generally it’s been alright. We still have some miles on them and so far so good.”
1720 UTC – 1320 local time Newport: As forecast, the sea breeze is building and 11th Hour Racing Team is steaming towards its home port of Newport, Rhode, Island. The ETA is now in about 2 hours – 1930 UTC / 1530 local time.
