They’re off – 13 Iconic OGR Yachts Racing Towards Cape Horn
● Race starts don’t come better than this! Sun, spectacular sailing, speed, and strategy in Waitematā Harbour as OGR yachts scramble across the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron start line.
● Emotional scenes with tears, hugs, last-minute nerves and even fear on the Jellicoe pontoons for Leg 3 and the infamous Cape Horn.
● The long festive Auckland stopover, steeped in Whitbread history, was a phenomenal success thanks to support from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
● Last-minute problems for Explorer AU (28) missing the start with engine issues NOW FIXED – DEPARTING IN HOURS!
Imagine, 12 iconic yachts powering down Auckland Harbour with real purpose made for a thrilling start to Leg 3 of the Ocean Globe Race. Next stop, Yacht Club Punta del Este, Uruguay but first CAPE HORN. In perfect North Easterly 15-20 knot winds it looked easy. A tight start line in front of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadrondelivered great pictures as yachts fought for the line. Tight tacks, ducking and diving, making it difficult to tell who’d actually crossed the line first. Four yachts arrived too early with last-minute maneuvers to save themselves and one forced gybe breaking batten cars on L’Esprit d’équipe.
The French Swan 53 Triana FR (66), skippered by Jean D’Arthuys currently sitting 4th in IRC ranking overall, burst through and succeeded in clinching first spot, just seconds ahead of the Finnish yacht Galiana WithSecure FI (06) and Australianentrant Outlaw AU (28). For an around the world race where a few seconds do not make much difference, this was seriously close racing.
The pontoons of Jellicoe Harbour buzzed with anticipation, nerves and excitement as the first yacht, Translated 9 IT (09) current IRC leader, slipped lines at noon, followed by the fleet at three-minute intervals. With a short stat line right in front of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, many spectator boats and onshore spectators enjoyed the fantastic nautical performance, much like the scenes witnessed back in 1977 when the Whitbread first visited Auckland.
The OGR yachts, including seven former Whitbread yachts put on a display befitting the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the original Whitbread races, with many Whitbread veterans cheering on the fleet from the decks of the legendary Steinlager 2 and Lion New Zealand.
