The latest Yacht sail developments and race news
Click here for more news stories
Finland first into La Rochelle, Cape Breton fifth
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Line honours in the first race of Clipper 09-10 went to Team Finland as a drama-filled Race 1 drew to a conclusion.
The Finnish skipper, Eero Lehtinen, and his team led for much of the last two days of a fast race from The Humber to La Rochelle, successfully holding off the chasing pack and watching the drama unfold in their wake as the Race Committee considered whether to protest two of the teams pushing hard for a first podium place.
Arriving in the Bassin des Chalutiers, La Rochelle, a jubilant Eero said, "It was a good warm up. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that we've actually started the race and that it's actually happening. It was almost too easy to be honest; we didn't tack once on the way from the Humber to La Rochelle. We did 740 miles averaging more than 10 knots, so it was pretty good sailing.
Team Finland will have to wait until later this week for confirmation that they have won the race. The results are provisional until all the teams have made their declarations and the Race Committee rules on their decision to protest two of the yachts, Hull & Humber and Cork, for an apparent infringement of the sailing instructions.
Cork was second across the finish line in La Rochelle after a tight battle which had raged at the head of the fleet for the last three days. Perhaps the most nail biting finish was between Hull & Humber and Spirit of Australia. Just 40 seconds separated the two boats at the finish of Race 1.
Cape Breton Island crossed the line in fifth place, emerging victorious from what has been an engaging contest between them and Jamaica Lightning Bolt, who were sixth to cross the finish line about four miles outside La Rochelle. Our eyes on the inside of the race, photographer Tom Gruitt, will be joining Cape Breton in La Rochelle for the leg across to Rio.
The Finnish skipper, Eero Lehtinen, and his team led for much of the last two days of a fast race from The Humber to La Rochelle, successfully holding off the chasing pack and watching the drama unfold in their wake as the Race Committee considered whether to protest two of the teams pushing hard for a first podium place.
Arriving in the Bassin des Chalutiers, La Rochelle, a jubilant Eero said, "It was a good warm up. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that we've actually started the race and that it's actually happening. It was almost too easy to be honest; we didn't tack once on the way from the Humber to La Rochelle. We did 740 miles averaging more than 10 knots, so it was pretty good sailing.
Team Finland will have to wait until later this week for confirmation that they have won the race. The results are provisional until all the teams have made their declarations and the Race Committee rules on their decision to protest two of the yachts, Hull & Humber and Cork, for an apparent infringement of the sailing instructions.
Cork was second across the finish line in La Rochelle after a tight battle which had raged at the head of the fleet for the last three days. Perhaps the most nail biting finish was between Hull & Humber and Spirit of Australia. Just 40 seconds separated the two boats at the finish of Race 1.
Cape Breton Island crossed the line in fifth place, emerging victorious from what has been an engaging contest between them and Jamaica Lightning Bolt, who were sixth to cross the finish line about four miles outside La Rochelle. Our eyes on the inside of the race, photographer Tom Gruitt, will be joining Cape Breton in La Rochelle for the leg across to Rio.
posted by Hyde Sails at
00:05
Designed & Built by ProAction Creative Ltd.