16 January 2024
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It was an emotional evening at Jellicoe Harbour in Auckland 11 January as old friends and sailing ‘rivals’ gathered for a historic Whitbread Reunion – celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first race.
Legends of the Whitbread Race down through the years came together, some having not seen each other in decades.
Hugs, back-slapping, reliving adventures on the high seas a few beers and lots of laughter were the order of the evening – not to mention outrageous tales of in-port escapades from the ‘olden days’, making today’s crew partying feel rather tame in comparison!
Barry Pickthall, AKA Mr Whitbread and Peter Montgomery, AKA the voice of the Whitbread, hosted the casual evening in the Ocean Globe Race office, located next to the race fleet prepping for race start for Leg 3, Auckland to Punta del Este starting on Sunday 14 January.
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50 veterans representing yachts dating back to 1973 attended the event with many planning on taking to the seas once again on Sunday to wave the OGR off.
Aucklander Simon Gundry who sailed on Ceramco 1981/82 and Lion NZ 1985/86 was one of the veterans delighted to be catching up with his sailing buddies and recalled some of the memories that have stayed with him over the years.
“The biggest memory would be the mast falling down a day out from the equator on the way to Cape Town,” recalled Simon Gundry.
“We spent a couple of hours having a cup of tea thinking about it and then got together to work out what to do. We organised what was left over after the rig was over the side of the boat and rigged a jury rig and sailed the nearly 4000 miles to Cape Town – we were at sea in total for nearly 50 days. On a night like this is great seeing a lot of guys we haven’t seen for a long time, really great. And to those heading off on Sunday I’d say, be safe, be safe, have a good time, but be safe.”
Claire Russell who sailed on Maiden (89/90) is delighted to see Maiden back again in the race.
She said, “It’s amazing to see Maiden, which is an iconic yacht back here with another team of girls. It is really, really wonderful. This race is slightly different from our one, but it’s still all about the people. It’s always been about the people. And that’s what makes evenings like this so interesting.”
Paul Cayard, Whitbread Veteran and race winner, when he skippered EF Language to victory in 1997-98, and now mentoring Translated 9, knows firsthand how transformative the race is.
“I’ve sailed in America’s Cup and the Olympics but the truth of the matter is whenever I get together with these guys we only talk about around-the-world sailing and it’s because of the bond you form when you’re at sea for 20 days at a time. There’s no family, no media, no distractions.
“The bonds with your crew are super strong. You go through very tough times – you go through the best and worst of times together. That is something that around the world sailing gives us that you don’t really get in other sports.”
Tony Stevenson, Chairman of the New Zealand Sailing Trust, who attended the reunion is passionate about the Ocean Globe race coming to Auckland. Former Whitbread boats Steinlager 2 and Lion New Zealand are under the stewardship of the trust.
“Having the race here reminds us of an era that was so special not only to Kiwis but to global yacht racing. It has gone through a variety of different setups but it doesn’t really change. To circumnavigate the world is something really special and to see these boats here is something really special too.”
Finnish yacht Spirit of Helsinki FI (71) currently sitting 2nd in IRC rating after Leg 1 and 2 has not had their Green Card re-validated by close of business Friday 12 – meaning they will be unable to start the race with the fleet on Sunday 14.
OGR discovered and established that many crew members are paying to be onboard, amounts substantially over euro 3,750 per leg which brings the entry into an OGR category defined as commercial. That requires an entry fee supplement, as per the Notice of Race and entry conditions.
Previously the captain had declared in a mandatory declaration that NO CREW were paying over euro 3,750 per leg, so the supplement was not required. Now it is. It is a requirement for all entrants who participate in the OGR, that entry fees are paid and current. The entry fee supplement has not been paid, so revalidation of the green card is not possible until such time as it is.
Skippered by Jussi Paavoseppä, Spirit of Helsinki, formerly known as ex-Fazer Finland when she raced in the 1985 Whitbread, took line honours and first in Sayula Class in Leg 1. Leg 2 also proved successful for the Swan 651, coming 3rd in line honours and first in Sayula Class.
Meanwhile, Explorer AU (28) is under extreme pressure to get their engine repaired in time for the Sunday start. Getting parts for a broken fuel injector pump is proving problematic for the crew of the Swan 57 who only arrived in Auckland last week. The clock is ticking.
South African entrants Sterna SA (42) have made great strides in their preparations and look set to be on the start, despite having only six days for the many maintenance jobs required. Golden Globe sailor Jeremy Bagshaw will take over the role as skipper from Melissa Du Toit. Melissa will remain on board as first mate.
Two yachts have received dispensation for Leg 3 for not sailing with a woman onboard, which is part of the Notice of Race. L’Esprit d équipe FR (85) and Neptune FR (56) will sail with an all male crew after it proved too difficult to find a female crew member at short notice over the festive season.
Capucine Treffot, who is now sailing on Leg 3 onboard Maiden, sailed on Leg 1 and 2 on L’Esprit d’équipe. She was the only woman onboard on leg 2 and while she had a great experience with her fellow crew mates on the former Whitbread-winning yacht, she believes having more females onboard is vital.
“It’s tough being the only woman onboard. There is some stuff you can’t share and sometimes you feel really alone. I’d very good friends on the boat, so I’m not missing friends, I’m missing another woman onboard. A mixed crew should mean more than just one woman. It should actually be really mixed.”
Maryama Seck, also a Maiden sailor experienced what it’s like being the only female onboard when she completed Leg 1 on Neptune.
“I think being part of a mixed crew shouldn’t mean you’re the only woman onboard. It should mean mixed and more balanced.”
Besides maintenance, provisioning and general last-minute panic, crew’s diaries have been filled with briefing and social events.
The all-crew briefing held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron allowed the crews to view the many, many trophies on display, including the America’s Cup. It also gave the crew the chance for a little “What Don Will Say During A Briefing Bingo”.
Compiled by the crew of Maiden UK (03), some of the phrases expected Don (OGR Founder and Race Director) would include in his briefing were ‘Back in the day’, ‘Penalty’, ‘Human Stories’ and ‘Here’s the Deal’. And he did not disappoint – it only took 17 minutes before ‘BINGO’ was called as a line of ‘Don-isms’ was completed.
Don McIntyre is the founder and underwriter of the goldengloberace.com the oceangloberace.com and the minigloberace.com. Follow him at mcintyreadventure.com
On Sunday 14 January, the fleet departed Auckland, next stop, Yacht Club Punta del Este, Uruguay but first Cape Horn.
In perfect North Easterly 15 to 20 knot winds it looked easy. A tight start line in front of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron delivered 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 Australian entrant Outlaw AU (28). For an around the world race where a few seconds do not make much difference, this was seriously close racing.
Don McIntyre, OGR Director and Founder was naturally delighted with the start. Earlier in the day during the official crew photograph he told the sailors of the pride he felt in their achievement to date, recognised the challenges they faced ahead in the daunting sail around Cape Horn and instructed them in no uncertain terms – to stay safe.
“Wow, the start was everything you could hope for,” Don said.
“These sailors have worked so hard to get here and they have a lot of sailing ahead of them to get around Horn Cape. Anything can happen over the next 6000 miles to Uruguay. Auckland’s Whitbread history has become part of the OGR story now and has proven to be just as fantastic as we knew it would be. So, a start like today is befitting this stopover. Almost like a thank you to our great hosts.”
Follow the fleet as they make their way from Auckland, New Zealand, to Punta del Este, Uruguay, on leg 3 of the Ocean Globe Race.
Follow the the Ocean Globe Race via live tracker.
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Sydney Regatta ahead