Heineken Cape to Rio 2011 day 6 update

by Jeanne Van Rooyen on 21 Jan 2011 Heineken Cape to Rio 2011- Interim handicap results and race update for 20 January 2011

Gerry Hegie’s decision to sail north of the fleet has kept City of Cape Town in the lead on handicap after five days of racing in the Heineken Cape to Rio yacht race.

In the last 24-hour run, the 41ft Lavranos completed 218,7 nautical miles, but the big mover in the South Atlantic was Ciao Bella, skippered by Mike Roberston, which managed 223,4nm to move up to fourth place on handicap.

Roberston has his entire family on board, including sons Ricky, Brennan and Ryan, who placed fourth overall at the Mirror Worlds, held in Australia earlier this month.

Prodigy’s brief flirtation with the overall lead appears to be over, with the 54ft yacht slipping back to fifth place, but she is still on course to take line honours. After yesterday’s run, the Durban yacht, skippered by Chris Frost, was 2,285nm away from finish.

Lurking behind City of Cape Town is Xtra-Link, skippered by Dale Kushner, which has been the most consistent performer, the Leisure 42 having rarely been out of the top three since the race started on Saturday.

Cape Storm is lying third, while the other maxi, the 63-foot Grand Filou II, is sixth on handicap and third overall behind City of Cape Town.

'It’s was a nice feeling to have covered more mileage in 24 hours than a carbon fibre 54 footer with a swing keel,' commented Heggie after City of Cape Town’s epic run on Wednesday when she took over the lead from Prodigy. 'Our boat is holding up well so far, touch-wood. But there is still some way to go.'

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