Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Global gales subside

by Rachel Anning on 2 Jul 2005
There are just a final few days left before the Global Challenge yachts race into La Rochelle and the final stopover - before the homecoming in Portsmouth on around 16th July.

The latest ETA puts the lead boats arriving into the French city on Tuesday, as Team Stelmar continues her lead of the fleet, with a growing distance of 21 nautical miles in front of Imagine It. Done, just four miles in front of Me To You.

Yacht crews have been reporting boat speeds of up to 23 knots as they hurtle towards La Rochelle – now racing pros in their own right.

However, after two days of gale force conditions, it looks like these conditions are starting to subside, which could have an interesting effect on the leaderboard.

Imagine It. Done. Skipper, Dee Caffari, told Race HQ this afternoon: ‘With the wind easing it's back to the kites and trimming our way to France.’

Likewise Duggie Gillespie, skipper of Spirit of Sark, who says, ‘the wind is finally beginning to drop after two days of gale force downwind. We have just changed from poled out headsail to the spinnaker, making the boat more stable, in what are still quite rough seas.

‘We are continuing to take advantage of the squeeze and higher winds between a low and high pressure, but are looking to the high pressure system that is moving in from the south over the next day. This will make the jostling for positions more interesting, with very few miles between us and our main rivals.’

Teams will no doubt be nervously watching their rivals as tactical decision-making becomes critical in these final stages of the leg.

Race positions:

Team Stelmar 615 (miles to finish)

Imagine It. Done. 21 (miles to leader)

Me To You 25

BP Explorer 31

BG SPIRIT 33

VAIO 42

Spirit of Sark 43

SAIC La Jolla 46

Team Save the Children 48

Pindar 52

Samsung 88

www.globlchallenge2004.com
Boat Books Australia FOOTERsMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZX-Yachts X4.3

Related Articles

PredictWind launches PredictRain
New app From PredictWind delivers hyper-accurate, short-term rain predictions PredictRain is a groundbreaking standalone app that combines advanced AI modelling with intuitive tools to provide timely and precise rain forecasts for all types of outdoor activities.
Posted today at 4:51 am
49er & 49erFX Junior Worlds champions crowned
One final race before the storm kicked in at Øresund The final day of the 2025 Junior World Championship delivered high drama and even higher waves. As wind and rain swept across the Øresund, Race Committees managed to run one final race before safety concerns forced an early end to the competition.
Posted today at 4:43 am
Admiral's Cup: Emotional, Rare, Unforgettable
The 2025 Admirals' Cup set the stage for a bold new era in offshore racing Once the pinnacle of international offshore sailing, the return of the Admiral's Cup was a resounding success, setting the stage for a bold new era in offshire racing.
Posted on 4 Aug
29er World Championship at Porto Day 2
The breeze never quite showed up but the action didn't stop Day two of the Porto World Championships began with hope—and strategy. With light winds in the forecast, the race committee scheduled an early start in anticipation of a short sea breeze window.
Posted on 4 Aug
RS Aero World & Youth Worlds overall
The fine Brittany weather and afternoon sea breezes have provided excellent racing The stage was set for a dramatic final day showdown in Quiberon Bay, France, to decide the titles for the 7th RS Aero Worlds and 4th Youth Worlds.
Posted on 4 Aug
RS Feva Worlds at Aix-les-Bains, France Overall
Crowning of our 2025 World Champions As our World Championships drew to a thrilling close on Friday afternoon, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation! Sailors and families were buzzing with excitement as they prepared for their journey home.
Posted on 4 Aug
Just another event?
Is Cowes Week still a pinnacle regatta? We've been blessed with incredible sailing so far this summer in the UK (for once) with great breeze much of the time, and some of the best events in the world gracing our shores. But, like with Storm Floris, there are clouds on the horizon...
Posted on 4 Aug
Cadet World Championship day 0
Just how long is a piece of string? So here we are, day one of the Cadet Worlds proper. The British Worlds Team have all arrived safely on site after their marathon journeys and tales of Cadets visiting the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.
Posted on 4 Aug
Tenerife Windsurf Grand Slam Day 3
Pierre Mortefon draws first blood after the wind fills in late After a couple of days of waiting for the wind, Day 3 eventually provided the goods to end the wait for some official competition as the Slalom X got under way during the early evening in 15-18 knots of wind.
Posted on 4 Aug
Festival of Sails 2026 expands to 5 days of racing
Australia's largest celebration of sailing just got even bigger Australia's largest celebration of sailing just got even bigger, with the Festival of Sails expanding to five action-packed days of racing.
Posted on 4 Aug