Team Stelmar wins Global Leg 6

by Rachel Anning on 5 Jul 2005 Leg 6 of the Global Challenge, the transatlantic sprint from Boston to La Rochelle in France, was spectacularly won today by Team Stelmar, skippered by Clive Cosby, in a time of 14days 16hr 37min 33sec.

Throughout the race, the crew, who had two major medical evacuations in the Southern Ocean, said they could do it - and today they proved it, beating second placed BG Spirit by just 32 minutes and 36 seconds.

‘It is an awesome feeling,’ explained winning skipper, Clive Cosby.
‘Technically we played it a little bit differently and it really worked out. We are absolutely over the moon; a great result.’

Looking forwards, he said, ‘we want another win now so we are up towards the top of the pack. After everything we’ve been through, it’s our proudest moment!’

BG Spirit took second place, finishing at 06:10:09 GMT. Skipper Andy Forbes and his team moved into second place just in time, and although positions are provisional at this stage, they look set to retain their place at the top of the overall leaderboard.

He commented after finishing, 'we are absolutely ecstatic, as we fought hard out there. Our aim was to get in front of BP Explorer and Spirit of Sark and we did it. We put a whole boat between us, so we have a five point buffer for the next leg. We are very, very, very happy!’

In third place, Imagine It. Done, skippered by Dee Caffari, took the last remaining podium position by beating BP Explorer and Me to You - 11 minutes between the inseparable three at the end.

‘Finally we have made it onto the podium,’ skipper Dee Caffari enthused, clearly happy with the result. ‘The crew worked so hard the whole way through, so it’s really good to see it pay off this time.

‘It was pretty heavy sailing last night, but we just needed a strong iron will to keep going. We were within sight of seven boats all last night,’ she added.

Asked about the competition for the final stretch she continued: ‘It is going to be even tighter for the last leg.’

Caffari's crew finished Leg 6 at 06:29:31 GMT to claim third place, just 8 minutes and 32 seconds before BP Explorer, which narrowly missed out on the podium spot at 06:37:53.

Me to You quickly followed, ending a three-way fight to the line, which was nothing short of remarkable, considering the 3000nm race that preceded the dramatic dash to the finish. The James Allen skippered boat finished just 2min 52sec after BP Explorer.

Barclays Adventurer were next to finish, 24min behind Me To You. Spirit of Sark, just a few miles behind them, crossed 22min behind, completing the arrival of the group of seven teams that had been separated by just 15nm or less, for days on end.

Pindar was just a couple of hours back, approaching the finish line at an impressive average speed of 11.5 knots.

Team Save the Children was next, finishing 01hr 17min behind Pindar, with VAIO in 10th place, 01hr 23min behind. SAIC La Jolla, crossed the finish line in 11th place.

At the time of going to print, Samsung was the 12th yacht racing to the finish line, their ETA set at 19.00 GMT (4th July 2005).

The celebrations in La Rochelle are in full swing for the crews who, once again, are exchanging stories of the hard, fast and exceptionally competitive racing, whilst catching up with family and friends who have made it in their droves to the final stopover.

With 11 yachts finishing so closely, their partying in La Rochelle will undoubtedly carry on long into the night, as the crews make the most of the final stopover towards the end of their adventures.

The entire fleet will be berthed in the Bassin des Chatuliers, in the heart of the old town in La Rochelle. To reach the pontoons, they must enter via a loch, and access is only available at restricted times. Samsung may well be out of time to get through the loch, which will obviously add some frustration for the crew.

Leg results

Team Stelmar 14days 16 hours 37 minutes 33 seconds

BG SPIRIT 14 d 17h 10m 9s

Imagine It. Done. 14d 17h 29m 31s

BP Explorer 14d 17h 37m 53s

Me To You 14d 17h 40m 45s

Barclays Adventurer 14d 18h 4m 14s

Spirit of Sark 14d 18h 26m 39s

Pindar 14d 21h 12m 18s

Team Save the Children 14d 22h 31m 31s

VAIO 14d 23h 54m 11s

SAIC La Jolla 15d 0h 27m 38s

Samsung Still racing