Light air start for last Global leg

by Rachel Anning on 14 Jul 2005 The last leg of the Global Challenge started today, at 12.00pm local time, with VAIO leading the fleet across the start line in La Rochelle and towards Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth - the final port of call.

Flying spinnakers on a picture perfect day, the order over the start line was as follows: VAIO, SIC La Jolla, Barclays Adventurer, BG SPIRIT, Spirit of Sark, Me to You, Pindar, Imagine It. Done. Team Save the Children, BP Explorer, Samsung and Team Stelmar.

There were plenty of mixed emotions on the pontoons in La Rochelle this morning. Crews are looking forward to going home and seeing their loved ones, but every weary mile that this last leg will bring, marks the end of their adventures.

After the tricky light wind start, the Race Office was notified of several intentions to protest.

Imagine It. Done. Has protested Barclays Adventurer ‘for failing to keep clear as windward boat’, as required by the racing rules. Meanwhile, BG SPIRIT’s skipper has reported their intention to lodge a similar protest against Imagine It. Done.

Due to very light conditions forecast for the next three days, the course for Leg 7 has been shortened, to enable yachts to finish in the early afternoon on Saturday. Once the fleet has rounded Ushant (northwest of France) the course will take them on a more direct route towards Portsmouth.

Although the shortest possible distance between La Rochelle and Portsmouth is approximately 450 miles, a course of nearly 700 miles had been set to accommodate three days of racing.

‘It’s the final leg - and of course it’s the one that could upset the apple cart, because it’s going to be light winds and there’s a whole clutch of people that could possibly win the race, even at this late stage, so it’s absolutely tremendous,’ Sir Chay Blyth, founder of the race commented, adding, ‘the atmosphere is excellent, everyone is in great cheer and I think they’ll be glad to get on their way.

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