Roxy chicks finish Transat JV05 in style

by Event Media on 23 Nov 2005 Roxy appeared over the horizon, pink sails set against a beautiful Brazilian sunset, the last few mile to the line were still fairly physical with a few sail changes before the girls could at last relax and point the bow towards the finish line on starboard tack as night fell on the city backdrop.

The fireworks for their arrival were set off from the CENAB marina at 1817 local time (21:17:42 GMT) as Anne Liardet and Miranda Merron set off their red hand flares to light up the pink mainsail – definitely the prettiest arrival of all! The only all-female team finished in 8th place in the IMOCA Open 60 class, two days and 21 minutes after the winner Virbac-Paprec, after 16 days, 7 hours, 17 minutes and 42 seconds at an average theoretical speed of 11.09 knots.


No sooner was their boat, only the ex-winner of the Vendée Globe in 2001 and 2005, safely docked in the marina, than the magnum of Champagne Mumm was handed over and duly popped in style by Miranda herself to celebrate. Along with Vendée Globe circumnavigator Anne Liardet, Miranda was literally beaming to be finally in Brazil at the end of their voyage.

Behind them, Mare Verticale (Seeten / Carreri) are not expected to arrive until overnight tomorrow. The Open 60 skippered by Dejeanty and Toulorge (MRBN) is over 700m from the finish and the sole Brazilian entry, Galileo (Antunes / Coldefy) close the march in 11th with 1100 miles to run.

Miranda sent her last log just 15 miles from the finish line:

‘We are 15 miles from the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre, running down the coast, with the cit! y of Bahia clearly visible. The finish line is inside the bay, so still a few manoeuvres to go, but motivation is high! It has been a race full of good moments, and bad. The first few days were very tough, compounded by a few technical issues. Our untimely and unexpected becalming in the Cape Verdes, and horrible doldrums passage effectively lost us 7th place. However, much of the race was great fun. Many happy hours of fast downwind sailing, ever-changing sea and sky, and it has been fab sailing with Anne. We have been playing CD's loudly all day, having not listened to any music at all so far. For most of the race, it's been important to listen to the boat noises, since that is the best way of detecting problems. Another 4400 miles of Open 60 ocean racing experience logged, in a time of 16 days and some hours, and now it's time to gybe for the entrance to Baia de Todos os Santos, cross the finish line. Caipirinha Heaven awaits! Thank you very much to everyone for all the ! messages Miranda/ Roxy 12 59S 38 23W PS Just enjoying one las! t freeze -dried meal: tuna curry...’

ROXY

Arrival Date : Monday 21 November 2005 at 21:17:42 GMT
Elapsed time: 16 days 7 hours 17 minutes 42 seconds
Average boat speed on the theoretical route of 4,340 miles) : 11.09 knots
Distance from leader: 2 days 21 hours 58 minutes 40 seconds