Kleinjans finishes leg 2 of Portimao GOR, Team Mowgli due to finish

by Oliver Dewar on 21 Jan 2009
Single-handed, round the world sailor, Michel Kleinjans, crossed the finish line of Leg 2 in the Portimão Global Ocean Race off Wellington, New Zealand, late on yesterday at 21:28:55GMT 20/01 (10:28:55 local 21/01).

The Belgian yachtsman completed the 6,900 mile voyage through the Southern Ocean from Cape Town, South Africa, to New Zealand in 37 days, 10 hours, 58 minutes and 55 seconds (subject to redress for redirection to the rescue of Nico Budel) on board his Open 40, Roaring Forty.

The final day for Kleinjans was excruciating to watch as the wind died with the finish line almost in sight. Roaring Forty averaged sub-five knot speeds as her Belgian skipper struggled to negotiate the 14 mile wide stretch of Cook Strait between Cape Terawhiti on North Island and Perano Head to the south on Arapawa Island in Marlborough Sounds.

'In the beginning, I was frustrated,' he admitted shortly after docking at Queens Wharf. 'But then you think, ‘What‘s the difference of another day?’ You go back to your freeze dried food and just accept that tonight is not the night for steak au poivre! The wind was going everywhere and I was becalmed 30 miles after rounding Cape Farewell, which wasn’t forecast, so I waited around and when the wind comes back, it’s on the nose. I had no idea what the weather was doing and didn’t have the local area forecast and there was also a lot of current which I had no information about. But it really wasn’t a drama.'

Kleinjans was one of two single-handed yachts competing in this round the world event, racing against his friend and fellow solo sailor, Dutchman, Nico Budel, until Budel’s yacht, Hayai, developed critical keel problems on 28th December. The MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) requested that Kleinjans turn Roaring Forty westwards and retrace his route 600 miles towards the stricken yacht positioned approximately 900 miles south of Madagascar, deep in the Southern Ocean. 'When I was first asked to turn back, I thought, ‘****!’' he recalls, laughing.

With Budel able to make around six knots towards Roaring Forty, the rendezvous distance was reduced to around 350 miles. 'When I turned back, there wasn’t much wind, but it looked as though it was going to get messy,' continues Kleinjans. The following day, Roaring Forty was ‘stood down’ by the MRCC and continued racing as the 170,000 tonne bulk carrier, CSK Radiance, neared Budel and Hayai for the rescue. 'Fortunately, the message that a cargo ship was going to rescue Nico arrived in time and it was a real relief,' confirms the Belgian yachtsman.

For the remainder of the Portimão Global Ocean Race, Kleinjans will be the only solo sailor in the race but this is of little concern: 'I entered this race because I wanted to sail a solo race around the world,' he explains. 'Some people have suggested that I take somebody with me to keep up with the double-handed boats, but I want to be on my own. You know, the chance of doing this a second time is possible, but not really a reality for me. I would regret it if I took a co-skipper onboard now, I just want to do it on my own.'

Fortunately, there is a relatively short job list on Roaring Forty after the Southern Ocean voyage. 'There’s not really much to do on the boat,' continues Kleinjans. 'I have to fit a new sail drive, have the bottom re-sprayed and check the rudder stocks as there’s a little bit of play in the autopilot linkage, but that’s about it.' For Leg 3, there is already a clearly defined strategy for the Belgian: 'This leg, I’ve been sailing very cautiously as I didn’t want to break anything more on the boat,' he admits. 'If you break something on your own in the Southern Ocean, it’s really big trouble. On the next leg, I’ll do the same until Cape Horn, then I can start pushing!'

Kleinjans is currently nominated for an award by the Federation Royale du Yachting Belge/Kominklijke Belgish Yachting Verbond, in recognition of his WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council) record for the fastest single-handed monohull from Marseille to Carthage on Roaring Forty in March last year taking 1 day 21 hours and 24 minutes to sail the 458 mile route from France to Tunisia. Residents of Belgian can vote for Kleinjans via text on 3378, text ‘MALE 3’ (making a nomination will cost 0.50€/message) until 6th February. The winner will be announced at the Belgian Boat Show held in Ghent between 9-17th February.

The final boat in the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet, Team Mowgli, skippered by British duo, Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson, should cross the finish line at around 02:00 GMT (15:00 local) today.

www.portimaorace.com