Golden Globe Race - Day 96: Race Leader expected to reach Hobart film gate at 22:00 UTC
by Barry Pickthall, Golden Globe Race 6 Oct 2018 02:00 AEST
1 October 2018
Leading French solo yachtsman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede is expected to reach the Hobart film gate around 20:00 UTC today © Christophe Favreau / Matmut / PPL
At 08:00 UTC Friday, (18:00 local time) French Race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede was 40 miles from the BoatShed.com film gate at Hobart, Tasmania, his Rustler 36 Matmut making 3.7 knots.
The 73-year old skipper is expected to sail in to Storm Bay and cross the line shortly after Dawn at 06:00 local time Saturday (20:00 UTC Friday).
All skippers are compelled to pick up a buoy and stop in Storm Bay for a minimum of 90 minutes to hand across film and letters, be interviewed by the media and meet family and team members. No one can board the yachts or provide any assistance and the skipper cannot disembark.
Each skipper will be interviewed live by Race Chairman Don McIntyre and answer questions from media gathered at GGR Race HQ in Les Sables d'Olonne. These interviews will be broadcast live on Facebook and coverage of Jean-Luc's arrival is planned to start 30 minutes before as he sails or motors into Storm Bay.