The oldest boat in the Globe40 scores a narrow Leg 3 win in Auckland
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 16 Oct 2022 12:53 AEDT
15 October 2022
Sec Hayai - Frans Budel and Ysbrand Endt (NED) sail up the Waitemata after winning Leg 3 of the Globe40 in Auckland October 16, 2022 © Richard Gladwell - Sail-World.com/nz
Sec Hayai co-skippered by Frans Budel and Ysbrand Endt has won Leg 3 of the Global40 round the world race, which finished in Auckland mid-Sunday morning, local time.
The Dutch crew completed the Leg which started in Mauritius on August 22, was the first leg win for Budel and Endt. They completed the leg in 34days 8hrs and 18minutes, and were followed home 34 minutes later by Milai, co-skippered by Masa Suzuki (JPN) and Luca Rosetti (ITA). Milai sailed by Masa Suzuki (JPN) and Koji Nakagawa (JPN) won the first leg of the race which started in Tangier on June 26. The event is sailed in boats to the Open 40 Class rule, which is a "box rule", the objective of the class is to further short-handed sailing.
Sec Hayai's win on Leg 3 gives the Globe40 three different Leg winners. Sailing the oldest boat in the fleet, the Dutch crew finished second on Legs 1 and 2. Sec Hayai led by Milai by just 7.5nm at the Cape Leewin gate after racing for 3,500nm - the halfway point of the Leg.
The winner of Leg 2 Amas (USA) then sailed by Craig Horsfiled and Micah Davis, and sailed by Brian Harris and Kyle Hubley for Leg 3, lies in third place on the water in Leg 3.They are off Cape Brett with 100nm to sail to the finish line in Auckland.
The light airs of the last couple of days has been replaced with a fresh SW offshore breeze, today, Sunday and Amas will be sailing to windward, but should be on starboard tack for the long trip down the picturesque coastline of northern New Zealand. The day dawned with grey overcast skies, which was replaced with blue skies and bright sunshine. Despite the sunshine, it is still mid-Spring in New Zealand, and the crew will be warmly dressed in wet weather gear, rather than shorts and t-shirts..
Provided the wind holds making a VMC of 5.2kts Amas will finish around noon on Monday (NZT).
The last two competitors in the fleet Gryphon Solo II co-skippered by Joe Harris (USA) and Roger Junet (ITA) and Whiskey Jack (CAN) sailed this leg by Melodie Schaffer and Jeronimo Santos Gonzalez are fourth and fifth on the water. Respectively 475nm and 555nm from Auckland, however Gryphon Solo II is well to the south and if the SW breeze holds will be on a deeper course angle to make the turning point of the North Cape of NZ. At the last position update, albeit with a deficit of about 75nm, Whiskey Jack to the north was on a faster track and sailing at 7.4kts compared to Gryphon's 6.5kts.
The fleet is berthed in now renamed Jellicoe Marina alongside Wynyard Point, in the area developed from the fuel and hazardous substances tank farm for to house challengers for the 2021 America's Cup and where Emirates Team New Zealand is now located.
The eight leg race around the world is running a week behind projected finish times. Leg 4 is scheduled to start in Auckland on October 27, destination Tahiti. The subsequent legs finish in Ushuaia (Cape Horn), Recife, Grenada Island and finishes in Lorient.
About the Class40:
The Class40 is a monohull dedicated to offshore racing. This boat has existed since 2004 as an intermediate oceanic boat, between the Mini 650 (6.50m) and the 60-foot Imoca (18.24m).
The key measurements of the Class 40 Rule are:
- Maximum length: 12.19 m.
- Maximum width: 4.50 m.
- Maximum draft: 3 m.
- Maximum air draft: 19 m.
- Maximum displacement (weight): 4,500 kg.
- Maximum sail area: 115 m2.
- Ballasts: 1,500 liters.
- Fixed keel and mast (tilting keel and tilting mast prohibited).
- Maximum removable bowsprit: 2 m.
- Average freeboard: must be at least equal to 1.08 m.
- Daggerboard and foils prohibited.
- Several prohibited materials such as carbon and Kevlar.
Currently more than 170 boats have been built to the Class40 Rule.