http://www.portimaorace.com?page=rss News in English Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (c) 2008 All Rights Reserved en_us Thu, 18 March 2010 11:07:02 CDT Sunday 27 December: During the Global Ocean Race 2011-12, the fleet of Class40s will be in-port for almost 50% of the race. How can a stopover’s host port maximise the impact the race will have locally and globally? With the boats in-port and away from the race course, how can a race sponsor use this opportunity? Oliver Dewar Sunday, 27th December, 2009 Thursday 7 January: Ocean Safety - worldwide suppliers, distributors and specialists in the service and hire of marine safety equipment – has entered a partnership with the Global Ocean Race. Ocean Safety will provide all the race entrants with practical advice on safety equipment and is offering intensive, tailor made sea survival courses similar to the training the company provided for crews in the past two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race Oliver Dewar Thursday, 7th January, 2010 Tuesday 2 February: OC Technology has agreed to supply two OC Tracker units for each Class40 entered in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 – 11 entries are confirmed so far - and will provide the Race Organisation with back-up units. Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 2nd February, 2010 Sunday 7 February: With 580 days until the start of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12, entry #12 for the double-handed circumnavigation is from New Zealand. Oliver Dewar Sunday, 7th February, 2010 Monday 22 February: Three Class40s are racing in the RORC Caribbean 600 and will cross the start line today. Miranda Merron is boat captain on board 40 Degrees, chartered to two highly-experienced Irish shorthanded sailors, Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling, while American skipper, Joe Harris has chartered Ocean Warrior and will be racing with Josh Hall, Michel Kleinjans and Peter Van der Wel Oliver Dewar Monday, 22nd February, 2010 Tuesday 23 February: After the first night of racing in the Caribbean, the three Class40s are separated by just five miles at sunrise this morning Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 23rd February, 2010 Wednesday 24 February: At dawn on the third day of racing in the RORC Caribbean 600, the three Class40s are heading south, upwind, towards Guadeloupe with the tactical options opening up and the trio separated by 25 miles as 40 Degrees keeps the lead at the halfway point Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 24th February, 2010 Thursday 25 February: With the RORC Caribbean 600 halfway mark reached just before midday on Wednesday, the three Class40s continued heading south between Antigua and Montserrat towards Guadeloupe. Daylight on the fourth day at sea showed a dramatic change in fortunes for the trio with 40 Degrees and Tradition Guadeloupe stalled off the southern tip of Guadeloupe and Ocean Warrior withdrawn from racing and moored in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua Oliver Dewar Thursday, 25th February, 2010 Friday 26 February: The two remaining Class40s in the RORC Caribbean 600 finally found some breeze late on Thursday as Michael Boyd, Niall Dowling, John Patrick Cunningham and Miranda Merron on 40 Degrees closed up with Willy Bissainte on the double-handed Tradition Guadeloupe. As the two Class40s met just north of Marie-Galante island, both teams opted to head towards the south-eastern tip of Guadeloupe Oliver Dewar Friday, 26th February, 2010 Monday 1 March: Early on Sunday morning (28/02), Willy Bissainte and Benoit Reefe sailed Pogo Class40, Tradition Guadeloupe, across the finish line of the RORC Caribbean 600 after almost a week at sea in an event that saw 64 percent of the 22-boat fleet retire due to lack of breeze. Bissainte and Reefe’s perseverance and determination nets the sailors from Guadeloupe two prizes: the Concise Trophy for Class40s and overall winner of IRC Zero Oliver Dewar Monday, 1st March, 2010 Tuesday 2 March: Local authorities estimate that 2 million Chileans have been seriously affected by the earthquake and around 1.5 million homes have been damaged in the worst natural disaster to devastate the country in 50 years. The Chilean Class40 skipper, Felipe Cubillos, is already involved with relief work in the Sexta Región south of Valparaiso and Santiago and is making an appeal for aid on behalf of his countrymen Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010 Wednesday 3 March: The Global Ocean Race can announce entry #13 for the 2011-12, double-handed circumnavigation in Class40s. Italian-born, UK-based yachtsman, Marco Nannini, has secured his place on the start line and will be competing against the event’s growing international fleet. In the past week, 32 year-old Nannini has bought Class40 Akilaria, Mowgli – the yacht sailed by the British duo of Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson in the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 Friday 5 March: Class40 skipper, Felipe Cubillos, is helping bring vital materials and food to the disaster region in the recent 8.8-magnituide earthquake’s epicentre Oliver Dewar Friday, 5th March, 2010 Thursday 18 March: The Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) can announce that entry #14 – and the first female skipper – has signed up to compete in the double-handed circumnavigation for Class40’s. The highly-experienced British yachtswoman, Hannah Jenner, is the fourth UK-based campaign to enter the event which includes teams from 11 different nations Oliver Dewar Thursday, 18th March, 2010 Sunday 15 November: The Caribbean section of La Solidaire du Chocolat continues to provide extraordinary challenges for the Class40 fleet Oliver Dewar Sunday, 15th November, 2009 Monday 23 November: During the fifth week at sea in La Solidaire du Chocolat, the closeness of the finishes within the second wave of boats became hectic while the trailing pack took separate options, splitting either side of Jamaica. With a few of the boats very short of fuel and water, finding stable breeze in the difficult Caribbean conditions became a priority. However, on Friday a total of five Class40s crossed the finish line in the space of 11 hours after 5,000 miles and 34 days of racing Oliver Dewar Monday, 23rd November, 2009 Wednesday 25 November: Following his successful circumnavigation in the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race, English offshore sailor, David Thomson, has just signed-on with fellow Briton, Alex Alley, as co-skipper on The People’s Boat Class40 campaign in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 25th November, 2009 Thursday 26 November: North Sails are now an official Race Partner for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. North Sails will be offering race entries great pricing for new sails and an excellent sail servicing arrangement in each of the race stopovers. North Sails are also designing two new sails specifically for the Global Ocean Race: the GOR Code 5 and the GOR Code 3 Oliver Dewar Thursday, 26th November, 2009 Thursday 3rd December: Important developments agreed between the organisers of the Global Ocean Race and the Class40 Association can now be announced including details of crew numbers and the decision on weather routing Oliver Dewar Thursday, 3rd December, 2009 Bahamas-based South African sailor Lenjohn van der Wel today confirmed his Team Entry in the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race. Oliver Dewar Monday, 7th December, 2009 Thursday 10 December: Josh Hall, Race Director of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12, was invited to speak at the World Yacht Racing Forum in Monaco. Discussion ranged from cutting racing costs to the future of the America's Cup Oliver Dewar Thursday, 10th December, 2009 Tuesday 22 December: To everyone we know, to everyone who watches what we do and to everyone we hope to meet: We thank you for your support and wish you all a very Happy Christmas. From the team at the Global Ocean Race GOR Race Organisation Tuesday, 22nd December, 2009 Wednesday 23 December: Race Director of the Global Ocean Race, Josh Hall, announces the 11th team to enter the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 23rd December, 2009 Friday 13 November: Facnor, world-leaders in the design and manufacturing of sail furling systems, have today announced that they will be a Race Partner for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. Facnor will provide all bona fide entries in the Global Ocean Race with a substantial discount on their range of equipment and an excellent support arrangement for servicing and advice. Oliver Dewar Friday, 13th November, 2009 Thursday 12 November: The new Class40 from BTBoats - a formidable combination of Farr Yacht Design and Cookson Boats - promises to be a potent addition to the existing Class40s available. With production due to start soon, BTBoats have already reserved a place on the startline for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 Oliver Dewar Thursday, 12th November, 2009 Sunday 8 November: The fleet leaders in La Solidaire du Chocolat have crossed the mandatory race gate to the south of St. Barts and have entered the Caribbean with the prospect of some very close racing for the final 1,500 miles to Progreso on the Yucatán Peninsular in Mexico Oliver Dewar Sunday, 8th November, 2009 Sunday 1 November: Felipe Cubillos and Desafio Cabo de Hornos from the Portimão Global Ocean Race and two teams signed-up for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 – Jacques Fournier and co-skipper Jean-Edouard Criquioche on Groupe Picoty and Patrice Carpentier on Crédit Maritime - are currently racing in La Solidaire du Chocolat. Horrific upwind conditions continued in the second week at sea, reducing the fleet further to 16 boats… Oliver Dewar Sunday, 1st November, 2009 Sunday 25 October: The La Solidaire du Chocolat race is proving an upwind battle for the majority of the fleet. One entry from the 2008-09 Portimao Global Ocean Race and two confirmed entries for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 are battling into the North Atlantic Oliver Dewar Sunday, 25th October, 2009 Friday 16 October: Winner of the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race single-handed class and Belgian Yachtsman of the Year, Michel Kleinjans, has confirmed his entry in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 and raises the total to seven teams from six nations Oliver Dewar Friday, 16th October, 2009 Thursday 22 October: Leading yacht hardware company Ronstan today confirmed arrangements to be a Race Partner with the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. Via their UK Big Boat distributors, SailTek, Ronstan will be providing all bona fide entries in the race with a substantial discount on their extensive product range Oliver Dewar Thursday, 22nd October, 2009 Monday 26 October: The hosts of the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race Charleston stop-over are racing around the world again Josh Hall Monday, 26th October, 2009 Monday 19 October: The eighth entry for the Global Ocean Race is from France with the Class40 Association President, Jacques Fournier, and the Class40 Association Treasurer, Jean-Edouard Criquioche, signing-up for the 2011 start line onboard Groupe Picoty Oliver Dewar Monday, 19th October, 2009 Friday 9th October - At a gala evening that was high on emotion, Belgian Yachtsman of The Year, Michel Kleinjans, was honoured by civic and sailing officials in his home town of Antwerp. Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 13th October, 2009 Oliver Dewar Sunday, 8th November, 2009 Thursday 8 October: The international shipping company, Peters & May, was involved with the logistics for the 2008-09 Portimao Global Ocean Race and will continue this successful relationship during the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. The company can ship any spare parts, materials or components - even a mast - that may be required by the Class40 fleet during the circumnavigation. Oliver Dewar Thursday, 8th October, 2009 Sunday 27th September: Over the weekend, meetings between Class40 and the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 Organization resulted in an official endorsement by the ISAF affiliated Class40 Association with the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. It can now be confirmed that contracts have been signed and that the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 is the only round the world race to be officially endorsed by Class40. Oliver Dewar Sunday, 27th September, 2009 Wednesday 23 September: The World Yacht Racing Forum has invited Josh Hall, Race Director of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12, to speak at their conference in Monaco on 9th-10 December. Hall will join key players in yacht racing at the WYRF including, Michel Desjoyeaux, Knut Frostad (CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race), Dominic Wavre, (President of IMOCA) and Mark Turner (CEO of the Offshore Challenges Group). Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 23rd September, 2009 Monday 21st September: The British professional yachtsman, Alex Alley, is now confirmed as the sixth entry in the Global Ocean Race 2011-12. Advanced negotiations with a sponsor are underway and with a fresh approach to funding his project, Alex's sailing talent and powerful motivation are a formidable combination Oliver Dewar Monday, 21st September, 2009 Thursday 17 September: The international insurance company, Fastnet Marine Insurance Services, has joined the Global Ocean Race as an official partner. Fastnet Marine were involved heavily with the 2008-09 edition of the race and are working closely with the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 to provide a bespoke service for the Class 40 fleet. Oliver Dewar Thursday, 17th September, 2009 Monday 24 August: With the publication of the Notice of Race for the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race, the Race Organisation can reveal five entries for the event from Holland, North America, South Africa, the UK and France. Dutch veteran of the 2008-09 race, Nico Budel, has entered and offshore sailing legend, Patrice Carpentier, is the first official French competitor Oliver Dewar Monday, 24th August, 2009 Sunday 23 August: Josh Hall, Race Director of the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race and the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race, explains the Notice of Race for the next event and reveals the exceptional interest in this unique, round-the-world challenge including details of Team Entries and the increased safety measures that are being applied. Josh Hall Sunday, 23rd August, 2009 Sunday 23 August: Desafio Cabo de Hornos takes third place in the Class 40 World Championships held in the Solent Oliver Dewar Sunday, 23rd August, 2009 Monday 17 August: Chartering a Class 40 for the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race is a viable alternative to buying a new or second-hand boat. British offshore yachtsman, Alex Bennett, is offering his two year-old Owen Clarke Design FujiFilm for charter in the next race Oliver Dewar Monday, 17th August, 2009 Friday 14 August: Desafio Cabo de Hornos finishes the Fastnet Race after a frustrating, light airs, final 24 hours and preparation for the Class 40 World Championships next week are already underway Oliver Dewar Friday, 14th August, 2009 Thursday 13 August: Boris Herrmann and his team on Beluga Racer took third place in the Rolex Fastnet Race earlier this morning and the young German skipper and his sponsor are now heading for the big time in the 2012 Vendée Globe Oliver Dewar Thursday, 13th August, 2009 Wednesday 12 August: With just over 100 miles to the finish line in Plymouth, Beluga Racer has dropped to third place, but is currently making the best speed in the leading trio with just ten miles separating the front pack Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 12th August, 2009 Tuesday 11 August: Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are racing again in the Rolex Fastnet Race. Boris Herrmann and his team are currently in second place, under four miles behind the Class 40 leader, and the Chilean team are 30 miles further east making up ground after a broken main halyard Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 11th August, 2009 Monday 10 August; Race Director of The Portimão Global Ocean Race, Josh Hall, divulges the costs involved in both running the event and entering a boat in the next race in 2011-12. This detailed data illustrates the diverse costs of developing and sustaining a round-the-world-race and Hall also provides projected costs and advice for teams planning on entering the next race with a newly-built or second-hand Class 40 Josh Hall Monday, 10th August, 2009 Team Mowgli, Kazimir Partners - Ocean Warrior and Roaring Forty are now on the market. Race-proven, immaculately maintained and with an inventory of spare parts, spare sails and sophisticated communications equipment, these Category 0 compliant racing yachts are waiting for new owners Oliver Dewar Thursday, 30th July, 2009 Sunday 19 July: Just under one month has passed since the fourth boat completed the circumnavigation. We catch up with the duo from Beluga Racer in Germany, the team from Desafio Cabo de Hornos in Chile, Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson from Team Mowgli in Britain and Michel Kleinjans of Roaring Forty in Belgium Oliver Dewar Sunday, 19th July, 2009 With the fleet soon to arrive in Portugal at the finish of an outstanding circumnavigation, Race Director, Josh Hall announces the plans, dates, stop overs and format for the next edition starting in 2011 Oliver Dewar Thursday, 18th June, 2009 Wednesday 24 June: Michel Kleinjans has approximately 24 hours of racing to complete his solo circumnavigation - In Portimao, the double-handed skippers prepare to give the very popular Belgian yachtsman a huge reception Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 24th June, 2009 Thursday 25 June: Michel Kleinjans completed his circumnavigation in style, carving across the line on board Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar Thursday, 25th June, 2009 Tuesday 23 June: Michel Kleinjans is riding westerly breeze with 383 miles of Leg 5 remaining as Roaring Forty enters a zone of heavy shipping traffic Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 23rd June, 2009 Thursday 25 June: Solo sailor, Michel Kleinjans, is just 44 miles from the finish at dawn this morning with an ETA of midday to mid-afternoon UTC Oliver Dewar Thursday, 25th June, 2009 As the fleet approach Portimao, Portugal, we take a closer look at the unique, handmade trophies the overall winners of the double-handed and single-handed classes will receive at the prize giving on Saturday 27 June and the additional 'Navigator's Prize' awarded as the boats rounded Cape Horn and left the Southern Ocean behind Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 16th June, 2009 Monday 22 June: The British duo of Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson crossed the Leg 5 finish line at 09:29:55 UTC this morning taking third place in the double-handed class on Team Mowgli - Solo sailor, Michel Kleinjans, continues to pick up speed on Roaring Forty with 511 miles remaining Oliver Dewar Monday, 22nd June, 2009 Tuesday 16 June: As the double-handed fleet stream north of the Azores, the high-pressure system lying in wait may cause considerable compression - High speeds, but mainsail damage for Team Mowgli - Herrmann and Oehme savour the final 930 miles of the circumnavigation - Michel Kleinjans is keeping up the pace due west of the Azores - Desafio Cabo de Hornos top the speed table Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 16th June, 2009 Monday 22 June: Third place double-handed Class 40 Team mowgli are just hours from the finish line in Portimao - Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty has broken free of headwinds and has picked up the pace Oliver Dewar Monday, 22nd June, 2009 Sunday 21 June: Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme crossed the Leg 5 finish line at 08:04:42 UTC this morning finishing second in the final leg of the circumnavigation and Beluga Racer is now overall champion of the 2008-09 Portimao Global Ocean Race double-handed class - Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson run into light airs on Team Mowgli - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty leave the Azores astern and will soon have following breeze Oliver Dewar Sunday, 21st June, 2009 Saturday 20 June: The Chilean team on Desafio Cabo de Hornos completed Leg 5 at 11:37:05 UTC and have now sailed into the record books - Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer are closing in on the finish line Oliver Dewar Saturday, 20th June, 2009 Saturday 20 June: At 0400 UTC, Desafio Cabo de Hornos have just 45 miles of the circumnavigation remaining - Team Mowgli have a close encounter of the whale variety - Michel Kleinjans clears the Azores, but remains in headwinds Oliver Dewar Saturday, 20th June, 2009 Friday 19 June: Race leader Desafio Cabo de Hornos is back up to speed with 249 miles of Leg 5 remaining - Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme prepare for the finish - Beluga Racer and Team Mowgli keep up the chase - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty face headwinds as they negotiate the Azores Oliver Dewar Friday, 19th June, 2009 Sunday 28th June: The skippers, their families, friends and the Race Organisation gather with VIPs and guests from Portimão for the prize giving celebrations - Nico Budel continues his dream and buys Beluga Racer from the German team Oliver Dewar Sunday, 28th June, 2009 Thursday 18 June: A slow patch overnight has seen Desafio Cabo de Hornos lose miles to Beluga Racer and Team Mowgli, although the Chilean duo have once again picked up speed - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty sail very close to the coast of Flores in the Azores Oliver Dewar Thursday, 18th June, 2009 Wednesday 17 June: The Chilean race leaders are currently sailing into an area of very light breeze - Beluga Racer and Team Mowgli slow down as the chase becomes complex - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty make the best speed in the fleet although communication systems failure is a setback Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 17th June, 2009 Monday 15 June: Desafio Cabo de Hornos continued to make gains on Sunday, but the weather could now favour Beluga Racer - Team Mowgli continue to poll the highest speeds in the strongest breeze - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty crossed the Leg 5 Scoring Gate early this morning Oliver Dewar Monday, 15th June, 2009 Sunday 14 June: Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson cross the Leg 5 Scoring Gate in third - Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Race close up as speeds increase - Kleinjans climbs north to the scoring gate - Cubillos experiences one of the best nights of the circumnavigation - Boris Herrmann admits to the impact the Chileans have had on the German team's approach Oliver Dewar Sunday, 14th June, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos maintain the highest speeds in the fleet - Beluga Racer are trying every option to catch the Chilean team in demanding conditions Oliver Dewar Sunday, 7th June, 2009 Saturday 13 June: Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme take second place at the Leg 5 scoring gate and secure first place overall - Desafio Cabo de Hornos slow dramatically as the Azores High continues to bite - Big gains for Beluga Racer and Team Mowgli Oliver Dewar Saturday, 13th June, 2009 High speeds and strong breeze as the Chilean and German teams lock horns for the North Atlantic match race Oliver Dewar Saturday, 6th June, 2009 With Beluga Racer taking second place at the Leg 5 Scoring Gate, the German team have secured first place victory overall for the entire circumnavigation. However, with mast damaged sustained, until the scoring gate a situation had arisen that may have threatened the dominance of Herrmann and Oehme. Looking at the scores for Legs 1, 2, 3 and 4 and a brief study of the rules of the race regarding DNF, the past few days have been tense... Oliver Dewar Saturday, 13th June, 2009 Friday, 5th June, 2009 Friday 12 June: Desafio Cabo de Hornos take maximum points at the Leg 5 scoring gate, but slow down in light airs as Beluga Racer maintain their pace - Team Mowgli find the good breeze and win back miles on the leaders - Roaring Forty recovers from rigging damage Oliver Dewar Friday, 12th June, 2009 The first night at sea in Leg 5 has been a tough one with 40 knot squalls as the fleet stay in close formation and Beluga Racer take the lead from Desafio Cabo de Hornos Oliver Dewar Friday, 5th June, 2009 Thursday 11 June: As Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer approach the ice gate, conditions are becoming hostile - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty wait to shake off headwinds. STOP PRESS: Michel Kleinjans has sustained a broken D1 starboard shroud on Roaring Forty. He has tacked onto port and is currently rigging a support jury system to replace the shroud. Kleinjans is confident that he can complete Leg 5 and finish the circumnavigation in Portimao Oliver Dewar Thursday, 11th June, 2009 The fleet set off from Charleston on Leg 5 bound for Portimao Oliver Dewar Thursday, 4th June, 2009 Wednesday 10 June: Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer are preparing for a fast 300 miles to the Leg 5 Scoring Gate - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty are picking up the pace further west Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 10th June, 2009 With the approach of the final leg of the circumnavigation looming, preparation is reaching the finishing stages for the fleet Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 2nd June, 2009 Tuesday 9 June: Herrmann and Oehme sustain critical damage but are determined to continue to the finish line Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 9th June, 2009 With 24 hours to the start of Leg 5, the skippers were briefed in the Charleston Yacht Club and the location of the northern iceberg limit south-east of Newfoundland and the scoring gate were announced Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 3rd June, 2009 Monday 8 June: A period of light winds after the big gusts of the weekend - Bobstay issues on Roaring Forty - Autopilot failure in big breeze for Team Mowgli - Perfect judgement of the cold front by the Chilean team - The German duo are lying in wait Oliver Dewar Monday, 8th June, 2009 As hosts for the fleet during the Charleston stop over, the South Carolina Maritime Foundation organises virtually every marine event in the area and runs one of the most stunning tall ships in existence, 'Spirit of South Carolina' Oliver Dewar Monday, 1st June, 2009 Charleston host an exceptional prize giving ceremony for the skippers Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 5th May, 2009 After consultation with all the teams, the decision has been made to move the start to 1030 (local) , 1630 GMT on Thursday 4th June to allow extra time for repair work on Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 27th May, 2009 Double-handed class points and prospects for the final, North Atlantic 'sprint' in leg 5 Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 20th May, 2009 The British duo of Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson have a full-on finish to Leg 4 Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 19th May, 2009 Belgium's top solo sailor races his damaged Open 40, Roaring Forty, across the Charleston finish line Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 19th May, 2009 Solo sailor Michel Kleinjans is currently racing damaged Open 40 Roaring Forty through the teeth of gale in the final miles to Charleston Oliver Dewar Monday, 18th May, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos take second place in Leg 4 just 17 hours behind the German victors - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty are dodging fierce conditions in the Gulf Stream Oliver Dewar Sunday, 17th May, 2009 Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme are worthy victors of a complex leg between Brazil and the USA Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 17th May, 2009 Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty have been involved in a collision with a container ship. Kleinjans is uninjured and although the boat has sustained damage, the plan is to continue racing to Charleston Oliver Dewar Saturday, 16th May, 2009 As the Chilean team fail to find the elusive southerly breeze, the German race leaders move ahead - Team Mowgli continue delivering break-neck speeds - Michel Kleinjans is making haste while preserving his one remaining spinnaker Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 15th May, 2009 Just 100 miles to race for the German team - Michel Kleinjans continues to deliver high-speeds - Team Mowgli dodge debris off the Bahamas - the Chilean team aim for a Sunday afternoon finish Oliver Dewar Saturday, 16th May, 2009 Salvesen and Thomson charge north at high speed on Team Mowgli - Desafio Cabo de Hornos keeps the German team in reach Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 14th May, 2009 As the wind begins to drop for Beluga Racer, the Chilean team on Desafio Cabo de Hornos try to find a solution to their rudder damage - Team Mowgli stay hooked into strong breeze - Michel Kleinjans sails consistently fast on Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 13th May, 2009 Having broken one of their twin rudders, the Chilean team on Desafio Cabo de Hornos are continuing to race towards Charleston and are not retiring from Leg 4 Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 12th May, 2009 Herrmann and Oehme on Beluga Racer turn up the heat and increase their lead as the fleet sail close to the Caribbean islands Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 11th May, 2009 Despite the fierce competition between the German and Chilean teams, there is still room for sportsmanship at the front of the fleet Oliver Dewar Sunday, 10th May, 2009 With the two double-handed fleet leaders at matching speeds, the Chilean team are experimenting on board Desafio Cabo de Hornos and finding ways of going faster Oliver Dewar Saturday, 9th May, 2009 As the fleet continue to blast northwards at best speed, the teams have time for reflection and thought during the straight-line drag race through the North Atlantic Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 8th May, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos tuck into the long power reach north-west - Michel Kleinjans shadows the double-handed leaders to leeward - Team Mowgli exits the Doldrums and waits for the tactical options to reappear Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 7th May, 2009 Beluga Racer, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Roaring Forty hook into the north-east breeze - Team Mowgli cross the Equator and fight through the Doldrums Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 6th May, 2009 As the fleet's front runners climb through the Doldrums in close formation, the Chilean team are certain their tactics will pay-off when the Trade Winds arrive - Team Mowgli will cross the Equator later today - Michel Kleinjans trails the double-handed race leader by just 33 miles Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 5th May, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos fight through the ITCZ - Michel Kleinjans has a struggle with thunderstorms and squalls close to the coast - Team Mowgli take an offshore option Oliver Dewar Monday, 4th May, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos trail Beluga Racer by ten miles despite failed electronics - Celebrations and rain squalls on board Team Mowgli - Evasive action for Michel Kleinjans on board Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar Sunday, 3rd May, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Roaring Forty cross the scoring gate separated by less than four hours - Team Mowgli makes a good recovery after their unscheduled stop Oliver Dewar Saturday, 2nd May, 2009 The German team takes the mid-leg points with the Chileans close behind - Team mowgli pick up the pace to the south Oliver Dewar Friday, 1st May, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are separated by 30 miles as the scoring gate approaches - Team Mowgli are back on the pace after an intense spinnaker drama - Michel Kleinjans continues to keep pace with the double-handed leaders Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 30th April, 2009 Beluga Racer take the lead - Desafio Cabo de Hornos dodge the shallows - Team Mowgli take cover for running repairs Oliver Dewar (translation Ana Lima Thursday, 30th April, 2009 Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer are gaining on current race leader Desafio Cabo de Hornos as the fleet pass Rio de Janeiro and Cape Frio Oliver Dewar Monday, 27th April, 2009 While Desafio Cabo de Hornos took a unique approach to the first 24 hours that paid well, the German team on Beluga Racer are now back into their rythm after gear failure overnight and the British duo are into the fight with the fleet's best boat speed Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 26th April, 2009 After a flying, downwind start in Ilhabela, the fleet are dealing with light airs as the Brazilian island disappears slowly over the transom Oliver Dewar Saturday, 25th April, 2009 A final party for the teams before the start of Leg 4 on Saturday at 1500 GMT Oliver Dewar Friday, 24th April, 2009 With the toughest and most physically and psychologically demanding stretch of the race completed, some of the competitors took the opportunity to start planning for the future during the Leg 3 stop over in Ilhabela, Brazil. When questioned about plans, the responses from skippers were diverse, surprising and suggest that this circumnavigation is a milestone for each of the sailors Oliver Dewar Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 The early stages if Leg 4 may well be light airs and close order racing as the fleet head north for the Trade Winds Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 22nd April, 2009 Meteorologist and professional weather router, Chris Tibbs, describes the pitfalls and tricky conditions the fleet will face for the 4,800 miles from Ilhabela to Charleston Chris Tibbs (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 With the offshore racing spotlight shifting dramatically towards Class 40, we ask designers and skippers for their views on the class, the likely future developments of the boats and the races, and of the acceptance of the Portimao Global Ocean Race as a major event Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 16th April, 2009 The Portimao fleet join local boats for a stunning race round the boys in the channel between Ilhabela and mainland Brazil Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 19th April, 2009 In a society where most aspects of personal freedom are carefully monitored, is offshore sailing the last available arena for the individual adventurer? Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 14th April, 2009 New Zealand journalist, Kevin Cudby, explores the history and legend behind the tribal, Selk’nam artwork on the Chilean Class 40 and discovers what the figure of Kótaix on the yacht’s mainsail represents Kevin Cudby Tuesday, 7th April, 2009 Earlier this week, 90 school children visited the fleet with entertaining consequences Oliver Dewar Friday, 10th April, 2009 In the closing stages of Leg 3 the race fleet are stalled by light headwinds and loses and gains are frequent. With the arrival of a cold front from the south, speeds rise dramatically with the backmarkers making fast gains on the race leaders. Just hours before the finish line, the leaderboard is overturned and the final miles develop into an all out sprint. Oliver Dewar Sunday, 5th April, 2009 In a frank and revealing interview, the Belgian solo sailor describes the fear and fatigue of racing solo through the Southern Ocean and explains the enormous relief of reaching Cape Horn Oliver Dewar Monday, 6th April, 2009 Before returning to Chile, Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz dedicated their first place triumph on Desafio Cabo de Hornos to the memory of a very special person Oliver Dewar Sunday, 5th April, 2009 The fleet's solo sailor finishes Leg 3 just 15 hours behind the double-handed class leader Oliver Dewar Friday, 3rd April, 2009 Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson cross the finish line under nine hours after Beluga Racer to complete Leg 3 for the double-handed class Oliver Dewar Thursday, 2nd April, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos sprint to victory in the closing stages of Leg, finishing just 52 minutes ahead of Beluga Racer after 40 days at sea Oliver Dewar Thursday, 2nd April, 2009 A tropical island with 35km of unspoilt beaches may be an ideal place to live or visit, but what makes Ilhabela an ideal stop over for the Portimao fleet? Andre Homem de Mello - Brazil's only single-handed, non-stop circumnavigator - and Race Director, Josh Hall, explain. Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 31st March, 2009 As the wind drops out for the race leaders, Desafio Cabo de Hornos threaten Beluga Racer - Team Mowgli thunders up from the south - Roaring Forty making consistently high speeds furthest east STOP PRESS: Desafio Cabo de Hornos take the lead at 1020 GMT. The Chileans hold a lead of under one mile over Beluga Racer Oliver Dewar Thursday, 2nd April, 2009 With an ETA of 0800 GMT on Thursday (02/04) and 134 miles left until the finish line, the race is on for the two lead boats with Desafio Cabo de Hornos closing into 26 miles of Beluga Racer as the boats both average 10 knots - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty are both averaging 12 knots with a fast finish expected on Friday Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 1st April, 2009 Beluga Racer fall into another unavoidable hole with just 230 miles to go - Desafio Cabo de Hornos refuse to ease off - Team Mowgli make a recovery from light airs - Fresh breeze arrives tomorrow from the south with the backmarkers benefitting first Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 31st March, 2009 Nightmares for Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty - All bets are off on Beluga Racer - The German duo locate some new breeze Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 30th March, 2009 As the fleet hit light airs, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Team mowgli make gains on Beluga Racer - Roaring Forty is stalking the double-handed boats - The Chilean team switch off the lights Oliver Dewar Sunday, 29th March, 2009 Split by the Falkland Islands, the double-handed fleet take diverse options. Desafio Cabo de Hornos head east, trapped on a route towards Africa by north-westerly breeze while Beluga Racer take a more direct route to the finish line. To the west, Team Mowgli gamble successfully with a system off Patagonia and make gains until running into a mysterious current. Meanwhile, Roaring Forty is quietly closing up on the double-handed fleet Oliver Dewar Saturday, 28th March, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos prepare to tack away from the coast - Team Mowgli struggle with the Brazil Current - Roaring Forty prepares for battle with the double-handers Oliver Dewar Saturday, 28th March, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos tack in towards the coast - Team Mowgli run into an adverse current - Roaring Forty stalfs the double-handed fleet just 39 miles behind Team Mowgli Oliver Dewar Friday, 27th March, 2009 Descending through the Furious Fifties, the fleet close in on Cape Horn with a huge reception for Desafio Cabo de Hornos at the world's southernmost cape and Beluga Racer following under 11 hours later. Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty have a bumpy rounding with a broach for Michel Kleinjans. Entering the South Atlantic, the fleet are immediately faced with a dilemma.... Oliver Dewar Thursday, 26th March, 2009 As Beluga Racer increase their lead, an intensely complicated weather pattern is developing between the fleet and the finish line in Brazil Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 26th March, 2009 With the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet north of the Falkland Islands and 1,000 miles from the Leg 3 finish line in Ilhabela, Brazil, the consequences of leaving the islands to port or starboard are now being felt. Race Director, Josh Hall, looks at the historical background and tactical options these rocky outpost present for modern yachtsmen Josh Hall Wednesday, 25th March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos drop to second after 14 days at the front - Cubillos and Munoz take drastic action - Massive gains for Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty - Herrmann and Oehme are lost in time and space Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 25th March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos stop their route to Africa - Beluga Racer and the Chileans hit light airs - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty close in on the leaders - Tight finish predicted next week Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 24th March, 2009 With the fleet of four 40ft boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race safely around Cape Horn and into the South Atlantic, the Race Director, Josh Hall, takes a frank look at this achievement, the implications this has for future events and the likely impact Josh Hall Monday, 23rd March, 2009 With 1,000 miles to Cape Horn, the teams were asked to gamble on their ETA at the cape. Although all teams rounded very close to their ETA, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme were astonishingly accurate Oliver Dewar Monday, 23rd March, 2009 Beluga Racer takes the windshift first as Desafio Cabo de Hornos are kept east - Team Mowgli gamble successfully to the west - Roaring Forty passes close inshore and leaves the Falklands behind Oliver Dewar Monday, 23rd March, 2009 The South Atlantic is becoming a meteorological minefield for the four boats - Desafio Cabo de Hornos have a close call with the Falkland Islands fishing fleet - Roaring Forty lines up to pass East Falkland Oliver Dewar Sunday, 22nd March, 2009 Diverse options as the fleet encounter headwinds and the Falkland Islands - Cubillos and Munoz snap out of their dream on Desafio Cabo de Hornos - Roaring Forty is back in the chase Oliver Dewar Saturday, 21st March, 2009 A brutal knock down on Roaring Forty as Cape Horn shows her teeth - Squalls continue as Kleinjans passes the rock and heads for La Maire Strait Oliver Dewar Friday, 20th March, 2009 Salvesen and Thomson round the Horn at 0404 GMT this morning - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty are in for a bumpy ride to the Cape - Beluga Racar closes the gap on Desafio Cabo de Hornos as Herrmann and Oehme cut the corner Oliver Dewar Friday, 20th March, 2009 Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme squeeze around the cape and cut the corner into the South Atlantic Oliver Dewar Thursday, 19th March, 2009 Cubillos and Munoz round Cape Horn - Beluga Racer just hours from the cape - Brutal conditions ahead for Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty STOP PRESS: Beluga Racer rounds the Horn at 1000 GMT today Oliver Dewar Thursday, 19th March, 2009 Breeze is forecast to build as the fleet approach the cape - Beluga Racer steal a few miles from Desafio Cabo de Hornos - A fast ride into familiar territory for Cubillos and Munoz - A bizarre encounter for Michel Kleinjans Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 18th March, 2009 Pinned above the Pacific Ocean southern limit at 45°S, the fleet stay tightly packed early in the week, avoiding high-pressure zones to the north and denied access to the strong westerly breeze to the south in the exclusion zone....but not for long Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 17th March, 2009 The double-handed fleet re-shuffle for a swift descent to the cape - Beluga Racer begins to close the gap - Albatross avoidance measures on Desafio Cabo de Hornos - A singles party on Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 17th March, 2009 The rocky outcrop at the southern tip of the Andes Mountain chain holds a unique place in sailing folklore: part right of passage, part nightmare. With the four boats due to round the cape over the next few days, we take a close look at this extraordinary place at the bottom of the world Oliver Dewar Monday, 16th March, 2009 Hurricane force winds, high speeds and reduced sail for Desafio Cabo de Hornos - Beluga Racer decreases the Chilean lead fractionally - Team Mowgli celebrate reaching 50degS - Roaring Forty keeps pace with the pack in demanding conditions Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 16th March, 2009 Strong south-westerly breeze for the fleet - Good reaching conditions to Cape Horn - A warning message from the Volvo Ocean Race fleet as the 70ft boats close in on the Portimao boats Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 15th March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos maintain their lead as the fleet slam into headwinds - The survival suits are unpacked on Team Mowgli as the boats head south - Herrmann and Oehme break out the beer on Beluga Racer Oliver Dewar Saturday, 14th March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos extend their lead with high speed averages - Team Mowgli cut the corner very close - A rival fleet has joined the action in the Southern Ocean Oliver Dewar Friday, 13th March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos increase the distance ahead of Beluga Racer - Multiple gear issues on Team Mowgli slow down the British duo - A stock check by Michel Kleinjans reveals that important supplies are running low on Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar Thursday, 12th March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos move into the lead - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty stalled in light breeze - Excitement in Chile builds with the approach of the fleet Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 11th March, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are separated by five miles - Squalls and shifting breeze ahead for the next few days - A Southern Ocean population explosion as the fleet prepare for some company Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 10th March, 2009 Beluga Racer holds the lead - Huge Southern Ocean swell makes life (and breakfast) on board Team Mowgli very complicated - Desafio Cabo de Hornos trail the leader by just one mile - Roaring Forty continues to keep pace with the double-handed fleet after a fortnight of racing Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 9th March, 2009 As the Portimão Global Ocean Race moves into its second week in the Pacific Ocean, the mandatory southern limit at 45°S becomes a major feature, sandwiching the fleet between high winds to the south, and a windless, high pressure zone to the north. Dramatic compression occurs as the fleet try numerous options to escape light airs and the four boats bunch together before lining up for the scoring gate at 130°W as the wind builds for the first Leg 3 Southern Ocean storm Oliver Dewar Monday, 9th March, 2009 MRCC Punta Arenas, Chile, warn of brutal conditions for the fleet - Beluga Racer claws back into the lead - Adrenalin sailing for all the boats Oliver Dewar Sunday, 8th March, 2009 Herrmann and Oehme take maximum points at the Leg 3 scoring gate - Team Mowgli and Desafio Cabo de Hornos follow in under two hours - Roaring Forty closing in - MRCC Punta Arenas keeping an eye on the fleet Oliver Dewar Saturday, 7th March, 2009 Only two miles separate the double-handed fleet with the scoring gate under 40 miles away Oliver Dewar Saturday, 7th March, 2009 Team Mowgli take the lead - Beluga Racer make a stunning comeback - tight racing continues as the fleet converge at the ice gate Oliver Dewar Friday, 27th February, 2009 Strong winds will play a crucial role in the race to the Pacific Ocean scoring gate - Beluga Race into the lead for the first time a two weeks - Team Mowgli make running repairs - Desafio Cabo de Hornos prepare for the big blow Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 6th March, 2009 The fleet slip slightly north away from the 45degS exclusion zone - Team Mowgli briefly take the lead - High levels of contentment on board Desafio Cabo de Hornos - Michel Kleinjans and Roaring Forty lead the fleet east Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 5th March, 2009 With the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet stalled by light breeze, the event’s Race Director, Josh Hall, draws on his immense ocean racing experience to describe the frustration and fatigue that the teams may be feeling Josh Hall (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 4th March, 2009 Under seven miles separate the double-handed class as the fleet slows down - Roaring Forty clings onto the breeze to the north - Beluga Racer is back in the leaderboard, light airs scramble Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 4th March, 2009 The fleet close up into a very tight, very exclusive pack after 10 days of racing - Beluga Racer reconnects with the double-handed leaders - Michel Kleinjans describes the busy view from Roaring Forty Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 3rd March, 2009 Racing eastwards in a narrow corridor just 10 miles wide, the prospect of headwinds and the proximity of the Leg 3 southern limit present a tricky dilemma Oliver Dewar Monday, 2nd March, 2009 A look at the fleet action during the first week (21-27 February) of 7,500 mile Leg 3 from Wellington, New Zealand, to Ilhabela, Brazil Oliver Dewar Monday, 2nd March, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos lead the fleet - Team Mowgli moves to the south as Beluga Racer rejoins the pack - Minor damage and demanding conditions on board Roaring Forty - Happy Birthday to a vital member of the race team Oliver Dewar Sunday, 1st March, 2009 The fleet compress as Beluga Racer slips north towards the pack - Michel Kleinjans continues to keep pace with the double-handed fleet - A sad loss on Desafio Cabo de Hornos Oliver Dewar Saturday, 28th February, 2009 Roaring Forty changes down a gear and hands over pole position - Desafio Cabo de Hornos leads the double-handed fleet - Beluga Racer picks up the pace despite a sudden shock for Felix Oehme - Will the German and British teams meet for Jeremy Salvesen's birthday party? Oliver Dewar Thursday, 26th February, 2009 Michel Kleinjans takes pole position after his dive south-east - Team Mowgli move up to second as Desafio Cabo de Hornos lead the double-handed class - Fine weather triggers philosophy on board the Chilean Class 40 Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 25th February, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos make a breakaway move, but the Germans hold their nerve - Boom trouble and bird watching break out on Team Mowgli Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 24th February, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are stuck together diving south-east - Team Mowgli are exploring all the options - Roaring Forty heads south and joins the fleet Oliver Dewar Monday, 23rd February, 2009 Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer keep it tight, Team Mowgli takes a flyer to the south and Roaring Forty opts for the north - The Chileans sustain a collision but maintain their lead Oliver Dewar Sunday, 22nd February, 2009 Leg 3 is underway in stunning conditions with high-speed reaching as the Chilean team on Desafio Cabo de Hornos make an early break into the lead Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 21st February, 2009 When Customs Officers pay a personal visit to your home or office, it is often a good time to say a hasty farewell to your family, friends and colleagues and prepare for an extended period of breaking rocks in the hot sun (blue collar), or roaming around an open prison (white collar). Fortunately, when officials from the Wellington Customs Office knocked on the door of the Portimão Global Ocean Race temporary, dockside HQ in New Zealand at 1400 local (0100 GMT) on Friday, the reason was purely administrative. Oliver Dewar Friday, 20th February, 2009 There are currently three round the world races running simultaneously. All these events include slight variations to the ice gate format in the Pacific Ocean. What are the pros and cons of Southern Ocean ice gates? Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 18th February, 2009 With the countdown to the start of Portimão Global Ocean Race Leg 3 from New Zealand to Ilhabela, Brazil, beginning to bite for the four teams, final preparation for the 7,500 mile race through the Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans are advancing rapidly Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 18th February, 2009 Leg 3 includes 5,000 miles of Southern Ocean before rounding Cape Horn - the world's southernmost cape - and a highly tactical 2,500 mile South Atlantic race north to the finish line in Brazil. The destination island of Ilhabela is a modern paradise, but the race fleet will encounter brutal and demanding conditions before reaching this tropical haven Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 17th February, 2009 With five days remaining until the start of Leg 3 in the round-the-world Portimão Global Ocean Race on Saturday 21st February, the fleet of four boats continue preparing for the forthcoming 7,500 mile voyage from Wellington, New Zealand, to Ilhabela, Brazil. This debut appearance of Class 40 yachts in Australasia has also triggered events that will have exciting and far reaching consequences for both the class and for shorthanded sailing. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 15th February, 2009 The appeal of Class 40 yachts is hard to resist and the Portimao Global Ocean Race represents a huge leap in the evolution of these fast, strong, affordable and highly competitive round the world boats Oliver Dewar Thursday, 12th February, 2009 In the aftermath of Nico Budel's rescue, we take a look at the moral obligations and financial implications of abandoning a boat. With the attrition rate in the established round the world yacht races reaching alarming levels, the issue of reliable boats is having an increasing impact upon the sport Oliver Dewar Thursday, 5th February, 2009 With a long and successful history in solo offshore racing and his impeccable seamanship during his recent Southern Ocean rescue, Nico Budel was a unanimous choice for the award jury Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 28th January, 2009 Five years ago, the skipper of Team Mowgli made a life-changing decision in Wellington. The result is his involvement in one of the toughest and most challenging sporting environments and a welcome return to New Zealand Oliver Dewar Monday, 26th January, 2009 An endless battle for the leading two boats all the way to the finish as Desafio Cabo de Hornos make a final charge - Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty have a final Force 8-9 taste of the Southern Ocean - Leg 2 finish times and overall points - Finish line 'Quotes from the Boats'. Oliver Dewar Monday, 26th January, 2009 With five boats racing after the retirement of Kazimir Partners, the leading two boats, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer, begin a duel that will last for half the breadth of the Indian Ocean; Nico Budel issues a MAYDAY on board Hayai and triggers a rescue operation; Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty chases the fleet after heading west to help Budel and further damage on Team Mowgli limits the British duo’s sailing performance. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 23rd January, 2009 Just four hours separated Michel Kleinjans from Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson at the finish line - Salvesen describes the lessons learnt on Leg 2 Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 21st January, 2009 The drama, damage and danger of the early stages as the Southern Ocean delivers a string of devastating opening salvos - a selection of priceless 'Quotes from the boats' in the high latitudes Oliver Dewar Thursday, 22nd January, 2009 The Cook Strait is playing tricks as Kleinjans, Salvesen and Thomson head for the finsih Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 20th January, 2009 Michel Kleinjans crosses the finish line at 21:28:55 GMT on Tuesday night Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 21st January, 2009 A look at the overall finish line and scoring gate table for Legs 1 and 2, including a description of the scoring system Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 21st January, 2009 Roaring Forty is pulling away from Team Mowgli as the wind drops with 173 miles to the finish Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 19th January, 2009 Michel Kleinjans squeezes ahead of Team Mowgli as the gale begins to slacken - Salvesen and Thomson enjoy the novelty of a sparring partner Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 18th January, 2009 Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty are hooked into a low pressure system and Kleinjans, Salvesen and Thomson are setting a blistering pace across the Tasman Sea Oliver Dewar Saturday, 17th January, 2009 Michel Kleinjans and the British duo, Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson, have a tough 24 hours ahead Friday, 16th January, 2009 In a frank and revealing article packed with insight and humour, the skipper of Leg 2 victor, Beluga Racer, shares his thoughts on offshore racing, the media spotlight, his current love affair with the Southern Ocean and much, much more... Boris Herrmann, skipper of Beluga Racer Friday, 16th January, 2009 Under four hours separate Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos at the Wellington finish line - Boris Herrmann reveals just how close it came to second place for the German team - Felipe Cubillos and Jose Munoz are ready to start Leg 3 within an hour of docking Oliver Dewar Thursday, 15th January, 2009 Three hours after Beluga Racer took first place, Cubillos and Munoz cross the line at 17:32:20GMT (06:32:20 local) after 32 days 7 hours 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Full report and new images follow Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 15th January, 2009 Herrmann and Oehme extend their lead as the finish line approaches Oliver Dewar Thursday, 15th January, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are separated by just 40 miles with a little over 200 miles remaining. Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty break into the Tasman Sea Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 14th January, 2009 Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos close on the coast with under 400 miles of Leg 2 remaining while Team Mowgli and Roaring Forty keep riding the Low Pressure systems deep in the South Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 13th January, 2009 The Chilean team claw 43 miles from Beluga Racer in 24 hours as the route to Wellington looks increasingly complex. Michel Kleinjans makes a mast climb after pushing Roaring Forty a fraction too hard Oliver Dewar Monday, 12th January, 2009 Salvesen and Thomson suffer an 'exploding bowsprit', while the Chileans announce the outbreak of war on Desafio Cabo de Hornos Oliver Dewar Sunday, 11th January, 2009 As the Chileans stall after passing south of Tasmania, the German team continue to charge east Oliver Dewar Saturday, 10th January, 2009 A crucial weekend lies ahead as the battle for pole position increases towards the turning point south of Tasmania Oliver Dewar Friday, 9th January, 2009 At 04:00GMT this morning (08/01/09), 69 year-old Dutch sailor, Nico Budel, was transferred by helicopter from the bulk carrier, CSK Radiance, and landed in Cape Town, bringing to conclusion the drama of his MAYDAY distress call, his mid-ocean rescue and a 1,800 mile voyage on board the rescue ship through the depths of the Indian Ocean. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 8th January, 2009 The sailors racing Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race are enjoying a respite from a series of intense low pressure systems that have swept across the Southern Ocean over the last few weeks. They are between systems as one moves off to the east while another builds momentum from the west. The problem, however, is that with the respite comes more complicated sailing. When the wind is howling you know what to do; put up minimal sail, batten the hatches and hold on. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 7th January, 2009 In his spare time, when he is not pushing his red hot racing machine across Southern Ocean waters, Felipe Cubillos is at his navigation station, calculating. Every three hours he gets an updated poll showing the position of his yacht, Desafio Cabo de Hornos, and that of his closest rival, the German team on Beluga Racer. The poll shows the average speed of both boats for the last three hours as well as their relative distance-to-go number to the finish line in Wellington. The poll comes in the form of an email and it can bring good news or bad news, depending on your perspective. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 6th January, 2009 Now that Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are past the eastern end of the Ice Gate, both boats are on a deep dive south to catch the outer edge of passing low pressure system. The system has been carrying quite a punch, but with the boats forced to stay well north of the mandatory gate, they have missed the best wind. Now clear of the gate both boats are racing for the edge of the system hoping to ride out the last bit of big breeze before a small ridge of high pressure sets in. Once the high moves across them the wind will die and they will have time to regroup before the next front. That’s how it goes in that neck of the woods. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 5th January, 2009 It’s been a busy 48 hours aboard the leading yachts in the Portimão Global Ocean Race as they approach the longitude of western Australia. The two leading double-handers, Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos, are both sailing well above the Ice Gate while Team Mowgli is approaching the waypoint that marks the western end of mandatory gate. All the yachts have to remain north of the Ice Gate, a line of latitude running from 105 degrees east to 120 degrees east, in order to avoid a known area of icebergs and growlers. The wind has been howling and the average speeds remain well into the teens. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 3rd January, 2009 The dramatic rescue of Nico Budel is yet one more story of the immense solidarity shared by all sailors who take to the open ocean, be it alone on a small boat or aboard one of the world’s largest freighters. The moment you cast lines ashore and point your bow toward the open horizon, you inadvertently join a fraternity that has been in existence since man first set sail. There is a common understanding that should you founder, for whatever reason, another sailor will, without question, come to your aid. Brian Hancock Friday, 2nd January, 2009 While the world celebrates a new year with fireworks and good intentions, the leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race celebrate a milestone of a different sort. Earlier today both Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos passed the halfway mark for Leg 2 and in doing so set their sights firmly on the second half of the leg; a long passage under Australia, across the Tasman Sea and into the Cook Strait. There is a lot of water stretched out ahead of them, but taken in bite sized chunks they will quickly eat up the miles to Wellington. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 1st January, 2009 It will be Beluga Racer first into 2009 followed an hour later by the Chileans aboard Desafio Cabo de Hornos as the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet chases across the bottom of the world. At the front of the fleet the close race between the Germans on Beluga Racer and Felipe and José on Desafio Cabo de Hornos continues with less than 30 miles separating them. It’s been this way for almost a week as the two boats seem tied together sailing at the same speed along the same line of longitude. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 31st December, 2008 At 11:45GMT today there was a dramatic rescue deep in the South Indian Ocean. The 170,000 tonne bulk carrier CSK Radiance, having been diverted earlier in the week at the request of MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) Reunion, located the stricken yacht Hayai with skipper Nico Budel on board and effected a flawless mid-ocean rescue. Budel, a 69 year old grandfather of five was racing the second leg of the Portimão Global Ocean Race when the lead bulb of his keel separated from the keel fin. While the bulb was still attached at the time of the rescue, and the boat was upright, the danger of the bulb coming loose and the boat capsizing was imminent. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 30th December, 2008 In the last 12 hours Nico Budel aboard his Open 40 Hayai has experienced gale force winds with gusts topping out at 62 knots. Sailing with minimal sail and on a course that presented the least amount of load on his keel, Budel has been able to survive with the keel bulb still attached to the keel fin. This is critical as the bulb is loose from the fin and is at a 25 degree angle to it. The bulb is being held in place by two 12mm stainless steel rods that are bedded in the lead bulb and fastened at the top of the keel. One of these fastenings has come off and the other is loose. It is only a matter of time before the bulb separates from the fin and when that happens there is a strong possibility that the boat will capsize. Brian Hancock Monday, 29th December, 2008 LATEST UPDATE: Vessel Nord Kraft and fellow competitor Michel Kleinjans aboard Roaring Forty have been stood down from the rescue operation. Kleinjans will continue racing while vessel Radiance will rendezvous with Nico Budel to effect a rescue. Radiance position at 0300z was 34 34S. 056 24E speed 11kts heading 175. It's estimated that Radiance will rendezvous with Hayai at 01:00 UTC Tuesday. This will be at daybreak local time. The wind will be a moderate southwesterly and subsiding. Oliver Dewar and Brian Hancock Sunday, 28th December, 2008 There is a developing situation on board Hayai, the Open 40 yacht being sailed by Dutch sailor Nico Budel in the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Nico has reported a problem with his keel and is concerned about its integrity. In that regard he has altered course to avoid the strongest winds associated with a low pressure system approaching from the west. Brian Hancock Saturday, 27th December, 2008 Kerguelen Island, also known as Desolation Island, is a remote cluster of small islands deep in the south Indian Ocean. The islands, along with Adélie Land, the Crozet Islands, and the Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Kerguelen was discovered by the French navigator Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen de Trémarec in February 1772 and the name was changed from the more descriptive Desolation Island, to Kerguelen. Brian Hancock Monday, 29th December, 2008 It’s a full-on sprint to the Kerguelen Gate with a handful of miles separating the leading three boats. In an unusual twist the lead boat on the water, Team Mowgli, is actually in third place in terms of miles to go to the gate. Team Mowgli, skippered by Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson, is the southernmost boat in the fleet and as such on a distance-to-go basis toward New Zealand they have a 27 mile lead over the Chilean team aboard Desafio Cabo de Hornos. The Chileans in turn lead the Germans on Beluga Racer by five miles, but it’s the Germans who are closest to the gate! Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 27th December, 2008 It’s Christmas eve and for the sailors racing the Portimão Global Ocean Race it will be one of their most memorable Christmas's ever. A cold, crisp day deep in the Southern Ocean far from friends and family; indeed far from anywhere. The good news is that as the special day approaches there is a lull between storms and some time to ready the boat for gale number 3, and if all goes well, time for a nip of Christmas cheer and a toast to loved one’s back home. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 24th December, 2008 With Christmas behind them the sailors racing Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race have now turned their sights to the first gate of the course, the Kerguelen Gate now less than 400 miles to their east. The Kerguelen Gate is a line of longitude running due north from the remote Kerguelen Island and is a scoring gate where points are accumulated in the order each competitor passes through the gate. The points are not as weighty as Leg points, but they can make a big difference to the overall scoring and are therefore coveted. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 26th December, 2008 The worst is over for the five yachts racing Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. The severe front which passed over the fleet during Monday night is now to the east of all the boats and the wind is moderating down from 50-plus knots to a more manageable 15 to 20 knots. It’s the lull before the second part of the pre-Christmas one-two punch that the wind gods promised. It’s been a baptism by fire, but the good news is that all the sailors are through unscathed and they are now preparing for the second front due to arrive in the early hours of Christmas eve. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 23rd December, 2008 With yet another low pressure system forecast to slide under the fleet, some of the boats racing the Portimão Global Ocean Race have decided to forego Christmas today opting instead to enjoy the special day when things are a bit less hectic. The good news is that the wind will not be as strong as it was during the height of the last gale where hurricane force winds were experienced. Instead, this front will pack a more moderate 35 to 40 knots. The human mind is an amazing thing. A week ago 40 knots would have been viewed with deep trepidation; now, after close to 80 knots a few days ago, the thought of 40 seems perfectly benign. Brian Hancock Thursday, 25th December, 2008 The British team of Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson have a bone between their teeth and are on a rip for the top spot in the double-handed division of Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. At the 11:20 UTC poll Team Mowgli was the fastest boat in the fleet averaging over 9 knots. They were also the most southern boat in the fleet sailing along at 43 degrees south. Fifty miles to the north of Team Mowgli current class leader Beluga Racer was not enjoying the conditions and co-skippers Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme were on a painful gybe to the south in the hope of cutting in front of the Brits. Their chances do not look good and by the end of play Friday there could well be a leaderboard change. Friday, 19th December, 2008 The raucous send-off from Cape Town must seem like a distant memory for the 10 sailors racing Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Just a week ago the weather was warm, the wind light and the spectacular coastline of South Africa dipping silently into the sea behind them. Now, seven days later, all but two of them are riding the edge of their first Southern Ocean gale. Only the South African team of Lenjohn and Peter van der Wel are not at sea. The brothers turned back for Cape Town four days into the race with mast problems. They remain at the dock at the Royal Cape Yacht Club assessing their options for continuing the race. Brian Hancock Sunday, 21st December, 2008 Once again Belgium sailor Michel Kleinjans is handing out sailing lessons to his rival Portimão Global Ocean Race skippers. At the most recent poll (11:20 UTC) Kleinjans aboard his Open 40, Roaring Forty, had a 60 mile lead over his closest competitor Desafio Cabo de Hornos, but that’s likely to change over the next 24 hours as he enters a transition zone between two high pressure systems. Roaring Forty, the easternmost boat in the fleet, was still managing a very respectable 6.8 knots while the Chilean entry skippered by Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz was well into the windless zone and had slowed to a frustrating 2.7 knots. Cubillos and Muñoz were dealing with fickle headwinds and feeling the pain with each passing hour. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 16th December, 2008 As people the world over scurry around preparing for the Christmas season, buying, baking and enjoying some festive cheer, the sailors racing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are doing their own kind of scurrying. A massive storm is bearing down on them and it’s not promising any kind of cheer. In fact it’s going to be rough and miserable for the next 48 hours as two back-to-back systems march over the top of them. All of the skippers, from Nico Budel in the south to Michel Kleinjans in the north, are readying their boats and scrambling to position themselves as best they can to deal with the weather. Monday, 22nd December, 2008 With a heavy cloud shrouding Table Mountain the six boats participating in the Portimão Global Ocean Race set off on their 7,900 nautical mile voyage to Wellington, New Zealand. Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr Grant Haskin fired the start gun and seconds later Michel Kleinjans aboard Roaring Forty crossed the line, sails sheeted in tight and wide grin plastered on his face. Moments later the German team of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer crossed followed closely by Nico Budel aboard Hayai. Brian Hancock Sunday, 14th December, 2008 Less than 24 hours into the race things are already starting to get interesting. The fleet has split tacks with the boys on Beluga Racer, alongside the leading solo sailor Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty, have chosen a south-easterly course away from Cape Point. Heading due south are the early race leaders Kazimir Partners, and the British entry Team Mowgli. Two different strategies for tackling the critical first stage of the race. Brian Hancock Monday, 15th December, 2008 Lenjohn and Peter van der Wel aboard Kazimir Partners have arrived back in Cape Town and along with Race Director Josh Hall, they will assess their options for continuing the Portimão Global Ocean Race. They turned back two days ago with mast problems. More to follow. Oliver Dewar Thursday, 18th December, 2008 The British yacht, Team Mowgli, co-skippered by Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson, finished Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race as a stiff southeasterly wind had them scrambling to reduce sail the last mile into Cape Town. After a terrific morning under clear skies and with a Code 5 spinnaker set, the duo ran out of wind in the lee of Table Mountain. Flopping around on a glassy sea Salvesen and Thomson were able to savour the spectacular scenery and relish their accomplishment. “What’s with this no wind?” Jeremy yelled across the water. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 17th November, 2008 Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race turned out to be a giant obstacle course of competing weather patterns that were played like a Stradivarius Violin by the German team of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme aboard Beluga Racer. That was until the South Atlantic when it all changed not only for Beluga Racer, but for all the boats as they tripped and fell over pockets of high pressure that had them racing for their computers to download the latest weather updates. Brian Hancock Sunday, 7th December, 2008 This morning nine of the skippers racing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race gathered in the Chart Room of the Royal Cape Yacht Club for a briefing on Leg 2, one of the toughest legs of the race. The tenth skipper, Felipe Cubillos is currently returning from Chile after recuperating in a clinic. Shortly after Cubillos returned to Chile at the end of Leg 1 he fell gravely ill and has been hospitalized since. He is now fully recovered and ready for Leg 2. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 10th December, 2008 The wind has died to a more manageable 20 knots and there is a frenzy of activity as the 10 sailors participating in the Portimão Global Ocean Race ready their boats for the upcoming leg to New Zealand. In fact the conditions are picture perfect and most of the boats have left the dock and gone sailing in order to tune masts and check the cut of new sails. It’s all good stuff coming a day after a rousing send-of party at the Royal Cape Yacht Club. Brian Hancock Friday, 12th December, 2008 All the yachts participating in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are clear of the doldrums and in a free fall to get south as fast as possible. Their next target, a waypoint off the coast of Brazil, a mandatory gate that has to be honored, is coming up quick. The gate, originally the island of Fernando de Noronah, was changed to a waypoint at 08 20S and 033 10W to make it easier for the sailors. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 27th October, 2008 A tightly packed low pressure system is bearing down on the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet as they dive deeper south into the Roaring Forties. Once again the leaderboard may change as the close racing unfolds along the 45th parallel adding new drama to an already actioned packed second leg of this global around-the-world race. At the most recent poll (11:20 UTC) the British entry Team Mowgli held onto a slim 9.9 mile lead over second place Beluga Racer, the German entry that dominated Leg 1 of the race. Both boats were sailing at the same speed, but the real story of this weekend will be just how well the Chilean entry Desafio Cabo de Hornos performs once the big wind is up. Brian Hancock Saturday, 20th December, 2008 Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme, co-skippers aboard the German yacht Beluga Racer were the first team to pass the mandatory Recife Gate on the first leg of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. In steady winds and with abundant sunshine Beluga Racer passed the gate at 18:56 UTC Tuesday and in doing so claimed the first points of the race. They will receive 2 points for being the first boat to pass the waypoint off the coast of Brazil and now with that obligation behind them they are free to choose the fastest route to Cape Town. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 28th October, 2008 The Royal Cape Yacht Club sits at the foot of Africa, a quiet enclave tucked away among the bustle and grit of Cape Town’s docks. It is a prime location for sailors looking for respite from stormy weather and the club has hosted tens of thousands of travel weary sailors over the years. Now in the long tradition of extending a warm South African welcome, the Royal Cape Yacht Club will once more play host to an around-the-world race. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 15th November, 2008 Two words sum up week three of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Beluga Racer. The German entry, co-skippered by Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme, continue to dominate the race in classic case of the rich getting richer. Since exiting the doldrums Beluga Racer has stretched out a lead that is, barring some disaster, almost insurmountable. At the 21:20 UTC poll on Sunday evening Beluga Racer had extended their lead to almost 500 miles over the chasing double-handers, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Team Mowgli. Brian Hancock Sunday, 2nd November, 2008 Nico Budel is a man for all seasons, a true pioneering spirit that is racing around the world in the Portimão Global Ocean Race for all the right reasons and none of the wrong ones. It’s this purity of his intentions that sets Nico apart from the multitude of other circumnavigators and would-be circumnavigators, and it is the reason Nico is such a compelling personality. At 69 he is the oldest competitor in the race but age is of no concern to this grandfather of five. “Age is just a number,” he says echoing a well used phrase. Brian Hancock Sunday, 23rd November, 2008 After an agonising decision four days ago to dive south and out of a mid-Atlantic pickle, the German team of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme are finally on a fast train to Cape Town. Herrmann and Oehme on Beluga Racer, sailing in a different weather system from the rest of the fleet, suddenly found themselves staring fair and square at a massive area of high pressure directly between themselves and the finish line in Cape Town. There was no way around it; they had tried to cut the corner on the South Atlantic high in order to shave a few miles off the course and come face-to-face with a system that threatened to scuttle their lead. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 8th November, 2008 With the start of Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race less than 24 hours away there is an understandable tension in the air. For all of the skippers except Michel Kleinjans, skipper of Roaring Forty, this is unknown territory where they are heading. Kleinjans, the only Southern Ocean veteran, raced in the Whitbread Round the World race in 1985. He alone among the 10 sailors knows what the vast ocean between Cape Town and Wellington holds. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 13th December, 2008 It has been a thrilling day in Cape Town as first Beluga Racer took line honours to win Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race, followed three hours later by Desafio Cabo de Hornos. The German team of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme did a superb job all the way to the finish line coaxing everything they could out of their stunning blue and white Class 40. As they approached land dolphins joined them in their revelry while a pod whales basked lazily in the cool water between the city and Robben Island, home for Nelson Mandela for the best part of three decades. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana lima) Sunday, 16th November, 2008 By playing the safe middle ground the German team of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme aboard Beluga Racer have placed themselves in an unassailable position. They are not quite the most southerly boat in the fleet - that honour goes to Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson on Team Mowgli - but they are significantly further south than the on-the-water leader Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty, and in the exact right place to catch a ride on an approaching cold front. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 17th December, 2008 It has been a thrilling week for most of the sailors racing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race with four superb arrivals in Cape Town. It has, however, been less than thrilling for the South African team on board Kazimir Partners as they deal with a relentless stream of bad luck in the weather department. And to make matters worse, food, fuel and water are at a critical low on board bringing with it the attendant worry and concern by not only Lenjohn and Peter Van Der Wel, but by family and friends who are anxiously awaiting their arrival in Cape Town. Brian Hancock Sunday, 23rd November, 2008 The leg from Cape Town, South Africa to Wellington, New Zealand is fraught with pitfalls. From gale force winds that blow mighty and strong building up massive waves, to bone chilling temperatures with the wind blowing directly off the Antarctic ice-pack, it can be a brutal experience for those brave souls who venture there. It can also be serene. The Southern Ocean is a magical place like no other on the entire planet and it’s an area that has to be experienced in person to be fully appreciated. The sailors racing Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race will soon experience the magic, as well as the terror, of this remote region. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 16th December, 2008 It’s oh so painful aboard Beluga Racer, the lead boat in the Portimão Global Ocean Race as co-skippers Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme watch their hard earned lead slowly get whittled away by the rest of the fleet. For the first time in almost a week the gap between Beluga Racer and second place boat Desafio Cabo de Hornos is under 100 miles. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 23rd October, 2008 At 14:30 UTC today, Michel Kleinjans aboard his Open 40, Roaring Forty, sailed past the Recife Gate becoming the first singlehanded competitor in the Portimão Global Ocean Race to pass the mandatory waypoint. Kleinjans covered the 3,500 miles from Portimão to the Recife Gate in 16 days at an average speed of 8.6 knots, or 205 miles per day. This is a remarkable performance for a solo sailor on a 40-foot yacht especially considering there were the doldrums to deal with. But then Kleinjans is a remarkable sailor who is living out his life’s dream. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 29th October, 2008 Team Mowgli, co-skippered by Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson are the first boat into the Southern Ocean as they claw their way to Cape Town on the first leg of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. This notorious body of water that surrounds Antarctica below the 40th parallel is renown for it’s strong westerly winds and big seas. Unfortunately all David and Jeremy are finding are rotten headwinds as they dig ever deeper to get under a persistent area of high pressure blocking their path. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 12th November, 2008 The end of a long leg. Boris and Felix have sailed a masterful race. Here are Boris' thoughts as he ends 35 days at sea. If you have followed this leg you will relate to his log... After 35 days at sea we feel fresh and clear minded. We want to win this leg and work full on - (a fond). Since 24 hours we switched into inshore racing mode, as the two Chelenians Filipe and Jose onboard Desafio Cabo de Hornos are breathing in our neck and the distance to finish gets under 300 miles. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 15th November, 2008 The boys on Beluga Racer are enjoying a fast ride south while their competitors languish on a sloppy leftover sea. Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme have caught the edge of a low pressure cell and are on a romp toward Cape Town. The tight area of low pressure formed off the coast of South America and has spun out into the South Atlantic on a trajectory that is almost perfect for Beluga Racer. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 1st November, 2008 Things are starting to get really rough for the South African team aboard Kazimir Partners. They seem to have been dealt a bad hand when it comes to weather and nothing has improved over the last few days. At the most recent poll Kazimir Partners was making just 2.7 knots with well over 600 miles to go. It’s not the speed or the distance that’s an issue. They are dangerously low on food, water and today ran completely out of cooking gas. Lenjohn sent a brief update. Brian Hancock Saturday, 22nd November, 2008 At the formal prize giving ceremony for the Portimão Global Ocean Race hosted Tuesday evening by Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr Grant Haskin, there were two major announcements. The first announcement was that the second Portimao Global Ocean Race will commence in 2010. Race Director Josh Hall, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening, declared the following: “We are proud to announce that there will definitely be a Portimão Global Ocean Race starting in October 2010 and that we plan to run this event every two years thereafter,” he said. Brian Hancock Thursday, 4th December, 2008 As the Vendée Globe fleet stream passed the Cape of Good Hope, over 600 miles offshore to the south, the six teams in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are in the final countdown to the start of the 7,500mile Leg 2 from Cape Town to Wellington, New Zealand. As this group of ten international yachtsmen continue preparations in the race base at the Royal Cape Yacht Club, the focus is clearly locked on the forthcoming voyage through the Southern Ocean and applying the lessons learned from Leg 1. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 8th December, 2008 The light winds are suiting Michel Kleinjans, the leading single-handed sailor in the Portimão Global Ocean Race. At the 18:20UTC poll today Kleinjans aboard his Open 40, Roaring Forty, was eight mile ahead of the Chilean entry Desafio Cabo de Hornos and just over 100 miles astern of the leading boat, Beluga Racer. All three yachts are dealing with the fickle conditions of the doldrum belt but the trying conditions are not slowing the Belgium sailor one bit as he continues his march south. Brian Hancock Friday, 24th October, 2008 What a difference a week makes. The first week of the Portimão Global Ocean Race was all about loving life. Perfect trade winds, good boat speed (in the right direction) and enough sunshine to bake the the winter blues right out of the Iceland economy. Now, a week later and it’s all turned to mud. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 26th October, 2008 For the last eight hours the two leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race have been sailing the same speed, both on a direct course for Cape Town. The charge that Desafio Cabo de Hornos mounted over the last three days has fizzled a little as the Chileans deal with a small ridge of high pressure that stands between themselves and the finish line. This lull has allowed the Germans on Beluga Racer to move closer to the prize of winning the first leg. Brian Hancock Saturday, 15th November, 2008 After nearly a year of dreaming, planning and training we are finally at the start day in Portimão surrounded by friends and family. Final preparations are underway, the electrician is still on board but we are nearly ready for the off. Saying goodbye on the dock is harder than either of could ever have imagined and tears flow freely. We have organised a junk to take everyone to the start line but we are joined on board by Jeremy's three boys until the last minute when they will be taken off by RIB. This was going to be a tough journey not only for the two skippers but for all those they love too. It will be a long hard nine months before we are able to see most of them again. Jeremy Salvesen Thursday, 20th November, 2008 In a break from a long tradition of finishing races in the middle of the night, Dutch sailor Nico Budel sailed into Cape Town just as a pink sky lit the eastern horizon. The last few miles were, however, a long and painfully slow finish to the leg as the last bit of wind disappeared leaving a glassy sea and Nico’s yacht, Hayai, bobbing on a leftover slop. By the time he crossed the finish line at 09:37:31 UTC (11:37:31 local time) the sun was high in the sky blazing down on a near perfect Cape Town morning. Brian Hancock Monday, 24th November, 2008 Finally, finally after a long and arduous slog from Portimão the two Cape Town brothers, Peter and Lenjohn Van Der Wel sailed into Table Bay to complete Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Their official finish time was 16:55:24 UTC (18:55:24 local time). Looking tired and slightly more gaunt than the last time we saw them, both sailors were ecstatic to be back in their hometown and thrilled by the massive turnout to welcome them back. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 26th November, 2008 On the east side of the Cape Peninsula is the tiny town of Simonstown nestled between the sparkling waters of False Bay and the high mountains of the Table Mountain Chain that stretches from Cape Town to Cape Point. It’s a quaint town with art dealerships, curio shops, more than a few good restaurants and South Africa’s biggest naval base. Head of the naval base is good friend of the Portimão Global Ocean Race and all round good guy, Rear Admiral Koos Louw. When Admiral Louw was in Portimão for the start of the race he promised the skippers a day that they would remember, a day of fun sailing and fine food. On Saturday he delivered. Brian Hancock Saturday, 29th November, 2008 The Southeaster, Cape Town’s notorious summer wind that whips up and over Table Mountain and howls along city streets, has been blowing for three straight days. It usually has a three day cycle but this particular show of force by the wind gods is forecast to continue for another two days, at least. With this in mind and the fact that the breezy conditions have made it very difficult to prepare boats for the gruelling leg to Wellington, Race Officials have decided to postpone the Cape Town start by 24 hours. Brian Hancock Thursday, 11th December, 2008 On a 7,000 nautical mile leg from Portugal to South Africa there are a number of legs within the leg. For example, the first stage is from the start in Portimão to the equator. Well perhaps the doldrums to be more precise. It’s generally fair sailing down the African coast dealing with steady trade winds during the day with an occasional squall at night. The days slowly get hotter and the humidity rises. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 22nd October, 2008 There is a Battle Royal developing mid-fleet of the Portimão Global Ocean Race as Team Mowgli holds onto a slim lead over Desafio Cabo de Hornos, and both boats are chasing down the leading single-hander, Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty. Since rounding the Recife Gate just 24 hours ago the gap between Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson on Team Mowgli, and Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos has narrowed to just 4 miles on a distance to go basis with the British team holding a slim advantage. Brian Hancock Friday, 31st October, 2008 Incredibly, after more than three weeks of hard racing Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Team Mowgli find themselves dead even in terms of distance-to-go. Team Mowgli is slightly to the south and west of the Chilean boat with both boats in sight of each other. For a brief moment Sunday the Chileans were ahead but that has again reversed much to the delight of Jeremy Salvesen on board Team Mowgli. “We are out in front again,” he wrote. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 3rd November, 2008 The wind has kicked in and speeds are up for the chasing pack sailing down the South Atlantic on leg one of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Another small area of low pressure has spun off the Brazilian coast and it is bringing some prefect sailing conditions to the Chileans aboard Desafio Cabo de Hornos and the British aboard Team Mowgli. The system is just starting to effect the leading solo sailor, Michel Kleinjans aboard Roaring Forty. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 4th November, 2008 The racing continues to be unbelievably close as the Chilean entry Desafio Cabo de Hornos and the British boat, Team Mowgli race neck and neck through the South Atlantic. At each 3-hourly poll the lead changes with the Chileans on top at the 18:20 UTC poll. On top, but barely ahead. Both boats have been averaging over 12 knots and Desafio Cabo de Hornos is just a slim mile in front of Team Mowgli. It’s about as good as it gets for a mid-Atlantic match race. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 5th November, 2008 The race has tightened considerably as a weak front sweeps across the South Atlantic bringing strong winds and some superb sailing to the leaders of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. The lead that the German team of Beluga Racer once enjoyed has been halved over the last 36 hours, and while co-skippers Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme are into some good breeze now, they are not completely out of the woods. The area of high pressure that blocked their path toward Cape Town remains in the way forcing Beluga Racer, as well as the chasing three boats, to dive even deeper south. Brian Hancock Thursday, 6th November, 2008 The lead boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are entering the final week at sea. It has been a long leg from Portimão but the end is now in sight. That’s if things all hold together. There is an old adage in ocean racing: you can’t win if you don’t finish. So how does Beluga Racer hold onto their lead? How does Desafio cabo de Hornos and Team Mowgli make a final push for first place? How does Michel Kleinjans beat them all to the bar at the Royal Cape Yacht Club? There is one important thing to remember. The sailors are tired and the boats are tired. Now, more than ever, is the time for vigilance. Brian Hancock Saturday, 8th November, 2008 The weather has turned grim for the first four boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race. A small area of high pressure to the south of the fleet is feeding them strong easterly winds in an area where westerlies normally blow 11 months of the year. It’s a cruel twist a month into the race, but not as cruel as it was for Michel Kleinjans, the leading solo sailor aboard his Open 40, Roaring Forty. The main shroud that holds up his mast has broken, again. Brian Hancock Monday, 10th November, 2008 The weather in the South Atlantic is as strange as it’s ever been. The leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are south of the latitude of Cape Town and diving deeper still. Where there should be strong westerlies carrying them into South Africa, they are experiencing easterlies. Very unusual, and for sure, most unwelcome. Even the leaders, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer, those who have had a charmed race so far, are hard on the wind in ugly conditions. Worse yet there is no end in sight. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 11th November, 2008 It’s blowing dogs off chains here in the Tavern Of the Seas. There is a black southeaster blowing in Cape Town and the weather is grim. Dark storm clouds shroud Table Mountain and a chilly wind howls down Adderley Street, the city’s main boulevard. This is not summer weather and it’s not even good sailing weather. If the leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race were closer to Cape Town they would be getting slammed. This, however, is small consolation for the sailors who have been at sea for almost five weeks and for whom the pull of land must be strong. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 13th November, 2008 The tension is mounting as the Portimao Global Ocean Race Tracker addicts anxiously await each three-hourly poll to see if the gap between the German team, Beluga Racer, and the Chileans aboard Desafio Cabo de Hornos, is closing. And it is closing - fast. At the 12:20 UTC poll on Thursday Beluga Racer led by a comfortable 190 nautical miles. Twenty four hours later the gap is down to just 89 miles as the Chileans storm up from behind on a fresh breeze. Aboard Beluga Racer there is not much co-skippers Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme can do except sail hard, and pray. Brian Hancock Friday, 14th November, 2008 The Germans have done it! Under clear skies and with a stiff breeze blowing Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer stormed into Cape Town to win Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. It was a superb performance by two skilled sailors who, except for the short period south of the Canary Islands, led the entire leg. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Saturday, 15th November, 2008 The Cape Doctor welcomed Belgium sailor Michel Kleinjans to South Africa as he stormed across the finish line to win the single-handed division of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. The Cape Doctor is the name given by locals to the gale force winds that blow down the backside of Table Mountain taking with it all germs and pollution and flinging them far out to sea. The strong southeasterly wind propelled Kleinjans and his Open 40, Roaring Forty into Cape Town giving him a fair breeze right the way up to the finish line. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 18th November, 2008 A violent doldrum squall handed the South African team of Lenjohn and Peter Van Der Well on Kazimir Partners their first big knockdown of the race. Fortunately them came through unscathed and with sense of humour intact. Peter Van Der Wel described the incident in his log. Saturday, 25th October, 2008 Week four of the Portimão Global Ocean Race has all been about gains, or losses, depending upon your perspective. Gains for the chasing pack of Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Team Mowgli, and a big loss for Beluga Racer as the German team ran slap bang into tactical mine field. Early in the week a low pressure cell spinning off the South American coast gave co-skippers Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme a fast ride on a direct course for Cape Town. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 9th November, 2008 The leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are starting to feel the first effect of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, the doldrums, and it’s starting to get hot. It’s not that nice “let’s go to the beach” kind of hot. It’s that clammy, cloying heat that wraps around you and sends you in search of a sliver of shadow to escape the relentless blaze. Below it’s even worse. The sun pounds down on the deck and the cabin below is an inferno. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Tuesday, 21st October, 2008 The South African team of Lenjohn and Peter Van Der Well are counting down the remaining miles of Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race in what has been an arduous final week to a difficult passage from Portugal. At the 12:20 UTC poll the Cape Town-based brothers had just 165 miles to go. The wind is light and speed is low, but the boat is on course and all is looking good for a late Wednesday afternoon finish. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 25th November, 2008 The sailors competing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race have been experiencing some of the very best sailing conditions the planet has to offer. A warm trade wind at their back’s, full sails set and the horizon ahead in a wide arc, like outstretched arms, just waiting for them. It’s been a good way to ease into an around-the-world race, but it’s all going to end, very soon. The doldrums, or Pot au Noir (black hole) as the French like to call the region, awaits them. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 21st October, 2008 Tuesday evening saw the first of two formal functions for the Portimão Global Ocean Race skippers, that being the Official Prize Giving Ceremony hosted by the City of Cape Town. The event, honoured by the presence of Executive Deputy Mayor, Cllr Grant Haskin and held in the Mayoral Banqueting Hall, was a glittering affair with dignitaries from the City as well as skippers, shore teams, friends and family in attendance. It was a time to relax and reflect on a leg well sailed as well as a time to start mentally preparing for the long and difficult leg that lies ahead. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 3rd December, 2008 The yachts racing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are required to honour a mandatory waypoint off the coast of Brazil. The waypoint, named the Recife Gate, was included in the Sailing Instructions for a number of reasons. The first reason being that gates are included to keep the fleet as close together as possible. This is good for racing as well as for safety. Brian Hancock Monday, 27th October, 2008 It’s been a thrilling week for the British duo aboard Team Mowgli participating in the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Co-skippers Jeremy Salvesen (45) and David Thomson (32) are finally finding their stride aboard their Marc Lombard designed Class 40 and two weeks into their global adventure Team Mowgli moved up the leaderboard into second place, and crossed the equator all in the same day. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 28th October, 2008 Original story: Offshore ocean racing is all about keeping it together, both mentally as well as keeping your boat is perfect racing condition for a 7,000 mile leg from Portugal to South Africa. The constant pounding and drenching that the boats get as they race hard to Cape Town takes a toll on them and it’s a full time job for the sailors to manage the ongoing maintenance. Despite due diligence it’s not always possible to foresee a problem as Michel Kleinjans, skipper of Roaring Forty found to his horror. Brian Hancock Thursday, 30th October, 2008 It’s prefect trade wind sailing for the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet as they eat up the miles on a quick romp to the equator. But it’s not without mishaps. On board Kazimir Partners their revelry was rudely interrupted by a loud crash as the boat lurched to a sickening stop. Skipper Lenjohn Van Der Wel sent through a curt message. “At 13h20 local time at position 21:45N and 18:43W Kazimir Partners hit a whale,” he wrote. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 20th October, 2008 The ten sailors competing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race could not have asked for a better way to slide into an around the world race. As Peter Van Der Wel, co-skipper on Kazimir Partners said, “We are enjoying perfect downwind sailing. Starting the race from Portugal was a stroke of genius on behalf of the race organisers as it has allowed us get into the rhythm of the race without any major dramas.” Indeed, other than a few blown spinnakers and an uncomfortable encounter with what might have been a pirate ship, the fleet is well into the tropics unscathed. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 19th October, 2008 There is a change of leader in the Portimão Global Ocean Race just three days after the race started from Portimão, Portugal. The Chilean team of Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz have stormed into the lead aboard the Guillaume Verdier designed Class 40 Desafio Cabo de Hornos. In doing so they bump Belgium Michel Kleinjans off the top spot. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 15th October, 2008 Six days into the Portimão Global Ocean Race and the German team of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme aboard Beluga Racer are stamping their mark on the event. After a conservative start and some clever tactical sailing through the Canary Islands, Herrmann and Oehme have turned on the afterburners and opened a hundred mile margin on their closest rivals, Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz aboard Desafio Cabo de Hornos. Brian Hancock Saturday, 18th October, 2008 There is yet another lead change in the Portimão Global Ocean Race. Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on the German entry Beluga Racer have overtaken the Chilean boat Desafio Cabo de Hornos to take the lead for the first time since the October 12 start. Herrmann and Oehme have sailed a tactically superb course and thier patience and perseverance have finally paid off. At the 06:20 UTC poll this morning Beluga Racer held a 7 mile lead over Desafio Cabo de Hornos. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 17th October, 2008 Sailing from two fixed points via the shortest route is sometimes achievable in a motorised vessel: for a racing yacht that relies upon wind power, the only viable option is to utilise weather systems existing between Point A, the departure location and Point B, the destination. In Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race, the 6,000mile route from Portugal to Cape Town, South Africa, will take the fleet of six boats into the western Atlantic towards Brazil before they can dive south and head towards the southern tip of Africa. Oliver Dewar Tuesday, 14th October, 2008 The lead boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are all in sight of each other as the race tightens up on day three of this around the world adventure. After holding a commanding lead since the mandatory point gate at Sagres, Belgium sailor Michel Kleinjans is feeling the heat with both Beluga Race and Desafio Cabo de Hornos breathing down his neck. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 14th October, 2008 There is a saying amongst sailors; nothing beats time in the boat. This is not an obvious comment about how much fun it is to go sailing. Rather it’s about knowing how to get the absolute best from your boat and nothing, as the saying goes, beats time spent in the boat, offshore, under sail, in a race. Brian Hancock Tuesday, 14th October, 2008 At the 18:20 UTC poll this evening the three leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race were through their first tactical obstacle of the race, the Canary Islands. The island group presents some tricky sailing for even the most experienced navigators. Tricky because of currents, but more importantly because of wind the funnels between the islands. Timed right and with a bit of luck on your side, you can get a strong push in the right direction. Timed wrong and it can go all pear-shaped. Brian Hancock Thursday, 16th October, 2008 Twenty four hours into the Portimão Global Ocean Race and Belgium’s Michel Kleinjans is giving his fellow competitors a lesson on how to leverage the first day of an around-the-world race. After a conservative start off Portimão yesterday, Kleinjans quickly turned on the afterburners and rocketed to the front of the fleet. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 13th October, 2008 Work on the pontoons in the Marina de Portimão started early on Sunday with final preparations for the six teams entered in the Portimão Global Ocean Race. After a night of torrential rain and lightning storms, a pink dawn soon warmed the shore teams loading last minute supplies as church bells started to peel along both sides of the River Arade. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 12th October, 2008 The inaugural Portimão Global Ocean Race got underway today from the seaside town of Portimão, Portugal. Portimão's Deputy Mayor Luis Carito fired the start gun at precisely 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT) and Germany’s young rising stars Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme charged across the line in first place aboard their Class 40 yacht Beluga Racer. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 13th October, 2008 It was an emotional scene on the docks in Portimão as the ten sailors in the inaugural Portimão Global Ocean Race said their goodbyes. The African writer Isak Dinesen said it best: The cure for everything is salt; sweat, tears and the sea. There has been a lot of sweat spent to get to this point. The tears were certainly in evidence as children hugged fathers and wives and girlfriends put on brave faces. Now all that remains for the sailors is the sea. Brian Hancock Saturday, 11th October, 2008 On the evening of Friday 10th October, the six teams competing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race left their boats on the pre-race pontoons, swapped shorts and T-shirts for more formal wear and headed into the ancient centre of Portimão for a reception hosted by the city’s mayor, Manuel da Luz. The mayor welcomed the international sailors to Portimão and wished them fair winds for the forthcoming 6,000mile Leg 1 from Portimão to Cape Town, South Africa. Oliver Dewar Friday, 10th October, 2008 The current Class 40 World Champion, Giovanni Soldini, has made a flying visit to Portugal and is fully occupied speaking with all the teams and Race Organisation involved with the Portimão Global Ocean Race. “I really hope that this race becomes a big event for the Class 40 fleet,” commented the irrepressible Italian offshore sailing maestro. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 10th October, 2008 Shortly before the start of the Portimão Global Ocean Race, the event’s Race Director, Josh Hall, and Race Officer, Alan Green, congratulated the six teams on the high standard of the safety gear achieved on all the racing yachts. “Safety and security is foremost,” Hall told the ten competitors at a formal meeting. Oliver Dewar Thursday, 9th October, 2008 The 48 hour, pre-start barrier for the Portimão Global Ocean Race fell at 1300 today. Surprisingly warm blasts of 24 knots north-easterly breeze are currently blowing through the Marina de Portimão as the six teams finalise preparations for Leg 1 of the 30,000 mile circumnavigation. Oliver Dewar Thursday, 9th October, 2008 Early on Friday morning, the six teams entered in the Portimão Global Ocean Race met for the event’s vital Skippers Briefing. The timing was understandable: with just over 48 hours to the start of Leg 1 at 1300 on Sunday, all the teams are keen to finish preparations to their boats and fit in a final test sail. So, the 0800 time slot allowed the skippers a maximum amount of daylight to complete any tasks lurking on their job list. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 9th October, 2008 With just two days until the start of the Portimão Global Ocean Race, the South African brothers, Lenjohn and Peter Van Der Wel have re-christened their Class 40 racing yacht KAZIMIR PARTNERS after receiving overwhelming support from the Russian mutual fund company. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 9th October, 2008 Michel Kleinjans, has an impressive, offshore racing pedigree: he competed in the 1985-86 Whitbread Round The World Race on Rucanor Tristar taking 5th place overall in a fleet of 15 boats and has raced in the Mini Transat and Figaro classes as well as the 1994 double-handed, transatlantic TWOSTAR and went on to win his class in the 1996 single-handed STAR from Plymouth to Newport, RI. Oliver Dewar Thursday, 9th October, 2008 On the main pontoon in the Marina de Portimão, the South African brothers, Lenjohn and Peter van der Wel continue to prepare their Class 40, Kazimir Partners, and despite a heavy workload, they invited students on board for a tour as part of the Portimão Global Ocean Race Education Programme involving six schools from the host city. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 9th October, 2008 There are two separate trophies for the outright winner in the double-handed and single-handed classes of the Portimão Global Ocean Race after completing all five legs of this 30,000 nautical mile circumnavigation. Both of the near-identical sculptures feature a yacht’s sail with a stylised globe on a marble base with carved marble bales: two bales representing the double-handed fleet, a single bale for the two solo yachts in the race. Oliver Dewar Wednesday, 8th October, 2008 In the late morning of Wednesday 8th October, the six teams entered in the Portimão Global Ocean Race took a short break from pre-race preparations in the host city’s Marina de Portimão for a formal press conference in the Media Centre of the waterfront Tivoli Marina Portimão Hotel near the famous Praia de Rochas beach. Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 8th October, 2008 With less that a week to go until the start of the inaugural Portimão Global Ocean Race the dockside activity is getting more frantic and, for sure, the stomach butterflies are starting to swarm. A solo or double-handed race around the world is no small undertaking and that reality is coming into clear view as the days tick steadily toward the October 12 start. Brian Hancock Monday, 6th October, 2008 Life is made up of moments, and a good life is made up of great, unexpected moments such as the one that took place earlier this week off the coast of Spain. Two of the boats competing in the Portimão Global Ocean Race found themselves in the same waters at the same time, both enroute to Portimão for the race start. Brian Hancock Thursday, 2nd October, 2008 The restaurant at the Tivoli Marina Portimão is probably one of the loveliest places for lunch on the whole Algarve coast of Portugal. It looks out over the Arade Rive and beyond to Castelo Arade, the 17th century fort built to defend the estuary long before Portimão existed. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 1st October, 2008 It’s often a question of being careful what you wish for. Two short years ago the idea of a new around-the-world yacht race was just that - an idea. Josh Hall and myself were convinced that the sailing calendar needed an affordable, achievable global sailing race to fill in where other established events, the Volvo, Velux and Vendée, had moved on from. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Monday, 29th September, 2008 British yachtsman, David Thomson, has joined Team Mowgli as co-skipper for the Portimão Global Ocean Race which sets sail from Portimão, Portugal on October 12. Thomson will replace Victoria Sanders-Perrin who has given up her berth on board the Class 40 yacht for personal reasons. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Sunday, 28th September, 2008 With just one month to go to the start of the Portimão Global Ocean Race things are starting to get a bit hectic for race officials and competitors alike. The first boat has arrived in Portimão well in advance of the mandated arrival date of September 30. Brian Hancock Monday, 15th September, 2008 When Sir Francis Chichester and the other brave pioneering solo sailors of the 1960’s left the trace of their wake across the world’s oceans for us to follow, they did not know if the human mind could cope with the hardship and solitude. They did not know if their trusty steeds were up to the rigours and relentless battering of wind and waves, of extreme heat and cold. Josh Hall Saturday, 27th September, 2008 The first circumnavigation voyages were triggered by trade, politics and piracy. Today, the skippers in the Portimão Global Ocean Race may have a different motivation, but share many character traits with the early pioneers. Oliver Dewar Sunday, 14th September, 2008 In 1516, the 38 year-old Ferdinand Magellan, a soldier and seaman who had faithfully and courageously served King Manuel of Portugal in campaigns throughout Asia and Africa, proposed a new plan for reaching the Spice Islands via a western route, beyond the voyage of Columbus. Oliver Dewar Sunday, 14th September, 2008 The era of solo circumnavigation adventurers began in 1895 with the three year voyage of the Bostonian, Joshua Slocum, on board 39ft Spray: a journey producing tales and adventures that appeared in Slocum’s landmark, seafaring book, Sailing Alone Around the World, sparking a worldwide interest in long haul, offshore sailing. Oliver Dewar Sunday, 14th September, 2008 Sailing solo or double-handed around the world can be a life changing experience from desperate lows that require courage and inner strength to exhilarating highs unmatched in any other sport. Josh Hall Monday, 8th September, 2008 In 1981 I was sailing deep in the Southern Ocean aboard an American boat, Alaska Eagle, participating in the Whitbread Round the World Race. We had been flogging the heavy, under canvassed boat along the 60th parallel searching for the maximum amount of wind to keep us in the hunt for a respectable finish, but as we neared Cape Horn the wind suddenly died to a whisper. Brian Hancock Monday, 8th September, 2008 Just when most people would be thinking about kicking back and easing into a more gentle way of life after a long and hard career, Dutch sailor Nico Budel is planning on fulfilling his lifelong dream of sailing alone around the world. Budel, the oldest sailor in the Portimão Global Ocean Race, will be 69 when the start gun fires on October 12, but to him age is just a number. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Friday, 5th September, 2008 Wet, exhausted, but exhilarated at having taken on a challenge and prevailed. Those were the emotions running through Victoria Sanders-Perrin and Jeremy Salvesen when they finally made it back to land after 10 tough days out on the open ocean. Sanders-Perrin and Salvesen had just completed their mandatory 2,000 mile qualifying sail for the Portimão Global Ocean Race and jumped the last big hurdle standing between them and the start line in October. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Thursday, 4th September, 2008 The waters off the coast of Chile are a good proving ground for an around-the-world race and now one of Chile’s favorite sons, Felipe Cubillos, is getting ready to put the experience gained along that rugged shoreline to good use. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 20th August, 2008 One of the principal objectives of the Portimão Global Ocean Race is to attract a new audience to the world of offshore ocean racing while at the same time keeping the loyal and dedicated following that is already addicted to sailing websites. The way we plan to do this is to take a fresh approach to how the story of the race is told. Brian Hancock Wednesday, 20th August, 2008 One year after winning an Olympic Silver Medal in the Flying Dutchman class during the Tokyo Olympics, Keith Musto joined forces with Eddie Hyde to create Musto and Hyde Sailmakers. Keith soon realized that sailing clothing was particularly wanting. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 20th August, 2008 With the lights of Marblehead reflecting on still water, Boris Herrmann guided his Class 40 Beluga Racer silently across the finish lineto take second place in the Artemis Transat. It was a remarkable performance for a sailor who had only recently taken delivery of his Akilaria 40 and had barely sailed the boat before starting out on the 3,000 nautical mile single-handed race across the Atlantic. Brian Hancock (translation - Ana Lima) Wednesday, 20th August, 2008