NAILBITING FINISH FOR SWEDISH TRIMARAN
23 JANUARY 2003 - 16H26 pm - (SA Time)

Swedish trimaran Nicator skippered by Klabbe Nylöf looks set to be the first boat to finish the 2003 SAP Cape to Rio ocean race. The new generation Open 60 trimaran is expected in the Carnival City by Friday, 24 January and will certainly slash the current multi-hull record of 18 days, which was set by Chris King’s catamaran Sea Rose in the 1993 race.
Navigator Magnus Woxen reported at 10h40 (SA time) that they still had roughly 433 miles to go before reaching Guatenara Bay in Rio de Janeiro.

“It will be very hard for us to get to Rio before the 12 day 16 hours deadline, but we’ll give it a good try,” stated Woxen. Although the trimaran is participating in a different class than the mono-hulls such as
Morning Glory, they have set their sights on the current crossing record set by the American mono-hull Zephyrus IV in the previous Cape to Rio race.

The mono-hull record stands at 12 days 16 hours and will expire at 05h00GMT (07h00 SA time) Friday morning.

The Brazilian catamaran Adrenalina Pura has also passed Isle de Trinidade, but seems unlikely to be able to catch Nicator unless the trimaran gets stuck in a wind lull off Cabo Frio.

While the speedy multi-hulls are finishing their race, a ding-dong battle is developing in the race for handicap honours and the coveted South Atlantic trophy. The two Gauteng entries Baleka and Investec have pushed Gawie Fagan off the top spot and are currently lying first and second respectively with approximately 1600 miles to go to Rio. Suidoos 2 is in third place with Diel in third and the Norwegian entry Barracuda in fourth place.

German maxi Morning Glory is bound to be the first mono-hull across the finishing line, but with over a 1000 miles to go is no longer in contention to break the multi-hull record. She will probably reach Rio by Saturday evening.

This morning, a very upbeat John Martin reported from MTU Fascination of Power that they had good following winds and were cooking with gas, averaging 9.7 knots! This should be a welcome relief from last week's lull, where they were averaging 2 knots for four days and which cost them at least two day's racing time.

Martin is sailing with a trainee crew from the S.A. Navy, three of whom had never sailed overnight on a yacht before. "The guys have taken to this like fish to water, literally. I have a very compatible, enthusiastic and competitive team with a great sense of humour, so the mood is always festive onboard".

Source: SAP Cape To Rio Race - Official Site