2004 Global Challenge - Pindar Are Celebrating In Wellington After More Than 38 Days At Sea

Loz Marriott and his crew are the 10th team across the line

Pindar was the 10th team across the line at 07:19:12 GMT and are now celebrating with friends, family and all the other crews who met them at the pontoon.

They pulled into the pontoon as the evening was drawing in and the spotlights made for a fantastic arrival as hundreds cheered and the team song was played.

In all they spent 38 days, 14 hours, 19 minutes and 12 seconds at sea after leaving Buenos Aires on the 28th November last year. Loz called in as they were approaching the pontoon and sounded understandably happy to be over the line after such a tough leg.

Looking back at Pindar's passage across the Southern Ocean from Buenos Aires to Wellington:

There couldn’t have been a better start for Leg 2. A fresh 15 knot breeze, clear skies and hundred of supporters were on the water to wish the fleet well for the start of their 6400 mile journey which would take them from Buenos Aires, through the Southern Ocean to Wellington, New Zealand.

Pindar was off to a flying start and was lying in 3rd place behind BG SPIRIT and BP Explorer as the fleet rounded the first waypoint. The team were fully-focused on the leg ahead as crew-member Andrew Woo commented: “It's a beautiful sight to see such a large portion of the fleet with their spinnakers up; because it means we're in the race. All of us are focused hard on making this boat go fast, and we want nothing more than to see those same five boats to our stern.”

As the yachts headed out of the River Plate, turning right down the coast of Argentina, the Pindar team were holding their own with the front of the fleet. After 41 hours, the racing was still exceptionally close. A cold front moving in from the west was bringing with it stronger winds – consequently boat speeds across the fleet were picking up – Pindar recording the highest 6 hour speed of 11.2 knots.

But then disaster struck and the team found themselves without their heavyweight spinnaker. Skipper Loz Marriot described what happened: ““We were putting up our 2.2 oz spinnaker and were hit with about 35 knots of wind from behind. Unfortunately a sheet was released, we lost control of the spinnaker and it shredded into 100 pieces. It then got caught under the rudder, we crash gybed and had to cut it away.”

With the race so tight at that stage, the loss of this crucial sail meant that Pindar saw their position change radically – falling from 5th to 11th place in a matter of hours. It was a heavy blow, but not one the team were going to let undermine their determination and spirit, as crew-member Helen Blackburn described: “It's during these hard times that everyone has to dig deep and decide how they will let this affect them and their efforts during the rest of the leg. We have a mantra in the Pindar team, 'choose your attitude', and we choose to forget about what happened and concentrate on sailing this boat as fast and safely as possible.”

However, two days later, when the yacht broached in 38 knots of wind, it was their 1.5 oz spinnaker that suffered the consequence. Writes Skipper Loz, “the mast head was two metres away from the water. The water was cascading into the boat. The spinnaker was in pieces, flying from the end of the pole and all I could think of doing was counting how many heads I could see on the deck… Unfortunately the spinnaker is now in its bag stuffed in the sail locker, never to be seen again on this leg!”

Despite this loss, the crew kept up the pressure and by the time they had reached the Le Maire Strait – Pindar was closing in on the fleet again with only 57nm separating them from the leaders.

By day 10, Pindar was rounding Cape Horn and the 18 latest members of the International Association of Cape Horners were treated to some impromptu lunacy from their skipper, when he appeared on deck in a special pair of over-sized Cape Horn Pants – which were then duly signed by the crew.

By this point the fleet were heading deep into the Southern Ocean, and with it life on deck was becoming increasingly difficult – with freezing winds and huge ice-cold waves to contend with. Waypoint Alpha was the next goal, by day 23 Pindar had got past this psychological milestone and with Christmas fast approaching, spirits were high.

“We may still be last,” writes Damian Vaile on Day 31, “but this crew has a die hard mentality. We are not giving up the chase, and the fleet ahead is not pulling away despite the recent downwind sailing in light airs which gives the other boats better sail plan options with their spinnaker wardrobe, ours being somewhat depleted!”

Despite their valiant efforts, the crew just weren’t able to close the gap on a fleet that had a distinct advantage in terms of sail plan. Nevertheless, having got through this leg the Pindar team has been rewarded with a deeper bond fostered through adversity, which will no doubt stand them in good stead for the legs to come.

6 Jan 2005 09:03 GMT

For further information on the race, please visit: www.globalchallenge2004.com