Rock around the Rock

(by Louay Habib) Most of the big boys have finished the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Barbican is an impressive sight; Liara, Luna Rossa, Rosebud, Beau Geste, RÁN, the list is endless, the hardware unbelievable. This morning, picturesque Sutton Harbour... [Read more]

First Around the Fastnet Rock

At 00:26 GMT this morning Mike Slade’s 100ft supermaxi ICAP Leopard was the first boat in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race to round the Fastnet Rock off the coast of southwestern Ireland. In a 10-15 knot westerly breeze, Karl Kwok’s Farr 80 Beau... [Read more]

Three round the Rock and heading for home

DAY THREE 0800 RACE UPDATE - Karl Kwok’s Farr 80, Beau Geste rounded the Fastnet Rock just before 0600 with Niklas Zennstrom’s JV 72, RÁN approximately 6 miles astern and also round. It was a frustrating approach for both with the wind dying... [Read more]

Offshore pays - Day Two

(by Louay Habib) Monday morning and it is raining in Plymouth, the good news for virtually all the fleet is they are now around Portland Bill and heading west and can expect to see an increase in wind, a Southwesterly building to a stiff 17 Knots by around... [Read more]

Conditions come good for spinnaker start

Morning dockside rumours of delays and divisions of boats having to kedge on the start line were roundly proven wrong as the Rolex Fastnet Race fleet, as well as spectators along the Cowes shoreline, enjoyed a magnificent, colourful spinnaker start. Thankfully... [Read more]

Sail the Virtual Fastnet Race

RORC launch virtual game online – sign up now: http://fastnet.rorc.org/ Armchair experts around the world now have the chance to test their skills against the 2,500 sailors racing on 300 yachts in the 2009 Rolex Fastnet Race, starting on Sunday 9th... [Read more]

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

(by Oliver Dewar) Just under a month after the final boat in the Portimão Global Ocean Race crossed the finish line in Portugal and completed the 33,000 mile circumnavigation, the four teams; Beluga Racer, Desafio Cabo de Hornos, Team Mowgli and Roaring... [Read more]

A happy and hilarious finale to the race

(by Oliver Dewar) On Saturday evening the teams in the Portimão Global Ocean Race gathered in the waterfront garden of the Tivoli Hotel for the event’s prize giving with the fleet of four boats floodlit on the Marina de Portimão’s VIP pontoon. After... [Read more]

VIVA CHILE!

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Diving south-east to the finish line

(by Oliver Dewar) With the exception of solo sailor Michel Kleinjans on Roaring Forty, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet have picked up the pace since Thursday afternoon. While Kleinjans is dealing with 13 knot headwinds and making just under six... [Read more]

Gambling in the Azores High casino

(by Oliver Dewar) As the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet negotiate the Azores High, speeds have remained fairly consistent over the past 24 hours with averages dropping fractionally early on Tuesday morning. In the 0620 UTC position poll today (16/06),... [Read more]

Beluga Racer cross the gate and sail into the record books

(by Oliver Dewar) A 1800 UTC on Friday evening, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme crossed the Portimão Global Ocean Race Leg 5 Scoring Gate in second place on Beluga Racer 600 miles south-east of Newfoundland. Despite crossing the gate 21 hours behind the... [Read more]

Lining up for the scoring gate

(by Oliver Dewar) As the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet continue to climb north-east towards the scoring gate and ice limit, the two leading double-handed Class 40s continue to remain locked together. Over the past 24 hours the distance between race... [Read more]

Mast damage for Beluga Racer

(by Oliver Dewar) Throughout Monday, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet continued to squeeze the best speeds from the light north-easterly breeze with the race leaders Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos keeping a 60 mile advantage... [Read more]

Calm conditions after heavy weather

(by Oliver Dewar) As the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet climb north-east towards the Leg 5 scoring gate, the teams are encountering their first period of light airs after strong conditions throughout the weekend. During Sunday, boatspeeds dropped to... [Read more]

Hanging on in tough conditions

(by Oliver Dewar) Over the past 24 hours, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet have been chasing a corridor of strong south-westerly breeze squeezed between a high-pressure system south-east of the boats and a low-pressure system to the north centred... [Read more]

A bumpy ride through the Gulf Stream

(by Oliver Dewar) Following an initially slow start to leg 5 in Charleston, South Carolina, at 1430 UTC on Thursday, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet soon dug into stronger breeze. By 2200 UTC, Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de... [Read more]

The Leg 5 ice limit and scoring gate are announced

(by Oliver Dewar) With the start of the Portimão Global Ocean Race Leg 5 from Charleston, South Carolina, to Portimão, Portugal, scheduled for 1030 local (1430 UTC) on Thursday (04/06), the skippers were briefed on Wednesday morning in the Charleston... [Read more]

The finishing touches before Leg 5

(by Oliver Dewar) With the start of Leg 5 in the Portimão Global Ocean Race scheduled for 1030 local time (1430 UTC) this Thursday, the three double-handed teams and one single-handed team are completing preparations for the final section of the circumnavigation... [Read more]

Leg 5 start delayed

(by Oliver Dewar) Following consultation between the double-handed teams in the Portimão Global Ocean Race, the stop over’s hosts – the South Carolina Maritime Foundation - and the Race Director, Josh Hall, it has been decided that the start of Leg... [Read more]

Overall scores after Leg 4

(by Oliver Dewar) Each boat is awarded points for completing a leg with a sliding scale of values: the first boat in the double-handed division to cross the finish line of each leg scores 10 points; second place team scores 8 points; third scores 6 points... [Read more]

Beluga Racer takes Leg 4

(by Oliver Dewar) Shortly after midnight GMT in the early hours of Sunday 17th May, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme crossed the finish line of Leg 4 in the Portimão Global Ocean Race off Charleston, South Carolina, at 00:49:47 GMT (18:49:47 local) after... [Read more]

Beluga Racer extend their lead

(by Oliver Dewar) Over the past 24 hours, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet have been sailing parallel to the Bahamas with race leaders Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer extending their lead over their Chilean rivals, Felipe Cubillos... [Read more]

Speeds drop for the race leaders

(by Oliver Dewar) In the latest 0620 GMT position poll this morning (13/05), the Portimão Global Ocean Race leaders have left the Trade Winds. Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer maintain pole position, but speeds have dropped for the German... [Read more]

A high-speed collision for the Chilean team

(by Oliver Dewar) Throughout Monday night and early Tuesday morning, the Portimão Global Ocean Race leaders continued to hammer north leaving the Virgin Islands to port with Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos polling speed averages of between 12-14... [Read more]

Hooked into the Trade Winds express

(by Oliver Dewar) In the 0620 GMT position poll this morning (07/05), the formation of the Portimão Global Ocean Race front runners has remained unchanged as Beluga Racer, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Roaring Forty tuck into the Trade Winds for a fast... [Read more]

Front runners pick up the pace

(by Oliver Dewar) As the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet leaders climbed through 01°N of the Equator and hit the 03°N barrier the speeds began to rise with double-handed leader Beluga Racer and second place Desafio Cabo de Hornos producing almost... [Read more]

Straight into the Doldrums

(by Oliver Dewar) By midday GMT on Sunday (03/05), Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz had sailed Desafio Cabo de Hornos to within seven miles of race leader Beluga Racer, slipstreaming Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme 90 miles off the Brazilian coast. Three... [Read more]

Hard times for the fleet close to the coast

(by Oliver Dewar) At midday GMT on Monday, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme made their move, thundering offshore on Beluga Racer while the Chilean race leaders, Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz, remained further inshore on Desafio Cabo de Hornos. Averaging... [Read more]

The German team are hunting down the Chilean leaders

(by Oliver Dewar) The Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet passed south of Rio de Janeiro shortly before midnight GMT on Sunday night with the double-handed boats separated by just 15 miles and solo sailor Michel Kleinjans mixing in with the fleet, ten miles... [Read more]

Weather and strategy for Leg 4

(by Chris Tibbs) Chris Tibbs is a meteorologist with a long history of racing yachts that has included three Round the World Races: twice in the Whitbread and as Skipper in the BT Global Challenge. He is now mainly involved with advising yachts and weather... [Read more]

Race points system and current overall standings

Each boat is awarded points for completing a leg with a sliding scale of values: the first boat in the double-handed division to cross the finish line of each leg scores 10 points; second place team scores 8 points; third scores 6 points and fourth scores... [Read more]

Team Mowgli take third in style

An hour after sunset at 22:36:35 GMT on Thursday (02/04), Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson sailed Class 40, Team Mowgli across the finish line of Portimão Global Ocean Race Leg 3 in Ilhabela, Brazil, taking third place in the double-handed class and... [Read more]

Another light patch before the finish

(by Oliver Dewar) Any available breeze for the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet off the coast of Brazil is proving entirely democratic, although immensely cruel, after 38 days at sea for the four teams. On Monday evening (30/03), race leader Beluga Racer... [Read more]

No way out of the light airs

(by Oliver Dewar) Over the weekend, the average speeds plummeted for the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet as the four boats crept northwards in light and extremely variable breeze. With the Distance To Finish data scrolling slowly below 400 miles for... [Read more]

After 7,000 miles, the brakes go on

(by Oliver Dewar) At midnight on Saturday (28/03), the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet ran straight into a wall of light breeze with speeds plummeting from seven knots to three and four knot averages with Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson on Team Mowgli... [Read more]

Trouble ahead!

(by Oliver Dewar) With 1,000 miles remaining to the Leg 3 finish in the tropical, Brazilian island of Ilhabela, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet are set for a finish line scramble early next week. Over the past 24 hours, the German team of Boris... [Read more]

Beluga Racer storm back into the lead

(by Oliver Dewar) After 14 days at the head of the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet, Desafio Cabo de Hornos relinquished pole position to Beluga Racer at 1600 GMT yesterday (23/03). Furthest east in the fleet, the yacht’s two Chilean crew, Felipe Cubillos... [Read more]

Fleet close up as the light airs bite

(by Oliver Dewar) As the South Atlantic weather systems ripple in a wave across the fleet from west to east, the effect is compressing the four Portimão Global Ocean Race boats as a barrier of light wind now grips the two race leaders, Desafio Cabo de... [Read more]

Increasingly complex weather and tactics for the fleet

(by Oliver Dewar) In the latest 0620 GMT Sunday position poll (22/03), the two race leaders, Desafio Cabo de Hornos and Beluga Racer have passed the Falkland Islands obstruction and are reaching north-east with the Chilean duo of Felipe Cubillos and José... [Read more]

East or West? The Falklands dilemma

(by Oliver Dewar) With the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet entering the South Atlantic, a new dilemma has faced the four boats: leaving the Falkland Islands to port or starboard. The decision was made well in advance of approaching the group of islands... [Read more]

VIVA CHILE! Desafio Cabo de Hornos are first to Cape Horn

(by Oliver Dewar) At 0050 GMT this morning, (19/03), Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz sailed into the history books on Desafio Cabo de Hornos when the Chilean duo rounded Cape Horn earlier today. Instantaneously, their offshore sailing CV has quadrupled... [Read more]

A full on sprint for Cape Horn

(by Oliver Dewar (translation - Ana Lima)) The two leaders in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are in a duel 70 miles off the coast of Chilean Tierra del Fuego. Over the past 24 hours, the leading, double-handed Class 40, Desafio Cabo de Hornos, and Beluga... [Read more]

Brutal conditions in the Furious Fifties

(by Oliver Dewar) The Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet have been hammered by hurricane strength, Force 12, south-westerly breeze as they descend through the Furious Fifties towards Cape Horn. Despite drastically reduced sail, race leaders Felipe Cubillos... [Read more]

Fast trip to Cape Horn forecast

(by Oliver Dewar) MRCC Punta Arenas provided a highly accurate weather forecast for the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet on Saturday morning (14/03), predicting that winds would switch to north-west, before swinging round to the south and south-west... [Read more]

Clearing the ice gate and heading for Cape Horn

(by Oliver Dewar) After 14 days pinned north of the Leg 3 southern limit, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet are now descending south-east through the Southern Ocean towards Cape Horn. First to pass the eastern end of the exclusion zone at 1700 GMT... [Read more]

The Chileans extend their lead to the ice gate waypoint

(by Oliver Dewar) The past 24 hours have been critical for the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet as the eastern end of the 45°S ice gate approaches and the strategic options for the 1,500 mile dive south-east to Cape Horn at 56°S begin to open up the... [Read more]

The Chileans take the lead as the fleet splits

(by Oliver Dewar) At 1200 GMT yesterday (10/03), both the race leader, Beluga Racer and second place Desafio Cabo de Hornos gybed north-east on a wind shift while Team Mowgli in third and the fleet’s single-handed entry, Roaring Forty, continued south-east.... [Read more]

Complex and tactically demanding conditions ahead

(by Oliver Dewar) Over the past 24 hours, The Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet has been on a continuous starboard gybe in south-westerly breeze, holding formation with the leaderboard order stable as the evenly-matched boats surf eastwards. As MRCC Punta... [Read more]

Tight formation in tough conditions

(by Oliver Dewar) Over the weekend, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet passed the halfway point in their Leg 3 passage across the Pacific Ocean between Wellington, New Zealand, and Cape Horn at the southern tip of Latin America. With over 2,000 miles... [Read more]

Giving the Southern Limit a bit of space

(by Oliver Dewar) After the dead calm yesterday morning (04/03), the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet picked up speed towards midday with averages climbing from a frustrating one knot, to between six-seven knots with solo sailor, Michel Kleinjans, on... [Read more]

Double-handed fleet slam into a light patch in tight formation

(by Oliver Dewar) This morning, the Portimão Global Ocean Race leadership battle is intensifying. After four days at the front the tightly packed double-handed fleet, Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos temporarily handed pole... [Read more]

Leg 3, Week 1 review

(by Oliver Dewar) Leg 3 Week 1 (Saturday 21st February – Friday 27th February): After a flying start from Wellington, New Zealand, the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet remained tightly packed as the boats forged eastwards into the Pacific Ocean at... [Read more]

The fleet close up as the race changes gear

(by Oliver Dewar) The chase is now on as the Portimão Global Ocean Race fleet begin to compress in their approach to the western limit of the mandatory Southern Ocean exclusion zone. Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz are leading the double-handed class... [Read more]

Roaring Forty leads the fleet as the northern group make gains

(by Oliver Dewar) At 1820 GMT yesterday (24/02/09), the two leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race parted company having shadowed each other through the western Pacific for three days. At the time of the split, the lead was held by Felipe Cubillos... [Read more]

The German and Chilean match race heats up

(by Oliver Dewar) On the third day of racing, pole position in the Portimão Global Ocean Race double-handed fleet continues to change. While Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos and the German duo of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme... [Read more]

Close racing and a midnight collision

(by Oliver Dewar) At 1415 local time (0115 GMT) on Saturday, the four boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race crossed the start line of Leg 3 from Wellington, New Zealand, bound for the finish line in Ilhabela, Brazil. First to cross the start line were... [Read more]

They’re off!

(by Oliver Dewar) At 1415 local time (0115 GMT) on Saturday 21st February, the four 40ft yachts in the Portimão Global Ocean Race crossed the start line of Leg 3 in Wellington, New Zealand. Ahead of the seven offshore yachtsmen is a potential of 38 days... [Read more]

The final hours before Leg 3

(by Oliver Dewar) 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),... [Read more]

A punishing 7,500 miles ahead for the 40ft fleet

(by Oliver Dewar) On Saturday 21st February, the seven skippers in the Portimão Global Ocean Race will begin the longest leg in their circumnavigation, sailing approximately 7,500 miles from Wellington, New Zealand, to Ilhabela, Brazil, with around 5,000... [Read more]

The unstoppable rise of Class 40

(by Oliver Dewar) There are many compelling reasons for the rapid progress and popularity of Class40. The class box rule prohibits the use of exotic materials in the boat’s construction while sail numbers and the use of exotic sailcloth are also capped... [Read more]

Leg 2 Racing Log Weeks 5 and 6

(by Oliver Dewar) In the final instalment of the Portimão Global Ocean Race Leg 2 Racing Log, we look at the final ten days at sea for the fleet and record the finish times, leg times and the overall race point values for Leg 1 and Leg 2. The closing... [Read more]

Yet another tight finish for the German and Chilean teams

(by Oliver Dewar) At 03:01:37 local time on Friday (14:01:37GMT Thursday), Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme crossed the finish line in Wellington, New Zealand, on Class 40 Beluga Racer, taking first place in Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race. The... [Read more]

Beluga Racer keeps Desafio Cabo de Hornos at bay

(by Oliver Dewar) At 0620GMT this morning (15/01/09), the two lead boats in Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race were only 46 miles apart with Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga Racer 47 miles from the finish line in Wellington, New Zealand.... [Read more]

A light airs, finish line scramble for the race leaders is in progress

(by Oliver Dewar) The two leading boats in the Portimão Global Ocean Race are gripped by light airs with the route to the finish line in Wellington blocked by a stationary high pressure system to the north-west of frontrunner Beluga Racer and second... [Read more]

“Chaos” ahead as the two lead boats approach the coast

(by Oliver Dewar) Throughout Monday, Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos continued to poll higher speeds than the German race leaders, Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme aboard Beluga Racer, further eroding the distance deficit between... [Read more]

Boris Herrmann nominated for the “German Offshore Award 2009”

The German Offshore Owners Association, founded a year ago in Germany as a community of interests for yachting sailors of the high seas, has nominated Boris Hermann as a candidate for the second “German Offshore Award”. The “German Offshore Award”... [Read more]

A German and Chilean duel south of Tasmania

(by Oliver Dewar) On Tuesday morning, the Portimão Global Ocean Race frontrunner, Beluga Racer,  flattened her dive south-east through the Indian Ocean riding a corridor of strong SW breeze delivering gusts approaching 50 knots. Boris Herrmann and Felix... [Read more]

Nico Budel ashore in Cape Town and planning to rejoin race

(by Oliver Dewar) 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... [Read more]

Closing the gap at the front

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Sailing by the numbers

(by Brian Hancock) 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,... [Read more]

Diving south again

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Fast sailing in the Southern Ocean

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Marking the halfway point

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Charging toward a New Year

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Nico plucked from imminent disaster

(by Brian Hancock) At 11:45 GMT today there was a dramatic rescue deep in the South Indian Ocean. The 17,000 tonne bulk carrier CSK Radiance, having been diverted earlier in the week at the request of MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) Reunion,... [Read more]

STOP PRESS - Bulk carrier Radiance is on station alongside Hayai

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Nico hangs on through gale force winds

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Nico Budel issues a Mayday call

(by Oliver Dewar and Brian Hancock) Nico Budel, racing Leg 2 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race aboard his Open 40 Hayai, has sustained irreparable damage to the keel of his yacht and has issued a MAYDAY call seeking immediate assistance. The 69 year... [Read more]

Keel problems on Hayai

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Beluga Racer first past Kerguelen Gate at 19:50 UTC Saturday

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

They’re off - next stop Wellington

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Leg 2 start postponed for 24 hours

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

The Fleet Prepares For The Big South

(by Oliver Dewar) 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 7,500 mile Leg 2 from Cape Town to... [Read more]

A day in Simonstown

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Van Der Wel Brothers come home

(By Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Nico Brudel arrives in great shape!

(By Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Michel Kleinjans wins the solo division

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos are in

(by Brian Hancock) It has been a thrilling day in Cape Town. As first Beluga Racer took 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... [Read more]

Wacky weather

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

A look over the transom - week four of the Portimão Global Ocean Race

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Boris back in the green

08.11.08: 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... [Read more]

The race tightens

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

The rich get richer

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Beluga Racer first to the Recife Gate

(by Brian Hancock) 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... [Read more]

Beluga Racer on a charge

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... [Read more]

Third lead change in as many days

by Brian Hancock. 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... [Read more]

Desafio Cabo de Hornos storms into the lead

by Brian Hancock. 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... [Read more]

12 days to the start in Portimao

With just 12 days 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... [Read more]

28 Crews To Set Sail At The Start Of The 7th Transat Quebec - Saint-Malo

The seventh Transat Quebec Saint-Malo, which will start on Sunday 20th July in front of the Quebec Yacht Club will see no fewer than 28 boats lining up for the start of this crewed transatlantic race, which previously saw wins by Karine Fauconnier, Franck... [Read more]

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