For Ian Lipinski and Atoine Carpentier, the fifth stage of the Globe40 just a Sunday final. At 23.20 German time, the two Frenchmen regained a wafer-thin lead in the Globe40 with their victory on leg five last night. They completed the Cape Horn leg from Valparaiso to Recife over 5,898 nautical miles in 25 days and 5 hours at an average speed of 9.7 knots.
Globe40: French and Belgians equal on points before the final
After the prologue and four legs, the fifth began on 18 February off Chile. At the start, the Belgians were ahead in the intermediate classification of the Class 40 double-handed round the world race with 15 points. The French followed with 17 points. One leg further on, the French have now overtaken the Belgians again on the double scored leg to Recife. "Crédit Mutuel" leads the Globe40 classification with 19 points ahead of the Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium team, which has more stage wins and the most recent triumph.
The situation before the final stage is as clear as it is open: Whoever arrives and crosses the final finish line before the other has won the second edition of the Globe40. The scenario creates a correspondingly high level of tension for the final sprint to the French start and finish harbour of the circumnavigation on Class40ies. The starting signal for the sixth and final leg will be given on 29 March.
The comeback of Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink, who are returning to the race for the finale after their mast damage on stage three, makes the final sprint even more exciting. The young crew will not be able to do much more in the overall standings after missing out on three stages. However, Burke and Fink can tip the scales in the duel for victory between the French and Belgians and also fight for a stage win themselves.
Burke and Fink ahead of the Globe40 comeback
In the early stages of the Globe40, Team Next Generation Boating Around the World had already beaten both of the favourite teams. Belgian skipper Jonas Gerckens congratulated his rivals on "Crédit Mutuel", who had already arrived, on their stage success after his team crossed the finish line on Monday. Gerckens commented on the organisers' victory announcement with "Bravo, guys! Rendez-vous in the final!" Gerckens knows: "The last leg will decide the overall victory, especially in view of the comeback of the German boat."
On the fifth leg on 23 February, the Belgians first had problems with the mainsail traveller and the broken J1 halyard. an early repair stop then repaired in the Chilean harbour of Valdivia and irresistibly caught up as the race progressed. After trailing by as much as 612 nautical miles, they were able to close the gap to twelve nautical miles before they too had to contend with the light wind zones off the Brazilian coast.
Worse still for the Belgians: their magnificent comeback, during which Jonas Gerckens could hardly believe "that we suddenly had a chance of winning the stage again", was halted by a fishing net off the coast of Pernambuco. An involuntary one-hour swim, a drop in the wind - and the French team flew away again. And this time Jonas Gerckens and Corentin Douguet were unable to catch their long-term rivals Ian Lipinski and Antoine Carpentier.
Of course, I will remember this first Cape Horn passage in idyllic conditions for the rest of my life." Antoine Carpentier
In the end, the Belgians were around 16.5 hours behind the stage winner "Crédit Mutuel" on the Recife course. Behind the two scow-bug dominators of the race around the world, who deliver thrilling duels in seriesIn the final sprint to Recife, the top bow boats are now jostling for position, their crews also fighting an exciting battle in their own league. Here, the French "Free Dom" defended third place on Monday afternoon.
Strong "Whiskey Jack", "Barco Brasil" without bowsprit
She was followed by the most beaten finishers to date on "Whiskey Jack" - now in fourth place. Melodie Schaffer and Paul Stratfold were the only two sailors in this Globe40 edition who had not passed Cape Horn for the first time and were able to put this experience to good use. However, with just under 400 nautical miles to the finish Lisa Berger and Jade Edwards-Leaney on "Wilson" on Monday afternoon at the stern of "Whiskey Jack" again.
The battle between the crews on the pointed bow boats continues in the South Atlantic, while the heat becomes more oppressive on the way north. Bringing up the rear on Monday was the "Barco Brasil", which is normally further ahead and whose crew is paying tribute to the broken bowsprit. The organisers expect to decide the positions of those chasing the top two between 18 and 19 March. Click here for the Globe40 tracker. The entire fleet still has until 29 March in Recife. Then the curtain rises on the final act.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
