2022-23 Ocean Racing: Team WindWhisper Racing wins Round 3 (…]

Since leader Pablo Arart (ESP) could not take part in this last stage, Daryl Weslang (NZL), a former race winner, took over. “It feels great to get here, happy to be part of the team. I had the chance to take the handlebars on the last stage.”

Although the lead in the Mediterranean was always great, the choppy nature of the breeze prevented Daryl Weslang and his crew from resting on their laurels. “The biggest challenge was trying to cover someone who was late because the other boats had very different weather conditions. As fast as possible to the finish. There was no option to get back to the coast with the others.”

The greatest responsibility for such decisions always lies with the sailor, so Axel Magdal (NOR) rightfully deserves credit for the brave choices he made on the race course. said Axel Magdal, who chose to continue looking forward rather than playing Game
Game
#Game
More traditional and defensive by covering the opponent. “We decided to head towards the Algerian coast to take the faster route. We thought the other option, covering other boats, would be slow for us. So we chose the faster option and it worked out well.”

Axel Magdal also won the Navigator’s Prize – the Vasco da Gama Mirpuri Foundation Prize – which rewards the first boat to cross the line of latitude 37 degrees north. This was largely due to a very good decision to separate from the fleet in the English Channel, a decision which the absent captain Pablo Ararte watched with great interest from land. “The crew made a brilliant strategic choice. The fleet was under light pressure and a high breeze was coming in. They stayed to the north and were the first to take advantage of this strong wind. That’s when they managed to separate themselves from the fleet.”

From there, the team never looked back, leading up the Strait of Gibraltar with a comfortable lead. For Phil Harmer (Australia), today’s victory is even more special as it comes on his 44th day^H holiday. The two-time race winner was happy to get back on board the VO65 and sail through the Straits of Gibraltar at night, dodging killer whales that were showing a keen interest in some of the other VO65s. “I think the killer whales were sleeping when we crossed the strait,” he said, laughing. “We went in stealth mode, managed to evade them, and were lucky we got out unscathed.”

One of the crew, Liz Wardley, has a special relationship with VO65, having overseen work to refit the boat, which she had already run under the old name Team AkzoNobel. “It’s great to be here today. We had such a lead in the Mediterranean and there was always the possibility of others catching up, it was exhausting. We had a good first leg, a good sixth and winning the seventh today. With a lead Over 100 miles is really cool. IMOCA
imuka
#IMOCA
It’s a double win.”

While the WindWhisper Racing team of Pablo Arart and Daryl Weslang enjoy the hospitality of Genoa after being the first to finish and win Ocean Race
Ocean Race
Ocean Race and Volvo Ocean Race
VO65 Sprint, seven boats still at sea, sailing in light winds to reach the finish.

In the department IMOCA
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#IMOCA
Holcim-PRB team leads the fleet. After enjoying strong winds off the French coast overnight, the team is now back small Speed
Speed
# Speed
in winds near 5 knots, with 100 miles covered to the finish line.

“Last night we had a very favorable wind – 20-25 knots – which was great because the boat loves the wind and we love when the boat flies, so we were happy,” said Ambrogio Beccaria, the Italian navigator of the ship Holcim. PRB, tonight. “And we still got a good rest on the ship, it’s a stable and enjoyable sailing.”

As far as the future is concerned, there are still swings and variations to cross before arriving.

“Now we’re heading north for the next transition,” Captain Ben Schwartz added early Monday afternoon, joking that they’re betting on when they’ll be on board. “Ahead, there is a transition to a southwesterly wind, and it is these winds that can bring us Genesis…with a little luck.”

Vital heat, right behind her, confirms that it won’t be easy.

Paul Melhat commented: “There’s still some time before Gnes is reached…”. “It’s very complicated from here to the end. There will probably be a rapprochement of the fleet and then it may open up, some may choose the coast, others the open sea. There are a lot of possibilities, but we will choose tonight.”

Team Malizia also appreciated the weather conditions last night: “It’s very good,” said Will Harris. “We multiplied by six Speed
Speed
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(30 knots) we reached most of the stage! “

On the VO65 side, the battle is now for second place in the stage and overall classification of the VO65 Sprint. Team JAJO has a two-point lead over Austrian Ocean Racing/Team Genova in the overall standings. But with the four VO65s spread out over just 15 miles, the race is still wide open.

“the Game
Game
#Game
“It’s to stay focused on every little detail,” said JAJO captain Gilmer van Beek.

“I think we will all meet again,” said Viva Mexico’s navigator Gonzalo Infante. “All we have to do now is find a way to escape!”

Given the forecast, the ETA for other boats is very uncertain, but the best estimate remains Tuesday morning local time. We will post updates on our website and invite you to consult the map regularly to keep abreast of the evolving situation.