Five boats are home. Conrad Colman’s Aotearoa Ocean Racing crew aboard MSIG Europe remains the last boat racing, sitting 74.3 nautical miles from Lorient this morning with a high-pressure zone closing in that could kill the breeze before they finish.
MSIG Europe’s final push: Holding a northerly line at close to 90 degrees to the mark, doing 15-19 knots. Their own shorthand for the closing weather: “Winter is coming.” This morning’s numbers show a strong top speed against a much lower six-hour average, the breeze already softening. Routing has them covering close to 107nm in the next 24 hours if it holds, enough to finish today.
The story behind it: MSIG Europe is the only boat in the fleet without foils, sailed by a young, largely first-time IMOCA crew against designs a generation newer. A snapped furling line, a torn boom track, and nine days of sailing the oldest boat in the fleet as hard as it can go. Still out there giving it everything for the final miles.
Embrace the Challenge’s finish, and a new detail: Embrace the Challenge crossed in fifth, 12 hours behind the winner. Skipper Oliver Heer’s own account adds a fact not previously reported: after mainsail damage in a brutal 40-knot front, the crew had to stop completely for around 17 hours, the longest full halt of any boat this race. Getting pushed out the back of that front opened a shorter route than the leaders were sailing, letting them claw back into contention. Heer: “For our first race, we’ve done alright. We’re beyond proud of it.”
Final result so far:
- United by the Ocean – Sep 11, 01:39
- 11th Hour Racing – Sep 11, 01:48
- DMG Mori – Sep 11, 02:01
- Malizia – Sep 11, 02:06
- Embrace the Challenge – Sep 11, 13:36
- MSIG Europe – still racing, 74.3nm to go
