The Ocean Race, the prestigious sailing event, is currently in its final leg from The Hague to Genoa, and the competition is heating up. The participating crews have already covered a significant distance of 1,000 miles, reaching the halfway mark. In the highly competitive VO65 class, the Polish yacht WindWhisper has taken the lead, setting an impressive pace and demonstrating exceptional skill and strategy. This outstanding performance has earned them the esteemed Vasco da Gama trophy for being the first to traverse Cape St Vincent and Fortress Sagres.
Masterful Navigation Propels WindWhisper to a Commanding Lead in The Ocean Race
Commencing on June 15th in The Hague, the Netherlands, this leg of the race has encountered relatively weaker winds, making the role of navigators even more crucial. Navigators play a pivotal part in these conditions, relying on their expertise to navigate the waters, interpret weather forecasts, plan the optimal route, and utilize their experience and intuition to gain an edge over their rivals. The navigator for the Polish team is Aksel Magdahl, a seasoned professional from Norway, who has exhibited remarkable proficiency. Right from the start, Magdahl’s suggestion to head further south than the rest of the fleet paid off, propelling WindWhisper into the lead. Later, in the Biscayne, the Polish yacht once again opted for a different approach, enabling it to avoid significant obstacles and maintain a comfortable lead of over 60 miles from Team Jajo and Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team, who were vying for second place. Currently, WindWhisper holds a commanding lead of 94 miles over its closest competitors.
WindWhisper’s Historic Triumph: Leading the Fleet and Claiming Vasco da Gama Trophy in The Ocean Race
On June 21st, WindWhisper crossed the 37th-degree north latitude, passing through the renowned fortress of Sagres, historically associated with Henry the Sailor. This accomplishment is not only significant in the VO65 class but also positions the Polish yacht as the frontrunner across the entire fleet participating in The Ocean Race, including the VO65 and Imoca classes. As a result, WindWhisper’s crew will be honoured with the Vasco da Gama trophy, sponsored by the esteemed Portuguese Mirpuri Foundation, during the final ceremony. Although this trophy doesn’t offer any additional points, it adds a prestigious dimension to the team’s achievements.
The Challenging Journey Ahead: Can WindWhisper Racing Team Secure a Triumphant Third Victory in The Ocean Race?
The challenging journey ahead for the racing crews includes crossing the bustling Strait of Gibraltar and returning to the Mediterranean. The question remains: Can the team led by New Zealand skipper Daryl Wislang, who has taken over from Pablo Arrarte for this leg, maintain their lead? If the current standings persist until the end, the white-and-red-flagged yacht will claim victory in The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup. This would be an extraordinary and unprecedented triumph for Polish sailing. Wislang, aged 42, is no stranger to winning The Ocean Race, having secured victory in 2014-15 representing Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, and in 2017-18 while sailing aboard China’s Dongfeng Race Team. Now, he and the entire WindWhisper Racing Team are hungry for a third triumph. The crew includes notable members such as Liz Wardley, Stanislaw Bajerski, Arianne van de Loosdrecht, Mateusz Gwóźdź, Gemma Jones, Phil Harmer, Robbie Kane, Thomas Rouxel, and Tomasz Piotrowski, who serves as the on-board reporter.
As of now, the VO65 class standings at the halfway stage from The Hague to Genoa are as follows:
1. WindWhisper Racing Team (Poland) – Distance to finish: 1026 miles
2. Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team (Denmark) – Distance to leader: 93.7 miles
3. Team JAJO (Netherlands) – Distance to leader: 94.8 miles
4. Viva México (Mexico) – Distance to leader: 116.7 miles
5. Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova (Austria) – Distance to leader: 140.4 miles
WindWhisper Racing Team’s groundbreaking participation in The Ocean Race is made possible with the support of their sponsors: Bumech SA, WindWhisper, CISE, KHG Invest, Helly Hansen, and AWL Grip. The Polish yacht proudly sails under the flag of Yacht Klub Polski Gdynia.
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