Spirit of Sark win Leg 2 in Wellington

Spirit of Sark bashing through the waves

After an agonising last few miles, Spirit of Sark managed to overtake BG SPIRIT, battle through 40 knots of wind and take the Leg 2 crown. A jubilant and bearded skipper, Duggie (far too busy to shave!) was ecstatic as he came in first. Last time he raced into New Zealand he was a Crew Volunteer (aboard the yacht Interspray), this time he's a winning skipper. Not only that but he's taken the record, originally set by Conrad Humphreys in the BT Global Challenge 2000/01. Conrad, who went on to win the BT Global Challenge, now racing in the Vendee Globe came into Wellington in a time of 36 days 10hrs 53 min 39 Secs. Spirit of Sark's was 36d 7h 2m 33s!

A look back on Leg 2
Spirit of Sark then was the first yacht to round Cape Horn. After Cape Horn and the subsequent change in the weather, Spirit of Sark hung on to their first place, but only by a small margin, and they swapped back and forth over the next few days with BG SPIRIT, their adversary for much of the leg. After holding the lead for 10 days, Spirit of Sark lost it to BG SPIRIT who made a bold move to the front. However, by Day 25, Spirit of Sark were back in the lead after making the most of the winds changing up to gale force and putting the whole fleet though their entire sail wardrobe! On Day 28 (better known as Christmas Day), Spirit of Sark were still the Global Challenge No 1, leading the way as thoughts turned towards friends and family at home.

Neck-and-neck race with BG SPIRIT
The following day, after a month at sea, an approaching high-pressure system hit the leaders, enabling BP Explorer to catch up and take the lead by Day 30. The light winds were about to pass with a bashing 35 knots from the northwest. However, they were back in the lead, and held on to it doggedly for the next 3 days, until BG SPIRIT managed to catch a slightly better route around the next high-pressure system, and forced Spirit of Sark into second place as they crossed the international date line, skipping 24 hours and missing midnight New Year's Eve altogether! Spirit of Sark fights a massive rear guard action over the next 48 hours, holding off BP Explorer from behind and gradually catching up. By 9am GMT on Day 37, they are just three miles behind as they approach New Zealand. They took the lead in the final hours! Remarkable.

BP Explorer takes second
The champagne corks are popping following an awesome 2nd place battle, which was won - just - by BP Explorer. They were neck and neck right the way through to end with BG SPIRIT but found the ace and crept past! Almost from nowhere BP Explorer shook off third place and decided to contest and take second, very nearly taking first place victory from Spirit of Sark.

BG SPIRIT takes 3rd
BG SPIRIT has finished in third place following a phenomenal battle between Spirit of Sark and BP Explorer. Skipper Andy Forbes and his crew were out there leading just 12 hours ago but were piped to the post, in the 11th hour, by Spirit of Sark (winners) and BP Explorer (2nd), who just managed to find the right wind. BG SPIRIT were marching through in first but got parked in one of those frustrating wind holes, which drive the crew so crazy they literally want to jump out and swim the boat in! A podium place is a very proud place for Andy and his spirits to sit in, particularly given the pace of racing during this leg.