Overwhelming joy once again on the arrival in Progreso on Monday evening of the two Chilean skippers, Felipe Cubillos and Daniel Bravo Silva, in 6th position on board Desafio Cabo de Hornos. A bonus perhaps for this team as finishing the race after 29 days at sea means they have returned to their native continent of Latin America. The crowd which welcomed these two thoroughly likeable chaps offered a welcome in keeping with the commitment demonstrated by the yachtsmen during the race from France to Mexico. Shortly afterwards, this morning, Tuesday, the team on 40 Degrees finished at 9h10 French time, making them the second British boat to set foot in the land of the Maya people, finishing their transatlantic race in 29 days 16 hours and 20 minutes.

Americanos Latinos

Felipe Cubillos and Daniel Bravo Silva crossed the finishing line on Tuesday 17th November at 3h18, French time. The Chilean crew on Desafio Cabo de Hornos finish 6th overall (before jury validation), taking 29 days 10 hours 28 minutes 20 seconds, for a theoretical average speed of 7.09 knots over the 5 000 mile long course. This is a 100% Latin American crew, and they received honours from their Mexican cousins who had turned up in number to welcome them in to Progresso, along with the mayor of Progreso and Jacques Auxiette, President of the Pays de la Loire region.

Felipe Cubillos : « I’m pleased to be here. It was very important to compete and finish the race with Daniel, our first race together. We’re very happy to have taken part in this project which we believed in from the start ; we are pleased to be among the participants of this first run of the Ruta Solidaria del Chocolate. That said, we’re starving hungry. We haven’t eaten much at all over the last three days. There was a race within a race. The first fortnight was thwart with the succession of low pressure systems, then the arrival in the trade winds and a Caribbean crossing which was really pleasant. It’s a beautiful race and extremely positive for the Class 40."

Daniel Bravo Silva : « Happy, happy, happy. I feel like I have accomplished something. This was a super tough race . I’m still having a bit of a job realizing that I actually did it. It’s fantastic. It’s brilliant to finish in Latin America, here in Mexico. It’s like coming home ! »

« Sir Harding and Dame Merron »

Miranda Merron and Peter Harding sailed into the Yucatan harbour in the middle of the night local time (9h10 French time). They finish with a highly respectable 7th place in 29 days 16 hours and 20 minutes from Nantes-St-Nazaire and Progreso, at an average speed of 7.03 knots. The only yachtswoman in the Solidaire du Chocolat and her compatriot finish 2 days 23 hours and 45 minutes after the winners of this first edition.

Miranda Merron : « We’re in Progreso at last ! I’m really pleased to be here! It has been a very long but interesting race and we’re pleased with our 7th place. As with most races, the end of the race was particularly difficult. We had to change tack all the time on our way in. There were some very trying moments ; the series of lows for example. Every day, Peter would ask when the trade wind was going to come in, but it never did. We weren’t expecting to spend quite so much time upwind. We gave everything we had on this Solidaire du Chocolat. Yesterday was a great day as we were downwind all the way along the coast. One of the shore team had hidden some foie gras. We really appreciated that. What I fancy now is a good beer.»

Peter Harding : « The first fortnight was dreadful. What an excellent race the Solidaire du Chocolat is ! Miranda and I had great fun. »

Next across the finishing line

Seven teams are still in the Caribbean and have yet to cross the finishing line. Currently lying 8th, Jacques Fournier and Jean-Edouard Criquioche are expected in to Progreso on Thursday morning (French time).

Jacques Fournier : « We’re in great shape ! We can smell the finishing line from here! Conditions right now are not too tough, even easy compared to what we’ve been through. We’re sailing calmly on a direct course to the finish. As we close in on Mexico, we are likely to have choppy seas and no wind but we’ll be okay. Just a matter of time now.  We don’t have the pressure of fellow competitors behind us any more, as they are quite far off so we can afford not subjecting the gear to anything unnecessary. Our option meant that we were not able to catch up with the Chileans and the English in front but we have managed to maintain and even increase our lead on those astern. The atmosphere on board is good but there are some fairly hairy moments with lots of maneuvering up on deck. We’re looking forward to getting into Progreso and sharing that with everybody.»

Barbara Bernard

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 )