Sailing Magazine
by Richard Crockett
The monohull race for the finish line went down to the wire with just 61 minutes separating first and second.
It must have been heartbreaking for Adrian Kuttel and ‘Atalanta’ not to have taken line honours as this singlehanded sailor virtually led the monohull fleet from the start, so to be pipped at the post by Michael Kavenagh’s fully crewed and bigger ‘Ray of Light’, was undoubtedly tough.
Some solace for Kuttel is that he has won this race on handicap by a country mile – read days here – so he becomes the overall winner.
It would have been poetic justice had ‘Atalanta’ taken line honours as in the 1973 race, of which this edition is the 50th anniversary, Kees Bruynzeel’s ‘Stormy’ took both the line and handicap victories. Kuttel missed that rare double honour, but won on handicap by a massive two day or more margin.
He sailed a great race to keep himself at the head of the fleet and show a clean transom to much bigger and fully crewed yachts. It’s difficult to criticise any part of his race other than he may have been a little too far south at one stage, although that is nitpicking!
His singlehanded performance in the smallest boat in the fleet must surely at some point soon result in a few national awards for the most meritorious ocean race as well as a sailor of year award. Time will tell, and in my book it will be a travesty of justice should he be overlooked.
Kavenagh took his crew and ‘Ray of Light’ on a very traditional Rio Race course, arching up to the north, almost to 20 degrees South, then dropping steadily down to Rio. It was a classic course, despite a few light days.
This race is far from over as the handicap podium places are still to be finalised.
I was pleased to see that the ‘Angels” aboard ‘AlexForbes Archangel” are in with a shout for second spot in the IRC handicap division, and could also have a podium spot in the ORC handicap division. With a shade under 400nm to the finish, they need to focus, sail smart and fast and simply hope that the wind does not go light on them.
It’s been a great race to follow on the YB Tracker which gives all the info anyone needs to be fully informed all the time.
