4 minute read
Dramatic start for Ryder Williams in Auckland leg of the Ocean Globe Race
from BREEZE SUMMER 2023
by RNZYS
By Ivor Wilkins
Mastercard Youth Training Programme graduate Ryder Williams looks set to celebrate Christmas and his 18th birthday in the Southern Ocean, following early damage in the 7,400-mile Cape Town-Auckland leg of the Ocean Globe Race.
At the time of writing, his ETA in Auckland aboard the Swan 57 Explorer was February 7, some three weeks after the race restart, which will take the 13-boat fleet around Cape Horn to Punta del Este, Uruguay.
The race, which recreates and celebrates the spirit and conditions of the first Whitbread Round the World Race 50 years ago, includes an opportunity for a youth sailor to join race organiser Don McIntyre’s Swan 57, Explorer, on the leg finishing in his or her home port.
Ryder, who is a member of the extended Whiting sailing dynasty, joined the yacht in Cape Town and had a baptism by fire on the first night of the passage home, which he described as a “very interesting” experience.
After the start, the fleet struggled to escape the wind shadow of the city’s signature Table Mountain. However, by the time Ryder woke up for his midnight watch, they were well offshore and it was blowing about 30 knots with a “pretty big” sea state.
“Through the whole watch it was building and building, so we tried to furl away the genoa,” he said in an interview with the race organisers.
“We were quite overpowered. Unfortunately, the furling line broke, the genoa unfurled in 40 knots and we had quite a bit to sort out. We had pretty big waves coming over at that point and were going quite fast.”
In the struggle to regain control, the halyard broke, the bolt rope started ripping, the sail went into the water and the crew ended up having to cut it away. With damage to the forestay and furler and no genoa, Explorer returned to Cape Town for repairs.
Interviewed as they were about to put to sea once again, Ryder was keen to get back in the action. “We are about to get back to sea, which will be awesome.
“It was a very interesting first night but we are pretty excited to get back out there and give it another crack.”
The race is described as “an eight-month adventure around the world for ordinary sailors on normal yachts”. Racing ocean-going GRP production yachts designed before 1988, there are no computers, no satellites, no GPS, and no high-tech materials. “Sextants, team spirit and raw determination alone in the great traditions of ocean racing are allowed on this truly human endeavour.”
Fourteen yachts ranging in size from 51ft to 74ft entered the event, representing France (five), Australia (two), Finland (two), and one each from the USA, South Africa, Spain, Italy and UK. The US entry, Godspeed, has withdrawn and the South African entry, Sterna returned to South Africa for repairs, but intended to rejoin the race.
In the battle for line honours into Auckland, with less than a 1,000 miles to go the Italian Swan 65 Translated 9 was leading the French 73-foot ketch, Pen Duick VI by just 75 miles. The first boat was expected to arrive in Auckland early on December 13.
For the Auckland stopover this summer, the RNZYS has agreed to host the fleet and undertake race management operations for the finish and restart. The fleet is expected to arrive shortly before Christmas and remain in Auckland until the January 14 restart.
Auckland boaties and Squadron members in particular are urged to put out the welcome mat and support the fleet with the hospitality that, over five decades, made this city the competitors’ favourite stopover.
Events planned include:
• A welcome party for the fleet at the RNZYS on Saturday, December 23.
• On Friday, January 12, a special Ocean Globe Rum Race will be followed by the official farewell party at RNZYS for the fleet before they head away for the Southern Ocean leg around Cape Horn.
• On Sunday, January 14, the RNZYS will host a farewell breakfast open to members, before heading out on the water to give the race yachts a rousing Auckland send-off.
In association with the NZ Sailing Trust, Steinlager 2 and Lion New Zealand will join the farewell fleet on the Waitemata Harbour. Members are strongly encouraged to get their boats out on the harbour to make this send-off a real spectacle.
