But what about the race!? I hear you cry...
We came second. Booo!
By 6 minutes. ooOo!
Considering that the race took just under 55 hours, 6 minutes, after adjusted time, is tight.
Christian Radich had got the change in wind she needed and was able to utilise her speed to carry her home.
I later learned two facts that I think makes our achiement all the greater:
1. Christian Radich should have been racing with her two small 'hip' boats as we were (don't know the technical name for them). These boats create drag and slow the ship down. Apparently Christian Radich's were being repaired at the time of the race... like they didn't know the race was coming!
2. Christian Radich at times used professional helmsmen who'd come on board specially for the race, none of their trainees got anywhere near the helm during the race. Meanwhile on the good ship Sørlandet the trainees manned the helm 80-90% of the race. A good helmsman can maintain speed longer in tougher conditions and can get an extra knot of speed here or there
Despite these two significant, speed-influencing, factors, not taken into account in the handicaps (so far as I understand), the fact that we finished only 6 minutes behind makes our achievement all the more great!
Well done to Sørlandet's crew for guiding us so well!
Here's a screengrab of the route of the race
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