The Oyster 72, Kealoha 8, is the first cruising monohull to arrive in Salvador. She crossed the finish line at 06:30 local time, Sunday 25 January, some 22 days since leaving Cape Town. Adrian Osbourne, skipper, described the sailing as 'a whole lot of holes. In the space of minutes, we had 15 knots of wind, then nothing.' The crew described the crossing as the longest passage so far taken.
The fickle weather has been a talking point amongst the cruising fleet. In recent days some yachts have progressed by only 20 miles in a 24 hour period.
Thankfully there have been other issues to distract, such as the one year anniversary of World ARC, with the event having departed St Lucia on 22 January 2008. Since then, the yachts have achieved an amazing 23,000 miles of sailing, leaving only 2,000 to complete their circumnavigation.
The Beneteau First 47.7, Strega, skippered by Andreas Steffen, is expected in Salvador at midday, Monday 26th, followed closely by the Trimaran 50, Branec IV.