The WindWhisper secured the victory on Monday, winning the final leg of the race from The Hague in the Netherlands to Genoa in Italy, with a considerable margin over the rest of the pack, according to theoceanrace.com website.
The Polish-flagged team won the 2023 Ocean Race Sprint Cup even though its skipper, veteran ocean-racer Pablo Arrarte of Spain, was unable to take part in the final leg, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
Youth and experience
In Arrarte’s absence, the WindWhisper Racing Team was skippered by another accomplished around-the-world racer, Daryl Wislang of New Zealand, who said at the finish line in Genoa: “It’s an amazing feeling to arrive here, happy to be part of the team, and I was lucky enough to take the handlebars for the last leg.”
Under Arrarte, the Polish-flagged yacht had earlier won the first two legs of the 2023 Ocean Race Sprint Cup, from Alicante, Spain, to Mindelo, Cabo Verde; and from Aarhus, Denmark, to The Hague in the Netherlands, the state news agency PAP reported.
The Polish boat’s 21-member crew also included a host of home-grown sailors, according to officials.
2023 Ocean Race Sprint Cup
In all, six Volvo Ocean 65-class boats took part in the 2023 Ocean Race Sprint Cup, the PAP news agency reported.
The Ocean Race Sprint Cup is a new trophy specially created for VO65 teams, under the auspices of the prestigious round-the-world Ocean Race, according to organisers.
This year, the six participating yachts competed in in-port races scheduled in each city as well as in the three stages of offshore racing from point to point, reporters were told.
“This new trophy will enable a new generation of sailors, along with some familiar faces, to gain some valuable experience in the Ocean Race,” said Phil Lawrence, director of The Ocean Race.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, Team Wind Whisper, theoceanrace.com