New Zealand’s Steinlager 2 Clinches Victory in Whitbread Yacht Race
Steinlager 2, a red-hulled ketch from New Zealand, swept into a southern English port today to clinch victory in the 33,000-mile Whitbread Round The World Yacht race.
New Zealand flags waved in Southampton as a fleet of pleasure boats escorted skipper Peter Blake and his yacht toward a champagne reception after the sixth and final leg from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., of the arduous nine-month contest.
Steinlager 2, which crossed the line first on all the legs, and the expected second-place finisher, the New Zealand ketch Fisher & Paykel, have dominated the race with their extra speed advantage.
Organizers praised the 16 crew members of the winning yacht for immaculate preparation and skillful seamanship.
Third place was likely to go to the sloop Merit of Switzerland’s Pierre Fehlmann, which was fending off British challenger Lawrie Smith in Rothmans.
It was the fifth and longest Whitbread race.
An all-woman crew, skippered by 26-year-old Tracey Edwards, took part for the first time in the British yacht Maiden and was expected to arrive on Thursday night or Friday morning.
During the 33,932 nautical miles, the boats survived encounters with whales, icebergs and stormy seas.
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