Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Leg 2 - Tenerife to Bermuda
Jolie Brise has won the second leg of the Tall Ships Transatlantic Challenge, 1st in class and 1st overall.
Leaving Tenerife on 17th May, Jolie Brise was in the lead (on corrected time) within five days of leaving the Canaries, jostling for the number one position with her closest rival Tecla (Netherlands) for the rest of the race.
She will now sail on to Bermuda where she has certainly earned her place on the new 85c Bermudan commemorative stamp, the release of which is timed for the arrival of the Tall Ships on 12th June.
The second leg has provided some strategically challenging sailing due to light winds. The skipper and crew of Jolie Brise have had to maintain their determination and concentration to find more wind and to make the most of Jolie Brise's good performance in light airs. Jolie Brise's position (1st in fleet and 1st in class) was stolen by Tecla on the last two days of the race, but, in a nail-biting finish, the crew were delighted to regain the winning position by the time the race was called to an early halt. Race officials had to cut the second leg short on Tuesday 2nd June at 14.00 hrs (GMT) to ensure all vessels will reach Bermuda in time for the 400th Anniversary celebrations.
The third leg on the Tall ships Challenge will cover some 780 nautical miles from Bermuda to Charleston in South Carolina, USA, departing on 15th June. To follow her progress, and to read the crews online journal, go to www.joliebrise.com.
NB: The race positions are provisional until all the competing vessels arrive in Bermuda and hand in their race declaration forms to Officials. Please see www.tallshipsraces.org for the most recent posting.
