Photos by Ingrid Abery - www.hotcapers.com
Twenty four hours into the Portimão Global Ocean Race and Belgium’s Michel Kleinjans is giving his fellow competitors a lesson on how to leverage the first day of an around-the-world race. After a conservative start off Portimão yesterday, Kleinjans quickly turned on the afterburners and rocketed to the front of the fleet. Sailing closer to the beach on the way to the first mandatory gate at Sagres, a spectacular promenade 20 miles into the race, Kleinjans aboard his Open 40, Roaring Forty, was able to match the leaders boat for boat. As they approached the waypoint that marked the southern end of the gate, Roaring Forty enjoyed a better wind angle and was soon well in the lead claiming the first of many cape roundings as his own. To help celebrate a pod of dolphins joined in the fun.
The wind died with the setting sun and speeds dropped, but Roaring Forty kept putting distance on the rest of the pack. “As I expected, the combination of a bit more sail area with my mast being bigger than before, and probably a weight advantage as I am alone and this boat is some 300 kilograms lighter then the Class 40 boats, makes for a good light weather combination,” said Kleinjans. “So the first part of the race to Sagres, which was pretty straightforward, showed already some potential although it was just a very little battle in comparison to things to come.” Read more...
