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Since the outset, the Whitbread Race had kept the public enthralled. Like an eight month mini-series, it embraced every element of sporting and human drama with a full cast of extraordinary characters. But it was not over yet and the final leg was only 12 hours old when the first alarm bells were sounded.
Herve Jan on Gatorade reported a broken spreader which forced them into Jacksonville to make repairs. A few hours later, Rothmans skipper Lawrie Smith reported a broken shroud which forced them into Georgetown in South Carolina for repairs, with two Lear jets specially commissioned to fly in parts and people. They had time for a Big Mac before carrying on, but the delays destroyed any lingering hopes of a last gasp victory for Smith in his home port.
On the fourth day, Steinlager 2 was also in trouble. A chain plate holding the main mast and mizzen shroud failed, forcing helmsman Brad Butterworth to crash gybe to save the rig. But Blake was determined to continue even though the mast was in danger of coming down and his crew spent all night working on a new fitting that would keep them going at full speed to the finish. And besides, no one knew of their difficulties because he refused to report the breakage knowing that F&P would seize on such a valuable opportunity. One of the F&P crew had already commented wryly that God seemed to be one of Steinlager 2’s main sponsors and this would only fuel their resentment.
A couple of crewmembers on Steinlager 2 had formed close liaisons with a couple of girls on Maiden so the girl’s boat’s progress was watched with interest by the race leaders. The news that she had collided with a whale and then was spun 360 degrees by a waterspout, leaving them with a twisted mast, was received with concern, but there was little that could be done and they returned to the task in hand, which was to win their sixth consecutive leg and smash all existing records.
The top part of Satquote’s mast fell off then F&P suffered more problems with their mizzen, NCB Ireland broke a running backstay and Merit’s chances took a knock when a mast fitting failed. The race had started as a demolition derby and was finishing in the same vein after 32,000 nm of constant battering.
Another pattern was repeating itself in the closing stages. Four days from the finish, the crews from the two Kiwi boats could see each other and just before Lands End, the match-racing between them started with a vengeance. Off the Lizard the pair were within three boat lengths of each other, the lead held by Steinlager 2 and once again Blake cancelled the watch system and pulled on his lucky socks.
“Throughout the last night at sea, we had everyone sitting with their legs over the side to get every ounce of speed out of Big Red. It was working and the F&P boys could make no impact on us. Fishpie dropped even further astern and with the tide about to turn in our favour for the last 20 nm, we slowly began to relax in the knowledge that they couldn’t catch us.” (Big Red)
They couldn’t and didn’t. Dalton arrived in Southampton 36 minutes in arrears.
“A simple handshake and a look into their eyes was all that was required. Like us they had given this race their hearts and souls and had been formidable competitors.”(Big Red)
The fifth Whitbread Race belonged to the Kiwis who put on a magnificent show by producing such close finishes in four of the six legs, the margins ranging between six and 90 minutes. Steinlager 2 may have won every leg to win six Beefeater Trophies as well as the Whitbread Trophy, and the history books will record the race as being monopolised by Blake, but in truth, the contest was a true classic for being so nerve-rackingly and compellingly close.
Blake was awarded an OBE for his sailing endeavours and bowed out of the Whitbread Race to pursue other interests. Tracy Edwards too was recognised with an MBE in the New Years Honours list for her remarkable achievements in finishing 18th overall. Smith was just off the podium in fourth place while the brave Russians on Fasizi defied all the odds to complete the course in 11th place.
There had been plenty of drama, but surprisingly, only two boats, Martela and Rucanor failed to complete the course. The Whitbread had become the most prestigious offshore yacht race, bar none…and plans for the 1993-94 event were already being hatched.