Ocean Globe Race: Fourth and Final Leg Begins with Drama

13 of the original 14 starters in the 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race (OGR) set sail from Punta del Este, Uruguay on March 5th for the fourth and final leg of 6,550 nautical miles to Southampton, UK. The first arrivals are expected between April 1st and 10th.

Leg 3 was won by Pen Duick VI FR (14) skippered by Marie Tabarly, who beat rival Translated 9 ITL (09). However, Translated 9 was forced to retire from Leg 3 due to hull damage and will not be able to compete in the final leg.

The start of Leg 4 was dramatic:

Shortly after the start, there was a man overboard from Pen Duick VI. The man was recovered safely.
Evrika FR (06) and Explorer AU (28) collided with buoys just after the start in big seas.
Maiden UK (03) took the lead of the fleet, but with over 6,650 nautical miles to go, there is still a long way to race.

OGR founder Don McIntyre praised the sailors for their achievements:

"I'm very, very proud of what each and every one of those sailors setting sail today has achieved. They are showing the world that now any sailor can race around the world via Cape Horn."

The race can be followed on the OGR tracker. The first yachts are expected at the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line around April 9/10.

Other highlights:

The fleet is divided into three classes with stopovers in Cape Town, South Africa; Auckland, New Zealand; and Punta del Este, Uruguay before returning to Southampton in April 2024.
The race is run without computers, GPS, and high-tech materials. Sailors navigate with sextants and paper charts.
Seven of the yachts in the fleet are former Whitbread Round the World Race competitors.

Here are some links to learn more:

OGR website: https://oceangloberace.com/
OGR tracker: https://oceangloberace.com/livetracker/

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