ARC - Maxi Capricorno Makes It Home in Record Time

by Jeremy Wyatt / ARC on 10 Dec 2006 Eleven days, five hours of non-stop concentration; good tactics and almost constant ENE trade winds have paid off for Italian maxi yacht Capricorno, as they crossed the ARC finish line in Rodney Bay, St Lucia to set a new ARC record of 11days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds.

Owner, Italian businessman Rinaldo Del Bono, was jubilant as 24m maxi crossed the finish line, the 12 strong crew cheering and waving to the assembled media and spectator boats. Much of the credit goes to the great teamwork showed by the fledgling race crew and in particular Wouter Verbrek who provided the weather tactics and always kept Capricorno in the wind.

The skipper for the ARC was Oscar Tonoli, whose brave decision to stay north early on, paid off as their better gybe angle gave them superior speed to that of Italian rivals Fantasticaaa, during the last few days. Oscar took control of the boat from the American skipper, 36 year old Matthew Babcock who usually runs the boat but took a back seat on this Atlantic Crossing.
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The two big boats were neck and neck yesterday, but Capricorno just managed to creep ahead of their larger rival, finishing 3 hours ahead of the Swan 100, and taking some seven hours off the existing ARC record. With 25 knots blowing across the finish line it was an unforgettable sight as Capricorno and her crew all clad in aqua marine blue shirts powered across the line close to the committee boat.

A jubilant Babcock said; 'It’s been great sailing all the way, 20 knots surfing down waves non-stop. We’ve blown out 2 spinnakers but it was worth it!' He and his crew are delighted to be in St. Lucia and to be record breakers, the rum punch going down mighty fast!'

As the excitement of the first arrivals fades, the next few yachts are queuing towards the finish line. The Farr 520 Brave should be the next arrival, around early evening local time and will be the first of the Division II racing yachts to finish. Just a few hours behind are Swan 70, The Blue Pearl and Swan 601 Spirit of Jethou. Also expected to arrive before daylight tomorrow will be the first multihull, Catana 582 Timaios III.
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But it is not just the big boats rushing in. By Monday 11th December, over 60 yachts should have finished. In fact, the buzz of excitement is palpable in the yacht logs today. 'We are eating the miles up and the guys are even starting to plan what they are going to do when they get to St.Lucia' said Liz Abbis of Beneteau 47.7 Disco Inferno 2.

Event website: http://arc.worldcruising.com