Skippers set sail in the third leg towards the Basque Country

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Basque skipper Unai Basurko

At 12:20 PM (16:20 GMT) on Wednesday April 18, the start gun for the final leg of The Ultimate Solo Challenge fired in the waters off the Virginian coastline. After a postponed start in Norfolk due to severe weather conditions created by the large storm on the Eastern seaboard of the United States, the fleet of four Open 60 yachts began the final sprint back to Bilbao, the start and finish port of the Velux 5 Oceans.

As the skippers pointed towards the Basque Country and set sail in the third leg, all are looking to sail fast yet safe in order to successfully complete the solo circumnavigation of the planet, a feat achieved by so few.

The start, originally re-scheduled for 10:00 AM today, was delayed by just over two hours to allow an American Aircraft carrier to leave, accompanied by numerous support craft, a regular occurrence in this part of the world.

Leaving from the protected Hamptons Road Bay, Unai Basurko’s Pakea was first across the line, after both Bernard Stamm and Kojiro Shiraishi went too early and were forced to power down so as not to cross the line before the gun. This left the young Basque skipper to charge from behind and be the first to cross the line and lead the charge for his home town across the Atlantic.

Basurko was quickly followed by Stamm and then Shiraishi, and finally Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on Saga Insurance only a short distance behind. However, within ten minutes of the start, Pakea had dropped to the back of the fleet, with Cheminees Poujoulat and Spirit of Yukoh already building a healthy lead as the yachts tacked to pass through the huge Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The start, which took place in sheltered waters, saw a northerly wind of around 15 knots power the Open 60s through calm waters. However, the conditions the other side of the Bridge-Tunnel should be much tougher, with stronger winds and large seas.

The departure from downtown Norfolk in the morning saw all the skippers, race organisers, local volunteers and sailing fans pay respect to the young people recently killed by a gunman at Virginia Tech University, the worst school shooting massacre in the nation’s history, that saw 33 dead and many more injured. Before the yachts departed, everyone respected a minute’s silence in a small ceremony and the US flag in the marina was flown at half mast.

Back on the course, the most interesting battle will be between Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the British sailing legend, and Unai Basurko, the Basque hero. Basurko holds a 42 hour lead over the iconic solo sailor and will surely want to be one of the first to arrive back in his home town of Bilbao. The young skipper is counting the days until he sails under the famous ‘Puente de Vizcaya’ bridge, an important spiritual and emotional landmark for Basurko.

Meanwhile, Knox-Johnston is focussing on a potential podium finish, which would be a remarkable feat for the 68 year old adventurer, whose race has been dogged by technological problems and breakages on the boat since the start, but who has yet still managed to remain competitive despite all the barriers. With a well prepared boat and a steely determination, Sir Robin is hoping to pull off a magnificent leg of ocean racing to claim the third place.

Defending champion Bernard Stamm of Switzerland holds a lead nearly two weeks over second placed Kojiro Shiraishi of Japan and is expected to take the overall title again when the fleet arrives in Bilbao. However, Stamm is taking nothing for granted. The skilful sailor is highly competitive and although he will want to sail safely and bring the boat back to Europe in one piece, he will also want to finish with a flourish and take first place in every leg.