Sydney to Hobart race: French sailors in 2-person yacht set for handicap honours
Duo based on Pacific island of New Caledonia cross line 33rd in their 35ft yacht BNC – the first double-handed yacht to finish
Two French sailors based on the Pacific island of New Caledonia – one of them a former windsurfing Olympian – have overcome tough Sydney to Hobart seas on one of the fleet’s smallest boats to all but clinch handicap honours in the annual race.
Michel Quintin and Yann Rigal arrived at Constitution Dock in Hobart on their 35ft yacht BNC on Tuesday morning after spending more than 93 hours at sea.
They were the 33rd crew across the line but the first double-handed yacht, a craft sailed by just two people, to make it to Hobart from the start last Friday morning in Sydney Harbour.
By late afternoon, their handicap time was the best, with only double-hander Crux a mathematical but highly improbable chance of overtaking them.
Crux had earlier on Tuesday led the overall standings but ran into a southerly breeze that pushed back her expected arrival time until early Wednesday morning.
However, Quintin and Rigal faced an anxious time after a protest by Min River over use of sheeting sails by BNC. The protest will be heard on Wednesday.