The leg from Wellington, New Zealand, across the Southern Ocean to Cape Horn for a finish in Rio is mostly a cold, grueling sprint in which every day the boats threaten to be pounded to pieces. But each of the vessels that started the leg finished it. ABN Amro One, which has won each previous leg, claimed first place again, although followed closely by Pirates of the Caribbean. The final push to Rio involved an upwind tacking battle, the leading Open 70s chopping away the last few miles in fierce competition.
The only casualty of the leg was a damaged keel fairing aboard Movistar, which was roaring through the Southern Ocean at 25 knots in tight competition for second place with Pirates, when the fairing ripped loose and water began pouring into the boat. The vessel limped into Ushaia, Argentina, for repairs, but not before the other vessels were put on standby should Movistar have sunk.
