Last days in the Deep South for the crews of the 1977-78 Whitbread. The violent winds and high waves pushed the sailboats to go surfing. Gauloise II, a former Pen Duick III, reached surfs of over 20 knots. Incredible speeds for the time, with these narrow hulls and little glide.
But the penalty can be heavy. Gauloise II suffered a capsize. Fortunately, the rigging resisted and the crew was able to get back on track.
Step towards Rio
In this stage which ends in Rio, the crews cross Cape Horn. The images reported in this documentary are of an incredible quality, considering the filming conditions of the time. The sailors, wearing PVC oilskins, are also real heroes to support the living conditions during these long days.
On this leg, Pen Duick VI skippered by Eric Tabarly was in the lead with a 2 day lead over the second place, the English boat Condor. But the race rules disqualified the black ketch, claiming the use of depleted uranium in the construction of the keel. Eric Tabarly could only comply with this unjust regulation, which increased his dislike for the English.
