The Europa 92 ‘Round the World’ Rally was devised by Jimmy Cornel, to celebrate the 500 Hundred year anniversary of Christopher Columbus discovering the America’s, in 1492. The events entrance requirements were for Yachts over forty feet, in water-line length.
With only six Months left before the start in January 1991, the Swan 36 was sold and the Swan 53 acquired. We then set about preparing the Yacht and Crew for extensive Ocean Racing, at Nautor’s Mediterranean base in Puerto Portals, Mallorca. The existing name ‘Who Dares Wins’ was transferred to the new Yacht.
‘Who Dares Wins’ was narrowly beaten on the last Leg from Malta into Gibraltar, by a Italian Racing crew on a larger Swan Yacht, which proved faster upwind in Gale force conditions. We were awarded second place, overall.
Thirty Six Yachts arrived in Gibraltar 28,000 Nautical Miles (on the Rhumb line) in eighteen Legs, from:
1. Gibraltar to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
2. Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to San Lucia, Caribbean
3. San Lucia, Caribbean to Easter Panama Canal
4. West Panama Canal to Galapagos Islands
5. Galapagos Islands to Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
6. Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia to Tahiti
7. Tahiti to Fiji
8. Fiji to Tonga
9. Tonga to Vanuatu
10. Vanuatu to Darwin, Australia
11. Darwin, Australia to Bali. Indonesia
12. Bali. Indonesia to Singapore
13. Phuket, Thailand to Galle, Sri Lanka
14. Galle, Sri Lanka to Djibouti, Somalia
15. Djibouti, Somalia to Port Sudan, Egypt
16. Port Sudan, Egypt to Port Suez, Egypt
17. Alexandria, Egypt to Malta
18. Malta to Gibraltar
During the six week layover in Malaysia and Thailand before Leg 13, Stuart Quarry, the Principal of the British Sailing School joined the Yacht for an intensive period of personal Instruction. I was awarded the Yacthmaster qualification and was able to experience, at first hand, the skill and dedication of this accomplished Sailor, during the inshore Regatta’s of:
Raja Muda, Malaysia.
Langkawi Race Week, Malaysia.
Kings Cup Regatta, Thailand.
As a member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, I was especially proud to fly the British Blue Ensign, defaced with the RORC emblem. Permission is only available by Warrant, signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
‘Who Dares Wins’ was narrowly beaten on the last Leg from Malta into Gibraltar, by a Italian Racing crew on a larger Swan Yacht, which proved faster upwind in Gale force conditions. We were awarded second place, overall. Despite destroying eleven Sails, during the 32,000 Nautical Miles raced over the sixteen Months duration of the Regatta, the Yacht had incurred no damage, a testimony to the strength of the Nautor Swan brand. Most of the other 33 boats that finished were wrecks.
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