Europe 1 New Man Star - Emma Richards wins Class 2
by Pindar Media 23 Jun 2000 11:42 BST
A CLASS ACT! EMMA + PINDAR TAKE FIRST PLACE IN CLASS IN THE EUROPE 1 NEW MAN STAR
At 03.48 Eastern Time, Emma and Pindar crossed the finish line at Newport,
Rhode Island, first in Class II of the 'father of all transatlantics"
Her official time for the 2800 mile race was 18 days 20 hours and 30
minutes, 1 day less than the time she set herself back in Plymouth during
her preparation for her first ever single handed transatlantics.
This is an incredible feat that was achieved despite losing her wind
instruments, no computer link for the last part of the race, crushing sleep
deprivation and weather and sea conditions that put 9 boats out of the race
within the first week.
And she had to fight right to the finish line. Last night saw Emma battling
a failing engine, a cockpit awash with diesel, thick fog and super tankers
off Newport in some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Andrew Pindar and her racing partner, Miranda had been waiting for her since
early evening yesterday and were in continual contact. When Andrew called
UK shore team at 06.30 BST she was eight miles off shore and he and Miranda
were boarding a support boat with a photographer and were off to meet her
and escort her in.
When we last spoke, she was tasting her first beer and was about to wash
away the diesel with champagne ...