Race 2: Hundred Years Cup – PSP Logistics and Dare To Lead arrive into port

There was plenty of sunshine and smiles in Punta del Este as two more teams arrived into port on Thursday.

Following the arrivals of the winning team Yacht Club Punta Del Este, and second place Perseverance, next to arrive was the team that had been hot on the duo’s heels throughout the race, PSP Logistics.

Image: Celebratory fizz for PSP Logistics

An early morning arrival on Thursday saw the team arrive to a lined pontoon, flags waving and friends and family waiting eagerly to see their loved ones after 27 days at sea.

PSP Logistics skipper, Mike Miller said “I am exhausted, but absolutely exhilarated. It’s great to be returning to Punta del Este after an absolutely incredible race.

“The team gave everything, and I am so proud of them. They just kept coming back, through excitement and disappointment, they came back, and we just kept fighting. A lot of accreditations for all of their efforts.”

Known to be a challenging race, Race 2: Hundred Years Cup saw the fleet make its first ocean crossing of the competition.

Image: Leg 1 medals being worn with pride

Mike added “The team and I were talking about the concept of crossing an ocean just the other day, and most of the Race Crew just couldn’t get to grips with the enormity of what they have achieved. It’s just bizarre how your world becomes the boat, we left Europe and here we are on another continent. I think they are still coming to terms with just how fantastic that is.

“The change in crew since leaving Portsmouth has been dramatic. They have taken on so much responsibility. We take a lot of pride in our boat, and we take a lot of pride in what we do, and it shows through with how the crew behave every day.”

PSP Logistics First Mate, Lottie Wade added “It’s been a really hard past couple of days, but the whole trip has just been fantastic. The crew put in such a great effort, and as a team we have made some brilliant tactical decisions.

“For me this was my first ocean crossing, first equator crossing, and I even had my first nephew born while I was away at sea. It’s been a fantastic few weeks!”

Arriving in Punta del Este in fourth place was Dare To Lead, skippered by Ryan Gibson alongside First Mate Charlie Warhurst.

Image: Fourth place Dare To Lead arrive into Punta del Este

Arriving in port, Dare To Lead skipper Ryan Gibson said “I am so proud, fourth place is amazing and the team have worked so hard.

“We had a really great start in Puerto Sherry, and it has just continued since then. The crew has been so driven. We have just taken in step by step. It’s a very long race, so we just took it on in sections, focusing on that. There was some real neck and neck moments.

“There has been ups and downs, but the team have worked so well together, really connected and gelled. I’m super proud of the progression from leaving to arriving. It’s a long time at sea, but we have done so much in that time.

South African national Ryan also added that his next goal was to podium in Cape Town. He added “It would be amazing to podium in Cape Town! But for now we’re just going to keep on improving and see how it goes.”

On placing fourth in Race 2, Dare To Lead First Mate, Charlie Warhurst said “It’s great to be here. The race continued to throw more and more at us, so to arrive in fourth place, is amazing,

“The team have been immense. The past 48 hours were particularly gruelling, hitting 50knots of wind pretty regularly, but you just have to keep going. And the feeling of accomplishment once you’ve done it is just immense.

“Dare To Lead is the only Skipper and First Mate pairing with no previous Clipper Race experience so we always knew we would be a little slow on the first few races, but we’ve got it going now and we’re going to carry on.”

With teams still to place on Race 2: Hundred Years Cup, keep up with all the action on the Race Viewer.