LATEST NEWS (courtesy of HEINEKEN website)

"The yacht Spirit Izivunguvungu has in this point in time not officially been disqualified from the Race.

The Race organizers are very grateful to Xtra-Link for diverting and providing water to Spirit of Izivunguvungu. It is the prerogative of the Race Committee to issue official press statements and any issues pertaining to the Race will be addressed on completion of the Race, as is the norm.

Spirit of Izivunguvungu is one of 17 yachts participating in the iconic Heineken Cape to Rio Yacht Race and was lying in 5th position on handicap when she reported to Race HQ in Rio de Janeiro that her watermaker had become unserviceable and that they were running out of drinking water.At this point they had 1400 miles to go to the finish which would take approximately nine days .Extra-Link skippered by Dale Kushner was asked whether she would divert to assist the sailors, she agreed.Said Kushner : “We were able to transfer 20 cans of isotonic drink which the crew immediately gulped down. Then we were able to transfer a further 140 litres of water which will be more than sufficient for the rest of their voyage.”The transfer took about 45 minutes in what Kushner described as a “well executed process”.

Izivunguvungu is not the first yacht in the race to run into water problems. Myrtle of Bonnievale nearly hit the panic button after they battled for five days to repair their watermaker and Ciao Bella also reported hassles earlier this week.Gerry Hegie’s City of Cape Town meanwhile continues to lead the race on handicap from Mike Robinson’s Ciao Bella and Jon Sanders’ Perie Banou II.

Prodigy, leading the race for line honours, has 799 nm to go to as of Thursday 27th January, followed by City of Cape Town (918 nm), Grand Filou II (1103 nm) and Xtra-Link (1,176nm).Commenting on the Race so far, Race Chairman, John Martin said :“This has been an exceptionally fast race and a new record will be set”. “Prodigy stands to finish the race in race record time of 15 days compared to the race record set in the first race, in 1971, of 23 days, when the same course was sailed and Ocean Spirit, skippered by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was the first to cross the line."