11th Hour Racing Team wins The Ocean Race
11th Hour Racing Team has won The Ocean Race 2022-23, the world’s longest and toughest team sporting event – the first time a US team has won in the 50-year history of the Race.
The team was leading the overall race with just one leg to go, when, on June 25 in The Hague, just 27 minutes after the start, the team was forced to retire from the final leg, following a no-fault collision with a competing team. The team put in a request for redress to the World Sailing International Jury and, following the hearing this morning, Thursday, June 29, the Jury has awarded 11th Hour Racing Team 4 points of redress, which gives them 37 points and a first place on the overall race leaderboard. There is now a 30 minute timeframe during which any team may request the hearing be reopened. After this expires the results are final.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” commented Skipper, Charlie Enright (USA). “This race takes everything out of you – emotionally, mentally, and physically. I’m incredibly proud of our whole team who have worked tirelessly for three years to get to this point. There have been highs, some incredible highs, but also lows that have knocked us all, but they were all worth it to hear this news today.“
Speaking from onboard Mālama as the team delivered the boat to Genoa, Skipper Charlie Enright (USA) commented, “When we launched our campaign in 2019, we never could have anticipated that it would finish in this way. Any sailor will tell you that they want to win races on the water and not in the jury room, and after winning three legs back to back we felt exceptionally strong and confident going into the final leg. We are pleased with the jury’s decision, although we wish we had had the chance to battle it out for this final leg on the water as Holcim-PRB have been exceptional competitors and pushed us all the way.
“To be the first US team to be lifting this trophy is an exceptional honor, and to be sharing the message and showcasing action and innovation for ocean health has made this a truly impactful, global campaign. It’s not the way I would have drawn this up, but the victory is sweet all the same,” Enright concluded.
