1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race

The 1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race was the seventh edition of the around-the-world sailing event Whitbread Round the World Race. The Whitbread Round the World Race ran for the first time with all W60 boats and to a "points vs time" (instead of aggregate leg time) scoring system to enhance the value of the shorter race legs. Also, in an effort to attract additional media coverage, the Whitbread race committee divided the race into no less than 9 legs for the 1997 to 1998 race. Volvo had its first major association with the race in 1997 to 1998 by sponsoring the trophy (thus the race was officially known as the Whitbread 'round the world race for the Volvo Trophy) and some of the media coverage. For the first time running to W60-only specification, this year's Whitbread attracted just 10 entriesthe fewest to date.

Legs

  1. SouthamptonCape Town
  2. Cape TownFremantle
  3. FremantleSydney
  4. SydneyAuckland
  5. AucklandSão Sebastião
  6. São Sebastião – Fort Lauderdale
  7. Fort Lauderdale – Baltimore
  8. BaltimoreLa Rochelle
  9. La RochelleSouthampton

Results

Results of individual races
Pos Boat Crew Country I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX Tot
1 EF Language Cayard, Paul Paul Cayard  Sweden 125 72 105 70 135 101 81 55 92 836
2 Merit Cup Dalton, Grant Grant Dalton  Monaco 110 48 70 105 78 66 50 66 105 698
3 Swedish Match Krantz, Gunnar Gunnar Krantz  Sweden 36 125 92 60 91 89 92 44 60 689
4 Innovation Kvaerner Frostad, Knut Knut Frostad  Norway 97 110 60 40 65 77 70 33 81 633
5 Silk Cut Smith, Lawrie Lawrie Smith  Great Britain 84 84 40 50 26
DNF
115 60 101 70 630
6 Chessie Racing Collins, George George Collins & John Kostecki  United States 72 60 81 81 105 55 40 89 30 613
7 Toshiba Conner, Dennis Dennis Conner & Paul Standbridge  United States 60 97 50 92 0
DSQ
44 20
PEN
115 50 528
8 Brunel Sunergy Bouscholte, Hans Hans Bouscholte & Roy Heiner  Netherlands 12 24 30 30 119 33 105 22 40 415
9 EF Education Guillou, Christine Christine Guillou  Sweden 24 36 20 20 26
DNF
22 30 77 20 275
10 America's Challenge Field, Ross Ross Field  United States 48 0
DNS
0
DNS
0
DNS
0
DNS
0
DNS
0
DNS
0
DNS
0
DNS
48
Full details of finishing positions can be found in: Media Guide: 5. History

Leg Winners:

LegStartFinishLeg winnerSkipper
1Southampton, England Cape Town, South AfricaEF LanguagePaul Cayard (USA)
2Cape Town, South AfricaFremantle, AustraliaSwedish MatchGunnar Krantz
3Fremantle, AustraliaSydney, AustraliaEF LanguagePaul Cayard (USA)
4Sydney, AustraliaAuckland, New ZealandMerit CupGrant Dalton (NZ)
5Auckland, New ZealandSao Sebastiao, BrazilEF LanguagePaul Cayard(USA)
6Sao Sebastiao, BrazilFort Lauderdale, FloridaSilk CutLawrie Smith (GB)
7Fort Lauderdale, FloridaBaltimore, MarylandBrunel SunergyRoy Heiner (NL)
8Annapolis, MarylandLa Rochelle, FranceToshiba Paul Standbridge (NZ)
9La Rochelle, FranceSouthampton, EnglandMerit CupGrant Dalton (NZ)

References