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Japan Finishes, Germans Handed Equal Third

News Release / 18.02.2010

Japanese team East Wind became the first team from the Far East to complete the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race when they arrived at the Beagle Channel finish line on Tuesday night – and the day also brought good news for Germany after organisers amended the results to put them level with Switzerland in equal third place.

East Wind had been the last team to arrive at checkpoint 15 after a steady trek across the Darwin Range but they had to wait a day to cross from Tierra del Fuego to Isla Navarino after arriving too late to kayak across the Beagle Channel with the rest of the teams and they completed the final section on their own.

Race director Stjepan Pavicic said: “I have always been happy that we had our first team from Japan this year and the organisation has a special affection for them so we are happy that they have reached the finish line.

“They weren’t fast, but they were methodical and constant, and that got them through. The photographers who followed them say that they hardly stopped. They never tried to compete with other teams, their competition was internal. They wanted to reach their goal and they got it.�

German team Herbertz, meanwhile, launched an appeal after missing out on the final podium place by just 12 minutes.

The point of discussion was the Tyrolean traverse at checkpoint 10, which had been set up in a different place to its original map location. Helly Hansen-Prunesco missed it completely and decided to swim the river while the rest of the teams spent hours trying to find the rope crossing.

The organisers had declared the issue ‘force majeur’ but had specifically given Switzerland a 30-minute time bonus because they were forced to wait to cross the Tyrolean when it got stuck and had to be fixed. But after discussions between Herbertz, Switzerland and Pavicic the teams agreed to finish on equal time.

“All teams took different times to find the Tyrolean and the times were so close for third that Germany proposed the two teams share the position,� said Pavicic. “I was happy with this but we had to check with Switzerland. They considered it and agreed because they said they are both strong teams and the time difference is nothing in a race like this.�

<b>FINAL TIMES (Confirmed)</b>

1. Helly Hansen-Prunesco UK 126hrs 8mins
2. Air Europa Bimont ESP 142hrs 46mins*
3= Switzerland SWI 145hrs 6mins***
3= Herbertz DE 145hrs 6mins***
5. GearJunkie.com USA 147hrs 31mins**
6. Untamed New England CDN 148hrs 17mins**
7. East Wind JPN 162hrs 20mins**
8. Nord Water FIN/SWE reached PC15
9. Almost Famous USA reached PC10
10. Terra Mundo Lontra BRA reached PC10
11. Eddie Bauer USA reached PC10
12. Almas Patagonicas CL reached PC10
13. BOE Ejercito de Chile CL reached PC9
14. Fast and Light UK reached PC8

*Inc 6hrs penalty
** All teams who did not climb mount King Scott have a correction of 7hrs
*** Teams agreed to share 3rd place after correction for the missing Tyrolean at PC10

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