Patagonian Expedition Race
Godzone Adventure Are First, and All The Teams Are Winners
Rob Howard / 24.02.2016
After all the dramas of the previous 9 days no one was quite sure what would happen on the final trekking stage and which of the 4 remaining teams would cross the line at Estancia Perales first.
There was great excitement as the head torches of the first team came into view and even more when it was the East Wind team who arrived first! After the biking accident to Masato Tanaka and being on the point of retiring from the race several times this amazing team had raced the final section in rapid time, competing with Merrell Adventure Addicts for second place.
They gave everything on the final paddling stage trying not to lose too much time on Merrell, and set off on the final trek with a 14 minute lead. After 9 days the two teams then raced each other over the final glacial pass! They were together much of the way and nearing the end of the stage Graham Bird of Merrell took a fall, at which point his team realised they were not going to be able to close the time gap and eased off.
When they crossed the line the S. African team had finished in 3rd place – just 26 minutes behind East Wind!
Neither could hope to catch the race winners Godzone Adventure who had a huge time advantage. They arrived some time later to record yet another win for this all-conquering team at the Patagonian Expedition Race. For team captain Nick Gracie it was his 6th consecutive win at the race. The winning team didn’t want to get involved in the ‘final sprint’ with East Wind and Merrell, but were glad to get the race finished without another night camped out, in wet kit and a wet tent.
All of the first 3 teams were treated to a meal of salad, roast meat and potatoes in the Estancia (and plenty of wine and champagne) and enjoyed their meal, sharing stories about their races.
There is one finisher still to come of course, Team Mind Over Body, who are still out on the course at the time of writing, and may possibly have to spend a final night camped out.
(We’ll catch up with them once they are over the finish line and bring you finish line interviews and more reflections on the race tomorrow.)
SleepMonsters
