Race organisers were still waiting on Sunday for the second-placed yacht in the 2003 SAP Cape to Rio yacht race to arrive following the record-breaking crossing of Swedish trimaran Nicator, which has been moored at the Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club for nearly two days.
Nicator, skippered by professional yachtsman Klabbe Nylöf, crossed the finishing line in Guanabara Bay on Friday in a time of 12 days 23 hours 47 minutes and 54 seconds.
In the process, Nicator smashed the multi-hull record by almost six days. The record was set during the 1993 race when the Mayotte 465 Sea Rose completed the crossing in 18 days 7 hours and 24 minutes.
But Nicator just missed out on the current mono-hull crossing record of 12 days and 16 hours set by the American maxi Zephyrus IV in the 2000 race. A disappointed Nylöf said in an interview that the crew had been pushing desperately to get to Rio before the 12 days 16 hours deadline.
"We sailed the shortest route possible and really pushed the boat hard, but the weather conditions were against us," he said. "There is no way we could have done this any faster, but it is sad that we missed the deadline by only a couple of hours."
Nicator was a pre-race favourite for a sub-12 day crossing and Nylöf predicted that they could complete the 3 400 mile race in just over 10 days if the winds were kind.
But the yacht was caught in the notorious lulls off Cabo Frio and took over four hours to complete the last 60 miles in virtually windless conditions.
Meanwhile, late yesterday locals were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Brazilian entry Adrenalina Pura She spent a frustrating day as a lull off Rio de Janeiro stalled her push to the finish.
Skipper George Ehrensperger reported on Saturday that they were approximately 90 miles away near Cabo Frio, but by yesterday morning they still had 69 miles to go before reaching the Carnival City.
The race for handicap honours is also still on with Gauteng-based Baleka clinging to her top handicap spot, with Investec close behind.
Baleka crew member Dave van der Spuy said: "We have maintained the handicap lead and are being closely pursued by a spread of our competitors. Hot competition is Investec, also a Fast 42 yacht that seems hell-bent on getting ahead of us."