Patagonia Expedition Race

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Restart from PC3

Jacqueline Windh / 13.02.2005

The French team La Clusaz Raid Aventure paddled into PC3 at 6:45 this morning – the only team to complete the kayaking section – and the remaining teams were transported here by zodiac.

Two teams have been disqualified: Jean Mermoz Argentina for not making the PC2 cut-off, after getting lost on their bikes, and Salomon Russia for not meeting the minimum kayak safety standards specified by the race organizers, which led to separation of the group and to the rescue situation.

Both French teams are leading the group. All teams except for La Clusaz have received time penalties for not arriving at PC 3. In accumulated time (according to my own unofficial calculations) Allier Aventure is only four and a half hours behind La Clusaz, with the Canadians King’s Own Calgary Regiment another hour and a half behind them.

So I must go and catch up with the group. The race resumed here at 12:30 p.m, after a captain’s meeting where Race Director Stjepan Pavicic explained about how the penalties were calculated, and also emphasised that teams MUST travel together, maximum separation distance 100 m, and reiterating information about required safety equipment.

Racers are now heading east to PC4, 91 km by mountain bike, where they will ascend ropes to start the trekking. Ten teams are still racing. Russia, although disqualified, is still racing but has no possibility of ranking. Jean Mermoz Argentina, also disqualified, has pulled out.
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