Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2011
Party Time After the Race
Will Gray / 19.02.2011
After two years being captained by Nicola MacLeod, he returned to the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race this year as the team leader and after eight days in the wilderness of Chilean Patagonia he achieved what the video film crew excitedly called the “three-peat�!
In an event that truly lived up to its tagline as ‘The Last Wild Race’, this year’s adventure had taken even these most experienced British racers to their limits while providing them with exclusive access to some spectacular scenery.
“I can honestly say that at one point, we walked over a crest and I was struck by the best view I have seen in my entire life,� said Nick Gracie, who along with Fi Spotswood had joined Duncan and Mark Humprhey in this year’s line-up.
The weather played a big part in the race, as it had done in 2009, but this time the excess water in the fjords of Chilean Patagonia meant that the nature won. The teams were not able to pass beyond checkpoint 11 for fear of getting cut-off by swollen rivers – indeed three teams were handed helicopter assistance after having exactly that happen to them a few kilometres before PC10 – so the race was shortened in length, but strengthened in drama.
With all teams recovered from the field, the closing ceremony is always emotional and while Duncan’s Spanish was not strong enough to repeat MacLeod’s celebration speech of last year, his words in English were equally emotional and pictured perfectly the feelings of all involved.
“This year was the hardest trek we have done here,� he smiled. “But it was also the most beautiful. The scenery and the vast wilderness here in Patagonia is something else – and until you have seen it for yourself it is very difficult to understand just how special it is.�
Asked after the ceremony what Patagonia now means to him, his response was simple: “For three years now, I have had some amazing experiences in Patagonia. And for me, this year, Patagonia means completion. I would love to come back again, but it’s time to move on.�
As the night rolled on and the racers gathered for the traditional race-ending party at ‘Kamikaze’ nightclub in Punta Arenas, the atmosphere was special. Teams, organisers and media all partied together – and unlike past years, when they have had to fly out straight after the race, some members of the winning team made it in to join in the fun.
Already, some teams have committed to returning for 2012. Gearjunkie.com will be back next year, so probably will Xingu from Brazil, and many more who failed to reach the finish line, it seems, were not despondent but instead driven to return and try to make it to the end in the future.
As the sun shone down on Punta Arenas the following day, I encountered Duncan again at the headquarters of race organisers Nomadas Outdoor Services and we spoke again about his experiences over the last three years.
“I have done this three times now, and once as captain,� he said. “Every year has been amazing but it would have to be something special to bring me back again.�
Then, with a smile, he added: “But you never know…�
SleepMonsters
