Dare To WIN!

After a gruelling 3,500nm crossing of the South Atlantic from Punta del Este, Uruguay, Dare To Lead has arrived in Cape Town, South Africa as the winner of Race 3: TIMEZERO South Atlantic Showdown, a race that really came down to the wire.

Image: Dare To Lead cross the Finish Line in first place

Following weeks of grit, determination, tough conditions and tactics, the team crossed the Finish Line at 06:37:10 UTC and was welcomed by a pontoon filled with friends, family and supporters congratulating the team on its victory and second ocean crossing of the Clipper 2023-24 Race. To make victory sweeter, Capetonian Skipper Ryan Gibson and his Race Crew, six of whom are also South African, were cheered in like heroes as they arrived home to the Mother City.

On arrival into V & A Waterfront, the team celebrated with a Champagne style victory spray (but South African sparkling wine of course!)to mark Dare To Lead’s first podium finish of the edition.

Image: Champagne spray for Race 3 winners Dare To Lead

Adding to the triumph, Dare To Lead will gain double points on this race, having played the lucrative Joker, in addition to two bonus points scooped on placing second in the Scoring Gate. This catapults Dare To Lead up the Race Standings leader board.

Skipper Ryan Gibson said: “This feels unbelievable. It’s sinking in now, and I am super proud of everyone. To play the joker into my hometown is unbelievable.

“We just wanted to keep fighting and fighting, we learnt from the other legs to just never give up. It’s been a challenging crossing, we had some really high pressure which gave us some good speed, and then this morning ended up in a wind hole. It really has been up and down.

“Everyone is so excited to be here in Cape Town, the South Africans on board have been talking about it so much, so arriving into Table Bay was such a special moment.

“I think as we get off the boat and say hello to our friends and family it’s going to be unbelievable. This is definitely a highlight of my career, and it will be forever.”

Image: Dare To Lead Skipper Ryan Gibson

South African Circumnavigator on Dare To Lead, Retief Jordaan, said “I am living the dream right now, this feels unbelievable. You couldn’t script it better than a group of South Africans sailing into their home country in first place.”

Founder of Dare To Lead Dirk Van Daele said "Congratulations. What an incredible win, multiplied by your Joker.

"You have fought hard throughout this race resulting in a victory richly deserved. You clearly had a "go big or go home" approach throughout, right down to your final Stealth move.

"The podium has been the aim and this has remained a tight race right down to the finish line."

Usually famed for its downwind, fast, surfing conditions, Mother Nature had other ideas for Race 3 on this edition. The eleven Clipper Race teams, made up of non-professional crew from all walks of life, faced unseasonable weather patterns serving up tough headwinds and wind holes, rather than the usual consistent downwind spinnaker sailing promised on such a crossing. However, big low-pressure systems, gusts upwards of 50 knots and fast boat speeds were still on the agenda for this exhilarating race, which was closely fought until the final miles, where Dare To Lead was able to clinch the lead after popping out of Stealth Mode and maintaining first place until crossing the Finish Line.

Watch the action unfold as the teams arrive into The V & A Waterfront, Cape Town via our website and social media channels.