THE sixth MTN Cape-to-Rio yacht race got off to a slow start on Saturday, with hardly enough wind to fill the sails of the 71-boat fleet. The weather and smooth water was however perfect for hundreds of spectators who took to the water in all kinds of craft to watch the start of the race, set against the imposing backdrop of Table Mountain. Two American yachts, skippered by Jim Dolan, and the Zephryus IV, skippered by Robert McNeil, led the field from the start, ahead of the South African-designed Portugal Brazil, with Finn Ludde Ingvall at the helm. The three maxi yachts, which measure between 75 and 80 feet, are expected to reach Rio de Janeiro first, but are considered to be unlikely overall winners once race handicaps are taken into account, because the light wind conditions are expected to favour the smaller boats. The trans-Atlantic voyage should take the quickest boats just over two weeks to complete. There is a 30-day time limit to complete the race, which forms part of celebrations commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil.
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