Photos courtesy of www.arwc2009.com
Having crossed the finish line after just over six days of physical and mental challenge in the beautiful countryside of Portugal the team are now starting to enjoy the sensation of having completed such an extremely challenging and very tactical race.
Wayne called NZ from the finish line very briefly (it's all action there at the moment with celebrations and media attention for all of the finishers). Without getting into any real specifics he sounded happy enough with how everything had gone but commented that they never really figured out what to do once they got a bit behind on the course (after getting lots of CPs and bonuses early on).
They don't know what their final finishing position is - they did have to miss 3CPs on the way home - so we will have to wait and see the final results on that. Hopefully they have managed to hold onto a top 5 position.
Wayne did say how pleased he was that they had handed their World Championship title on to British team Helly Hansen Prunesco as they have raced with these guys lots of times in the past (as Aberdeen Asset Management) and they are a really great group of people as well as being deserving of the title after racing so smart and well!
Nike/Beaver Creek with kiwis Chris Forne and George Christison along with another kiwi (Aaron Prince) in Swedish team Lundhags filled the two remaining podium positions.
Unfortunately it's not "all rest" for the team now as they have a pretty busy and tight schedule ahead of them in the next 20 hours or so ... sorting out, cleaning up and packing themselves and their gear before getting on the first of a series of long flights tomorrow morning (7am their time). The NZ based team members are expected to arrive back in Auckland early on Tuesday morning, 17 November.
Thanks to everyone for your support - the team really appreciates knowing that they have lots of people behind them and willing them on throughout these amazing races!
Orionhealth.com walking the final coastal trek on the way to fourth place in the ARWC 2009.
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