LogicaCMG gets the gun

Close fought battle at end on Round Britain Challenge

In the early hours of Thursday morning (1st May 2003) LogicaCMG crossed the finish line to become the victors of the Round Britain Challenge, pipping Spirit of Southampton to the post to take overall honours in the inaugural race.

No one could have predicted who was going to win this fiercely fought 1,800 mile race as the two lead yachts battled it out on the waters of the English Channel in an unending cat and mouse game. But it was Duggie Gillespie, skipper of LogicaCMG, supported by Mate Joanna Summers, who found both the wind and tidal advantage they was looking for in the eleventh hour to grab the lead off Spirit of Southampton.

Duggie Gillespie explained at the finish: "It was hard work. It was easier weather wise but a lot tougher competition wise. There are a lot of good guys out there putting the pressure on. We were way down there in the pack and they were making really good decisions. We weren't. Slowly a couple of good decisions were made at the end."

These decisions obviously paid off for Duggie and his team who were celebrating their victory with a steady stream of beer and champagne. With them was a large number of family and friends who had braved the early hours of the morning to greet the yacht, as it cruised sleekly into Ocean Village lit up by flares!

At the time of this report, LogicaCMG had passed the finish line at 00.24BST with Spirit of Southampton just behind them at 01:51BST. The Daily Telegraph had also crossed the line in third place in a time of 03.53 BST.

Racing is still very much on for the rest of the fleet and, once again, it is difficult to tell who will finish in which positions as the pack condenses and continues to charge back home to the Solent and onto Ocean Village.