The Ocean Race 2023: 11th Hour Racing Team’s Charlie Enright reflects on ‘brutal’ Leg 3 to Itajai, Brazil

Charlie Enright (11th Hour Racing Team) says Leg 3 of The Ocean Race was “brutal right from the start” after 38 days at sea.

Enright thought there were times along the way when they would not even complete the leg.

“We had 40 knots in Table Bay and 40 knots shortly after leaving Table Bay. And we immediately had a breakdown and had to suspend racing. Then a couple other breakdowns along the way.

“When we delaminated our rudders, we had a serious conversation about stopping in New Zealand.

“Then when we broke the mainsail the first time we though ‘hey, we’ll get to Brazil’, but probably in an uncompetitive manner until we’re able to fix it and get the thing back to full hoist.

“And then certainly when the mainsail tore for the last time, I thought that was us done. For sure.”

11th Hour Racing Team missed out to Malizia for second place at the scoring gate, the halfway point of the leg, which Enright believes was one of the hardest moments for his team.

“We had just torn the mainsail for the first time and we’d watched Malizia sail on by,” he said. “We’d already gone through our rudder delamination and the boat was probably in its worst condition around that time.”

Enright admitted that the gruelling leg was difficult to endure mentally after spending so much time away from his family.

“I think 38 days is a long time for five people to spend on a 60-foot boat in a competitive environment, in very trying conditions,” he said.

“This Southern Ocean leg is the longest I’ve been on a boat, full stop, period. By a good amount. March 2023 isn’t something that existed for me on land, you know, and I’ve got a family, a wife, two kids, and a mother.

“She still worries about me in her own way. What I do certainly takes its toll on the people around me, so it’s a big sigh of relief to get back to shore safely.”

Leg 4 is an important one for the American team as it finishes in their hometown of Newport, Rhode Island.

“When it comes to the boat, I think we have to be smart about the jobs that we choose to take on,” he said. “If we can’t get the whole job list done in time, we have to prioritise and make sure we’re efficient with where we place our efforts.”

– – –