Day Three: Weather Turns on 11 Remaining Teams (February 10, 2011)

After two days of sunny and dry conditions, the 11 remaining teams in the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race are now racing under heavy cloud, winds and light rain as the clock ticks over to Day Three in this ‘last wild race’.

British team and reigning champions Adidas TERREX continue to lead with their last official Checkpoint time reported as 08.05am this morning at PC7 Puente de Roca, a rocky point at the base of a high mountain pass.

Adidas TERREX is moving fast and is expected to reach PC8 by around midday, if not before. From here, they will begin a 58 kilometre paddle through a canyon nestled between rocky cliff faces with spectacular views of waterfalls and rolling snow-capped peaks.

Gear Junkie (US), Roadrunners (Denmark), Perdido en el Turbal (US, UK) and Vaucluse Adventure Evasions (France) are chasing the leaders, but are yet to reach PC7. Last official Checkpoint reports placed these teams at PC6 earlier this morning.

Stjepan Pavicic, race creator, is predicting these racers to arrive at PC7 between 3-4pm this afternoon, based on fastest predicted times. All going well, it’s possible the teams will arrive at PC8 by 6-7pm where they will need to decide whether to rest or begin their kayaking leg.

In the three or fours before nightfall, racers may be able to cover half of the kayak leg, before being pulled from the water when darkness falls, Stjepan predicts.

Yesterday evening, the field of 14 teams dropped to 11, after a tough day trekking in the wilderness of Patagonia. Chile’s Dap Antartica and Brazilian/Argentinian Xingu failed to reach PC3 before the cut-off time and are now out of the race.

Joshiken, another Chilean team, arrived at PC3 within the required time, but has chosen to pull out and will not continue further.

Last known Checkpoint locations for teams - current as at 11.20am 10 February 2011

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