The Ocean Race: Team JAJO Wins VO65 In-Port Race in The Hague

14th June 2023

Team JAJO in front in the VO65 In-Port Race in The Hague, Netherlands Credit: Sailing Energy/The Ocean Race

The local heroes on the Dutch-flagged Team JAJO made a statement of intent right from the start of the VO65 In-Port Race in The Hague on Wednesday afternoon (14 June) by crossing ahead of the entire fleet on port tack — a high-risk, high-reward manoeuvre that allowed them to build a solid lead at the first turning gate.

Behind them, the overall race leader WindWhisper Racing Team rounded in second place with Viva México following. But the Mexican team elected to race the downwind leg with a masthead code zero sail, which didn’t pay off, and allowed Mirpuri/Trifork to make a pass.

On the second lap of the course, WindWhisper skipper Pablo Arrarte worked every shift to split away from Jelmer van Beek’s Team JAJO to try and get a sniff of the lead. But the JAJO team protected well and even extended to earn a wire-to-wire win in front of a delirious home crowd.

Team JAJO wins the In-Port Race in The Hague | Credit: Sailing Energy/The Ocean Race

“This is so nice,” said van Beek, overcome with emotion after the finish. “The team worked so hard and we got it! We got it in our hometown! I never expected this. I’m so happy.“”

Arrarte’s WindWhisper crew sailed a solid race for second place, holding off Mirpuri-Trifork Racing in third.

“This kind of windward-leeward race course is intense with a lot of manoeuvres but we sailed well and second place is great,” Arrarte said. “It was a good race and I’m happy with the result.”

Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team in the VO65 In-Port Race in The Hague | Credit: Sailing Energy/The Ocean Race

“We were fourth over the starting line and we managed to overtake the Mexican team and even got close to WindWhisper, so it was an exciting race,” said ‘Chuny’ Bermudez from the Mirpuri-Trifork team. “But big kudos to Team JAJO, they made a great start and stayed ahead.”

There was also action at the back of the fleet, as the crew on Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova engineered a late comeback, passing Team México just before the finishing line to grab fourth place.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Benjamin Dutreux and his crew on GUYOT environnement - Team Europe sailed a flawless race in challenging conditions to earn their first win of The Ocean Race. Afloat.ie has more on the story HERE.

VO65 class - In Port-Race - The Hague

Team JAJO - 6 points
WindWhisper Racing Team - 5 points
Mirpuri-Trifork Racing - 4 points
Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova - 3 points
Viva México - 2 points
Ambersail 2 - DNS - 0 points

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