Team Save The Children Reaches Wellington

Global Challenge: Team Save The Children Reaches Wellington In 8th Place

After a gruelling second leg characterised by wild winds, the perils of Cape Horn and an emergency rendezvous with the crew of Imagine It Done, Team Save the Children has sailed into Wellington in 8th place.

Skippered by Englishman Paul Kelly, the Team Save the Children yacht, distinctive with colourful pictures of children painted on the hull, received a warm welcome from supporters, including staff and volunteers from Save the Children New Zealand.

“It’s been an absolutely brilliant leg,” said Paul Kelly, “I’ve been awake for the past 29 hours, but it’s fantastic to beat the winners of the first leg, Barclays Adventurer.”

The crew were set back slightly on 29 December when they turned back to pass over intravenous fluids and antibiotics for the succour of John Masters on Imagine It Done.

“We were sailing in 5th position when we got the call, but didn’t hesitate to turn back,” he said.

As the official race charity, Save the Children is ensuring that the enthusiasm and goodwill behind the Global Challenge extends far beyond the 10 months of nautical adventures. A substantial sum of more than 2.5 million pounds will be directed towards Save the Children’s long-term and emergency relief projects worldwide as a result of the race.

Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand John Bowis said all supplementary fundraising while the yachts are docked at the Queens Wharf race village would support the organisation’s Indian Ocean tsunami emergency relief programme.

“Our local and regional staff in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India are working around the clock to deliver immediate humanitarian relief to tsunami victims. We urge Wellingtonians to come down and support the Global Challenge while the yachts are here and donate to the Tsunami Appeal if they haven’t already done so.”

Donations to Save the Children’s Tsunami Appeal can also be made by calling 0800 167 168; by post to PO Box 6584, Marion Square, Wellington; or online at http://www.savethechildren.org.nz

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