LONDON - New Zealand yachtsman Chris Laufele ended his personal "voyage of discovery" when the BT Global Challenge race ended in Southampton yesterday.
Laufele, aged 33, was stunned as the first boats in the 12-yacht fleet were greeted by a huge pleasure boat flotilla at the end of their 9 1/2-month trek around the world.
The final 400-mile leg was won by LG Flatron, which was also overall winner of the 32,000-mile race against prevailing winds.
Laufele crewed on Norwich Union, which was a close third on the final leg, behind TeamSpirIT.
"Just coming home was fantastic," he said.
"That will be very memorable for all of us, especially seeing all the boats coming out. They didn't care which boat we were as long as people came home from our adventure."
Twelve identical yachts crewed by volunteers took part in the race, the brainchild of round-the-world yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth.
Former All Black Zinzan Brooke and British actor Jeremy Irons were among those to sail in the race, which visited Wellington in summer.
Laufele said those who raced around the world had learned about themselves and their team-mates.
"It was a lifetime experience for me, a voyage of discovery," he said.
"I think life has definitely changed for me - I see things as more of a challenge than a problem."
Flatron skipper Conrad Humphreys, 27, said he was overwhelmed by the spectacular finish.
"It feels absolutely tremendous to be back. The team are what it is all about," the Englishman said.
"I'm very very proud and privileged to have been associated with a group of people like this."
He said there had been low points for the team, particularly during the penultimate leg, when they finished eighth.
"It put us under pressure, but having said that, a team does not really understand whether it can succeed until it is under pressure.
"It is not really the winning, it is the battle that we had to get here which is the most rewarding."
Overall second place went to Compaq and third place to the yacht BP, followed by Logica and Team-SpirIT.
- NZPA
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