By Suzanne McFadden
Isabelle Autissier, the only yachtswoman in the solo round-the-world race, may have been pipped into Auckland last night, but she popped on the crown for overall Around Alone leader.
Autissier arrived an hour after fellow French sailor Marc Thiercelin crossed the leg two finish line off Rangitoto light at
7.45 pm.
The friendly rivals picked up second and third places in the 7000 mile hike through the Southern Ocean from Cape Town - around 40 hours after leg winner Giovanni Soldini who slid into port before dawn on Saturday.
Autissier, race leader halfway round the world, has never had much luck in the second leg of past races. She was dismasted in 1990 and had to be rescued from her rolled boat four years later.
It looked like deja vu when this time, the 42-year-old's 60ft yacht PRB had rudder trouble, followed by sail problems, off the coast of Australia. After calling into Tasmania for help she surprised the fleet by catching Thiercelin, and at one stage overtaking him.
This time someone else's misfortune has plunged her into the lead. The leader after the first leg, Englishman Mike Golding, was sitting on land at Mangonui last night - his boat too broken to continue.
Soldini, despite his decisive win, had not claimed back enough time lost after a dismal run from Charleston to Cape Town. He is now third overall, behind Thiercelin.
There is roughly a day's difference between each of the three skippers going into the penultimate leg to Punta del Este, starting on Waitangi Day.
The two French yachties were towed into the America's Cup village island together last night, saving race organisers from having to play La Marseillaise twice.
It was an agonizingly slow journey down the coast for both.
Supporters who went out on the Hauraki Gulf to meet Thiercelin on his yacht Somewhere did not know where he was, and had to wait three hours before the gold boat appeared on the horizon.
Another French skipper, JP Mouligne, was expected to cross the line before dawn today to win Class II for boats 50ft and under. Mouligne's Cray Valley beat three 60-footers into port.
Pictured: Giovanni Soldini is greeted by his daughter Marina in Auckalnd. PICTURE / FOTOPRESS
