 By Rob Howard[This report was origninally sent out by boat from Cabo Froward to Punta Arenas a couple of days ago ... it never made it.]
As dusk approached at Cabo Froward on day 7 of the race news came through that team Helly Hansen Prunesco were approaching the coast and the finish of the race. The good weather of earlier in the day, which had given those waiting such impressive views of the islands to the south from the monumental metal cross on the hill above camp, had now passed and the rain was now back as they approached. Unluckily for the four British racers they hit the coast at high tide and this made the final 8 km along the shore doubly hard in the gathering gloom. All that was left exposed was a narrow strip of stones turned into an obstacle course by trees which had fallen into the ocean, not that the team were bothered by this, they had been through far, far worse!
Their head torches were winking along the shore as they leapt over the logs, crossed one final stream and were met by a battery of camera flashes and cheers as they arrived at the race camp. “We’d not seen anyone for over two days,” said Bruce Duncan, “and were thinking, wow people! That’s cool!” They were thinking of the finish too and they’d not reached it yet, so they passed through the camp quickly and set off on the path uphill at a good pace. (The only path they have seen on any of the trekking.) By now it was fully dark so they were not going to get views of anything but starlight on the cross on the hilltop.
“It was a much bigger climb than we thought,” said Bruce Duncan, “we thought it was just a little hill! On the top a couple of photographers had camped to wait for them and the race clock had finally been set up – this had been trapped in customs but had at least made it the finish. (Things don’t run smoothly here. The team sent to set up the Tyrolean had not made it but the team said crossing the Rio Oro wasn’t a problem, and we are still short of the boat to take everyone out of here ....)
It was after midnight when they reached the top in strong gusting winds to be met by the Race Director and a representative from Wenger, and after a quick celebration and photo shoot they retreated into the photographers tent to warm up and eat something before walking back down to camp. A separate camp and tent had been prepared for them, away from the bustle of the main camp, with a big fire and even a special dish of fruit salad with melted chocolate! There was a can of beer each too.
As they sat around the fire, trying to dry off their sleeping bags (and as the race looked for dry ones they could use for the night), they told the story of the final section of their race. | 
