Yachting: F & P evens ledger against arch rival

It might have taken more than 20 years, but Fisher & Paykel, the ketch Grant Dalton skippered around the globe in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race, has finally got one over its old nemesis Steinlager 2.

The two Kiwi maxi ketches finally came together again 11 days ago, on the start line of the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta. Held in Alicante, Portugal, in the week before the start of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, the regatta brought together many of the most famous yachts in round-the-world race history.

Among those taking part were 1985-86 winner L'Esprit d'Equipe; fellow 1989-90 contenders Charles Jourdan and Rothmans; Copernicus (1973-74) - at just 13.7m, the smallest yacht ever to take part in the race; and Great Britain II/Whitbread Heritage, which competed in the first five races.

Although reunion was more the name of the game than regatta, the racing was still tense. While sailing was abandoned through lack of wind on day one, the second day was held in perfect conditions, the 16-strong fleet powering around the 57km course in up to 30 knots of breeze.

In front of more than 600 past competitors, who travelled from across the globe to renew old acquaintances and reminisce about past adventures, and seven "Legends Ambassadors" (including Lady Pippa Blake, Tracy Edwards, Magnus Olsson and Skip Novak), L'Esprit d'Equipe repeated its victory of 26 years ago, crossing the finish line a mere 21 seconds ahead of Telefonica Black.

Perhaps more importantly, Fisher & Paykel finished 10th, three places ahead of its old rival Steinlager 2. It was a rare victory for the white ketch, which had, despite often-close racing, played second fiddle to Sir Peter Blake's Steinlager 2 right around the world.

Although both Kiwi ketches were designed by expatriate New Zealander Bruce Farr, they were not identical. Those differences and Blake's uncanny ability to place his boat in just the right spot at just the right time meant "Big Red" won every leg of the long race, much to Dalton's dismay.

The intensive rivalry began as it was to end, in the waters off southern England, in the 1989 Fastnet Race. A great prelude to the soon-to-follow fifth Whitbread Round the World Race, the Fastnet finished (as did the Whitbread) in Plymouth. The two Kiwi boats led home the fleet, with Steinlager 2 winning by just 350m and, after 68 hours of racing, just three minutes and 20 seconds.

Dalton's luck didn't get any better once the racing proper began, either. On the first leg from Southampton to Cape Town, Fisher & Paykel lost its mizzen mast, ruining any chance it had of an early victory.

Things seemed to go better for the underdog in the second leg, with Dalton heading further south and leading for 26 days. Unfortunately, he then ran into some light weather and Blake again claimed the honours by being first into Fremantle.

On the leg to Auckland, the two ketches appeared to be very evenly matched and Fisher & Paykel enjoyed the lead as they raced down the coast to Auckland. However, as a huge spectator fleet watched (despite the lateness of the hour), Blake again showed his boat-handling skills, pipping his compatriot in front of the sailors' home crowd.

Racing across the Southern Ocean was again close, but Steinlager 2 was the first to round Cape Horn and held its lead to be 20 minutes ahead across the Punta del Este finish line in Uruguay.

Fisher & Paykel again led for much of the next leg, to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, but was again thwarted by patches of light air. Another victory to Blake, this time by 34 minutes.

The final leg, unfortunately for the dogged Dalton and his crew, was simply more of the same. Although the two yachts followed different tracks up the Atlantic, they came together in the light air off Land's End. Big Red again crossed first, again just 38 minutes separating the two.

Despite the fact that Blake won all six legs and was deservedly feted for his victory, there was huge admiration for Dalton and his never-say-die determination. In an interview shortly after the finish, that attitude was clearly on display: "You never give up trying. You never can. And it's not just coming second. It is practice for winning. Just watch us next time."

And the world did watch next time as, this time on New Zealand Endeavour, he and his crew went on to win the 1993-94 Whitbread Round the World Race.

With six round-the-world races to his credit and now as CEO of the Emirates Team New Zealand entry, CAMPER, Dalton was in Alicante for the legends regatta and the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. While his mind was probably on other things, he would no doubt have enjoyed seeing his old yacht besting its rival at last.

He would also have enjoyed seeing CAMPER and its mostly Kiwi crew leading the fleet out of the Portuguese port on the first leg of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race.