# 1977–1978 Whitbread Round the World Race

The 1977–78 Whitbread Round the World Race was the second edition of the around-the-world sailing event Whitbread Round the World Race. On 27 August 1977, 15 boats started out from Portsmouth for the Whitbread Round the World Race under a moderate Northerly breeze and light patchy rain. Most of the second Whitbread Race was dominated by a tight race between Swan 65 King's Legend and Flyer, the latter eventually winning the race. All 15 boats finished the 26,780-nautical-mile (49,600 km) race. Great Britain II was winner on elapsed time for the second race in succession. This race was notable for the fact that Clare Francis became the first woman to skipper a Whitbread entry, the Swan 65 ADC Accutrac.

## Legs

| Leg | Start | Finish | Leg winner (elapsed time) | Leg winner (corrected time) |
| 1 | Portsmouth, England | Cape Town, South Africa | Flyer | Flyer |
| 2 | Cape Town, South Africa | Auckland, New Zealand | Heath's Condor | 33 Export |
| 3 | Auckland, New Zealand | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Great Britain II | Gauloise II |
| 4 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Portsmouth, England | Heath's Condor | Gauloise II |

## Results

| Overall Pos | Line Honours Pos | Sail Number | Yacht | Country | Yacht Type | LOA (Metres) | Skipper | Elapsed Time d:hh:mm:ss | Corrected time d:hh:mm:ss |
| 1 | 2 | H 2398 | Flyer | Netherlands | Sparkman & Stephens 65 Ketch | 19.86 | Cornelis van Rietschoten | 136:05:28:48 | 119:01:00:36 |
| 2 | 3 | K 1220 | King's Legend | Great Britain | Sparkman & Stephens Swan 65 | 19.68 | Nick Ratcliffe | 138:15:47:23 | 121:11:17:23 |
| 3 | 9 | EUR 1 | Traité de Rome | Europe | Sparkman & Stephens 51 Sloop | 15.60 | Philippe Hanin | 154:20:58:12 | 121:18:50:59 |
| 4 | 4 | Z 888 | Disque d'Or | Switzerland | Sparkman & Stephens Swan 65 | 19.68 | Pierre Fehlmann | 142:00:47:48 | 122:10:56:23 |
| 5 | 6 | K 1888 | ADC Accutrac | Great Britain | Sparkman & Stephens Swan 65 | 19.68 | Clare Francis | 145:15:28:11 | 126:20:18:36 |
| 6 | 10 | F 4279 | Gauloises II | France | Tabarly 57 Ketch | 17.45 | Eric Loizeau | 156:23:00:36 | 127:07:54:28 |
| 7 | 12 | K 3138 | Adventure | Great Britain | Camper-Nicholson 55 Sloop | 16.76 | James Watts David Leslie Ian Bailey-Willmot Robin Duchesne | 158:14:12:35 | 128:02:54:28 |
| 8 | 8 | F 515 | Neptune | France | Mauric 60 Sloop | 18.30 | Bernard Deguy | 152:05:33:35 | 130:11:52:48 |
| 9 | 11 | I 5555 | B&B Italia | Italy | Gurney 54 Sloop | 16.46 | Corrado di Majo | 157:05:34:48 | 132:02:22:47 |
| 10 | 15 | F 4390 | 33 Export | France | Mauric 57 Yawl | 17.37 | Alain Gabbay | 164:15:31:47 | 133:00:33:11 |
| 11 | 7 | H 2422 | Tielsa | Netherlands | Elsenga 67 Ketch | 20.50 | Dirk Nauta | 148:13:22:11 | 133:00:36:00 |
| 12 | 1 | K 3566 | Great Britain II | Great Britain | Gurney 77 Sloop Maxi | 23.52 | Robert James | 134:12:22:47 | 134:10:43:11 |
| 13 | 13 | K 1218 | Debenhams | Great Britain | Holman-Pye 57 Ketch | 17.40 | John Ridgway | 161:05:05:23 | 135:19:49:48 |
| 14 | 14 | F 7204 | Japy-Hermés | France | McCurdy-Rhodes 63 Ketch | 19.20 | Jean-Michel Viant | 164:01:29:23 | 143:06:00:00 |
| 15 | 5 | K 707 | Heath's Condor | Great Britain | Sharp 77 Sloop Maxi | 23.48 | Leslie Williams Robin Knox-Johnston | 143:01:41:59 | 144:00:09:35 |
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