First of these contenders is Portugal-Brasil 500. This yacht is a new 80-foot design. Skipper will be noted offshore sailor Ludde Ingvall. Portugal-Brasil 500 is designed to the new IRM 2000 rating rule. She is named in honor of the 500th anniversary of Portuguese Admiral Pedro Cabral's voyage of discovery to Brazil.
Next contender is Sagamore.
Sagamore is a Lingan design which has been optimized for the Cape to Rio. Sagamore has been lightened and now features mast head spinnakers. The final contender is Zephyrus IV, a Reichel Pugh Maxi. From boisterous to becalmed. A millpond replaced the rowdy conditions on the inner Hauraki Gulf the last three days and conspired to postpone Race 4 of the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinal round.