Team Infordesporto - UTL Aventura (No. 10) leaves the sailing to the local skipper, using their kayak paddles to aid in the effort

Following Team Varig in second place, the heavily favored international team of Pharmanex-Spie (No. 27) floated up on the soft sand moments later with the French Team Fujifilm (No. 99) close behind.

It was a proud moment for the confident American crew, who bested an experienced French team in the final moments of the regatta, benefiting from a controversial tacking maneuver from the French, which gave the Varig team clear sailing for the finish. (In the interest of full disclosure, we should let you know that Varig Brazilian Airlines is both title sponsor of the Varig team as well as sponsor of Outside Online's Brazilian adventure sweepstakes.)

The night before Friday's sailing regatta, teams met their captains at the local university for orientation, then arrived on the beach at 8:00 a.m. this morning to prepare their boats for the big showdown. The plan was simple; each boat would be captained by the boat's owner, the teams acting as crew to paddle and keep the cloth sails wet.

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First prize for the winning captain was 500 Brazilian Reals (approximately $300US), while teams were motivated by the chance of a good starting position in Saturday's kayak start grid.

The day began slowly in this sleepy fishing village, as 29 simple sailing boats worked their way out to the open seas — either under tow or slowly paddling in the calm seas. Without the typically strong winds to propel the local fishing boats and their new Elf sails, race organizer GŽrard Fusil was forced to postpone the start by an hour. Then, at noon, the winds picked up and the race was on.

Teams had to sail and paddle their boats past the town, then around a small island for an exciting final leg—a tacking duel into the wind. Teams FujiFilm and Varig diced it out with Pharmanex-Spie for most of the final leg, their captains carefully choosing when to come about, tack and turn to get the most speed from their heavy wooden boats.

FujiFilm was in the lead right until the final meters, when they were forced to make one final turn. Rather than pass in front of Varig, they had to turn sharply behind them, losing precious seconds and conceding the win to the US team.

It seemed as if the entire town was waiting on the shore for the finish, with music playing and loud cheering from the throngs. When it was over, the starting order for Saturday's official race start was set.

The Paul Vitane regatta was named after the famous French sailor Paul Vitane, who raced in the first Elf Authentic Adventure last year in the Philippines, on Team Chaussland. He was lost in the Atlantic Ocean in the Transat Jacques Vabre race, between France and Columbia.