“I am very grateful to all the skippers for their show of support by postponing the start by a day,” Jourdain said in a phone link-up to an assembled crowd in Boston. “You would never see the Schumacher brothers making such a gesture. This goes to the heart of the EDS Atlantic Challenge and to the heart of professional sailing. It’s why we love this sport so much.” The crowd of invited guests attending a business networking function and prize giving in Boston erupted into applause at the news. “It’s this kind of perseverance and dedication that is symbolic of the EDS Atlantic Challenge,” said Charles Ansley, president, EDS information solutions, US. “It’s why we are pleased to sponsor the event. Jourdain and his crew really epitomize teamwork and the need for excellence. We wish him well, indeed we wish all the competitors well for the race back to France.” The final leg returns to St. Malo, France, where the first yachts are expected to finish between August 23 and August 26.