Pressure On As Ericsson 4 and Puma Lead the Start Of Leg Four
07:11 GMT Sunday, January 18th, 2009. |
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| The Volvo Ocean Race returned to the race track today in Singapore when the gun fired signifying the start of the 2,500 nautical mile leg to Qingdao in China. This leg is one where most crews consider, will be one of the most difficult and brutal legs of the entire race. |
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The start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Singapore to Qingdao, China.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Never in the history of the race has there been a leg like this, where the fleet will be sailing upwind for such an extensive distance. The difference between racing and surviving is taken very seriously and all skippers are predicting the need to ease back when conditions worsen. |
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The start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Singapore to Qingdao, China.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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After the blessing of the fleet, the start got underway in ideal conditions of 10 - 15 knots. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA) and PUMA (Kenny Read / USA) immediately commenced battle and both had their bows ahead of the rest and opting for the middle of the line. However, Delta Lloyd with new navigator Frits Koek / NED in the navigator’s chair, chose the pin end of the starting line.
Both Telefónica boats and Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR) were in the second row as the gun fired at 13:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and the fleet pounded up the first two-mile beat. |
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The start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Singapore to Qingdao, China.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| At windward mark, Ericsson 4 led with some smart sail handling, with PUMA right on her heels. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE) performed an outstanding spinnaker hoist and took third place, while Green Dragon struggled with their huge gennaker in fourth position. |
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Ericsson 3, skippered by Anders Lewander
(SWE) at the start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race,
from Singapore to Qingdao, China.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| The match racing continued between the two leaders, as they approached the next mark with Ericsson 4 proving to be the class act of the fleet. PUMA was just a couple of boat lengths behind while Green Dragon rolled Ericsson 3. Then came the two Telefónica boats and Delta Lloyd. |
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The start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Singapore to Qingdao, China. In the background
are some of the vast number of ships anchored outside
this busy global maritime crossroad.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| The committee boat formed the last rounding mark before the fleet sheeted in and headed upwind to China. Ericsson 4 was the clear leader, followed by PUMA. |
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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read
(USA) and Delta Lloyd, skippered by Roberto
Bermudez (ESP) at the start of
leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Singapore to Qingdao,
China.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| A gap opened up to Green Dragon with Ericsson 3 right on her tail. Telefónica Blue was fifth, a disappointing position for Bouwe Bekking and his men. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP) who took a penalty of three points for swapping to new rudders were sixth with Delta Lloyd on their tail. |
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Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando
Echavarri (ESP) at the start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Singapore to Qingdao, China.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| It will be an interesting first 10 hours of this leg as the positions begin to establish. Positions will be available on www.volvooceanrace.org every three hours throughout the leg. |
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Delta Lloyd, skippered by Roberto
Bermudez (ESP) at the start of leg 4 of the Volvo
Ocean Race, from Singapore to Qingdao, China. In
the background are some of the vast number of ships
anchored outside this busy global maritime crossroad.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 39 points
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): 33.5 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read / USA): 31 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 24 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 22.5 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri /ESP): 19 points*
7. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points
8. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez / ESP): 10 points
*Penalty of three points applied for rudder change.
Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for all the latest news! |
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