The race north
begins
23:02 AEDT Sunday January 18, 2009. |
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| Green Dragon had a good start to Leg 4 as they set sail from Singapore today. In 12 - 15 knot north easterly conditions, the fleet took on a short triangular course close to the shore of Singapore, before heading out towards the Straits of Singapore. |
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Green Dragon starts Leg 4, Singapore
to Qingdao.
Photo © Yongtao Jiang / Green Dragon.
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The 2,500 mile leg will see the fleet sailing in upwind conditions ranging from 15 - 50 knots! There are no way-points, no scoring gates and no stealth play during this leg. The tactical options are wide open, as they sail through geographical challenges such as the Spratly Islands.
The race to Qingdao is certainly going to be a testing time for all onboard, as well as a shock to the system as the crews head away from the tropical heat of the equator and into the freezing cold temperatures of northern China. |
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The Singapore base for the Volvo Ocean
Race on the start day of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race,
from Singapore to Qingdao, China.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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"I love a bit of carnage," joked Green Dragon watch Captain Neal McDonald on the dock before departure. "The danger is not so much being swept overboard like it is in the Southern Ocean. It is bashing the boats to bits!"
Survival seemed to be key as the boats left the dock, whilst getting there first is the aim of the game, actually reaching the finish line will also play a huge part during this leg. Something that skipper Ian Walker confirmed, "you need to be fast and smart but most important, you need to get there in one piece." |
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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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At 13:00 local time (GMT + 8 hours) Leg 4 kicked off. It was a tussle on the start line as the seven boats fought for clear wind and the best possible position.
Whilst Ian Walker and his crew looked good as they approached the line, they found themselves boxed in by the two Ericsson boats, but they were soon on the chase and stuck to far the right hand side of the course. |
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Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando
Echavarri (ESP) chases Green Dragon, skippered by Ian
Walker (GBR) 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 was a two mile beat upwind before they approached the first mark, Green Dragon tacked just a boat length in front of Ericsson 3, but they were pinned in allowing Magnus Olsen and his crew to roll past, forcing the Dragon to round the first mark in fourth.
The downwind section saw the big gennakers come out, Ericsson 4 and PUMA stretched their legs away from the remaining fleet. There was a tricky sail change onboard Green Dragon as the crew fought hard to get the gennakar up. But they were soon back on track gaining ground on Ericsson 3, by the final mark they had reclaimed third and were chasing PUMA and Ericsson 4. |
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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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As the fleet headed out into the Straits of Singapore and onto the South China Sea, Green Dragon said goodbye to one more person. Joining Green Dragon for the start was local Singapore businessman Colm Mulqueen, who was onboard after donating $12,500 dollars to the Ocean Youth Trust for the privilege of jumping off after the start!
The money raised will allow a group of Singapore children the opportunity to travel to Galway, Ireland for the port stopover which will kick off on the 23rd May. |
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Green Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker
(GBR) 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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For more information on the Galway stopover log onto: http://www.letsdoitgalway.com.
The latest position report (1000 GMT) shows that the fleet remain close, with PUMA leading the charge north and Green Dragon in fifth just two miles behind the leader.
Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for
all the latest news! |
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