Green Dragon
blazes out of Galway in Volvo Ocean Race leg eight start
Leg 8 Day 1 - 16:22 GMT Saturday, June 6, 2009.
|
 |
| Hometown boat, Green Dragon, made a fantastic start today as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet left Galway Bay for the 1,250 nm sprint to Marstrand in Sweden. It was a great reward for the huge crowds of well-wishers, who filled every available space in Galway in order to cheer their home team on. |
|
Green Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker
(GBR) at the start of leg 8 from Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| After a hugely successful stopover which was the first time the Volvo Ocean Race has visited Ireland, 20 knots of gusty offshore breeze was on offer today for the start of Leg 8. As it was the most wind yet for any of the Volvo leg starts, spinnakers were set for a fast downwind start at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT). |
|
Galway dock prior to the start of leg
8 from Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| The fleet sailed the usual two leg loop of approximately four nautical miles, before setting off through the Aran Islands and down the west coast of Ireland. From there it was out into the Celtic Sea towards the Fastnet Rock, which although a mark of the course, is not a scoring gate. |
|
Galway dock prior to the start of leg
8 from Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| Ian Walker’s Green Dragon revelled in the heavy breeze and flat water, which suited her perfectly. Once clear of the start line, Green Dragon overhauled Telefónica Black doing 19 knots, to take the lead at the first turning mark. |
|
The fleet blast out of Galway Bay with
Ericsson 4 in the lead, at the start of leg 8 from
Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
Sailing beautifully, starting in mid-field, Ericsson 4 out-muscled Telefónica Blue and fought off Green Dragon to take the lead after rounding the mark in second place and setting off up the beat towards the windward mark.
At the mark, Ericsson 4 had taken control and hoisted her spinnaker for the second time. Then followed Green Dragon who kept the pressure on, Telefónica Blue, PUMA and Telefónica Black. Further behind were Ericsson 3 and Delta Lloyd. |
|
Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando
Echavarri (ESP) at the start of leg 8 from Galway to
Marstrand.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| Telefónica Blue momentarily lost ground to PUMA when her spinnaker hoisted with a twist in it, as the fleet blazed down Galway Bay with an increasing breeze and a building sea state and headed towards the Aran Islands.
|
|
The fleet blast out of Galway Bay with
Ericsson 4 in the lead, at the start of leg 8 from
Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| Today saw a great display by Ericsson 4, but what a performance by Ian Walker and his men on Green Dragon, ensuring that the hometown crowds had a lot to cheer about. Then there was also a terrific battle for third between Telefónica Blue and PUMA. |
|
The fleet blast out of Galway Bay with
Ericsson 4 in the lead, at the start of leg 8 from
Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| The game changes now for this largely coastal leg of 1,250 nm; full of shipping, tidal gates, shallows and sandbanks. The course takes the fleet south around the UK, up the English Channel and out into the North Sea, where they will race around a loop set off the Hook of Holland before heading to the finish in Marstrand, Sweden on or around Thursday June 11. |
|
PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken
Read (USA) at the start of leg 8 from Galway to Marstrand.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 94.0 points
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): 81.0 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read / USA): 80.0 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 62.5 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 53.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP): 39.0
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermúdez / ESP): 31.0 points
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points
Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT) DNS
Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for
all the latest news! |
|
