Ericsson 4 wins the Volvo Ocean Race while PUMA takes Leg Nine
12:26 GMT Tuesday, June 16, 2009. |
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| A third place finish
in leg nine has been enough for Ericsson 4 to provisionally win
the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. The team now has a 13-point lead
over PUMA, with just 12 points available in the rest of the race. |
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Ericsson 4, skippered by Torben Grael
(BRA) finish third on leg 9 from Marstrand to Sandhamn
and are provisional winners for the overall race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| "We made a
few errors on the leg, but we got what we wanted so we’re
pretty happy," said Ericsson 4 skipper Torben Grael. "We
were very close in Marstrand, but now it’s done. It’s
finished. We can really enjoy it." |
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Ericsson 3 skipper Magnus Olsson congratulates
Ericsson 4 skipper Torben Grael on coming 3rd in leg
9 and provisional winners for the overall race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| It was a good night
for PUMA as well. After a fearsome catfight with the crew of
Stockholm-based Ericsson 3, whose crew wanted a win here in front
of their home crowd more than anything, PUMA stole victory on
the finish line tonight in Sandhamn (an island in the Stockholm
archipelago just east of the capital city), and claimed full
points for Volvo Ocean Race leg nine. |
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PUMA Ocean Racing and Ericsson 3 in
a tight battle for first place on leg 9 from Marstrand
to Stockholm.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Today’s win
was PUMA’s first leg victory in this 10-leg race, although
they have had a good showing during the in-port racing. Their
score of 95 points so far strengthens their second place overall
at this stage of the event.
"It feels fantastic and it’s wonderful to be here in Stockholm.
We feel a little sad to spoil Ericsson 3’s homecoming, but
it’s a great win, and a hard-earned win," said American
skipper Kenny Read. |
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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken
Read (USA) finish first on leg 9 from Marstrand to
Sandhamn.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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"Man do we
know how to make it hard. I don’t think it has to be this
hard, but somehow that’s the only way we seem to have success.
We let them [Ericsson 3] go, on a little squall by lighthouse,
and they went from half a mile behind, to overtake us. We had
to battle back, but none of these guys quit. They sailed a great
race and it was quite a drag race," said Read.
"When we let them get ahead of us at the lighthouse, I think
most teams would have quit right there, but adversity seems to be
our friend and we got a little break when they got their jib hung
up on the radar dome. It’s a great relief to get our first
leg win out of the way," Read added. |
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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken
Read (USA) finish first on leg 9 from Marstrand to
Sandhamn.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Fighting PUMA for
second place overall is Bouwe Bekking’s Telefónica
Blue, who had the terrible misfortune of being grounded on a
rock outside Marstrand shortly after the start. The crew expects
to complete this leg and be in Stockholm in time to contest the
in-port race on Sunday and thereby pile the pressure back on
PUMA. |
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Ericsson 3, skippered by Magnus Olsson
(SWE) finish second on leg 9 from Marstrand to Sandhamn.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The largely Nordic
crew of Ericsson 3, skippered by the hugely popular Magnus Olsson
and winners of the longest leg of the race leg five; had to settle
for second place tonight. This brings their overall score to
71.5 points.
"It was very close. That was enough tacks for a lifetime. We
wanted so badly to win and now Ken Read has destroyed my party. How
mad do you think I am? From now on, I’m really going to pick
on him," joked skipper Swedish Magnus Olsson, when he stepped
ashore. |
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This picture shows how close PUMA Ocean
Racing and Ericsson 3 were in their tight battle for
first place on leg 9 from Marstrand to Stockholm.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The final podium
spot went to Ericsson 4, which ensures her overall victory in
the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Although there is still one leg
left to complete before the team crosses the finish for the final
time in St Petersburg on June 27, it is now not possible for
them to be beaten.
Skipper Torben Grael said, "We are finishing Ericsson
4’s circumnavigation. The boat was built here and left
here nearly a year ago, so she’s back after sailing around
the world and winning the race. It couldn’t be any better." |
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Ericsson 3, skippered by Magnus Olsson
(SWE) finish second on leg 9 from Marstrand to Sandhamn.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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"We have a
wonderful crew. A lot of experience. They have been fantastic
on the whole leg, the whole race around the world. It’s
a pleasure to sail with them and get back to Stockholm in this
position," he said.
Ericsson 4’s full race statistics can be found at: http://press.volvooceanrace.org/?p=3030#more-3030
Fourth, fifth and six spots were filled by Telefónica
Black, Green Dragon and Delta Lloyd. |
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Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando
Echavarri (ESP) finish fourth leg 9 from Marstrand
to Sandhamn.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Leg Nine
Finishing Order Stockholm
1. PUMA
2. Ericsson 3
3. Ericsson 4
4. Telefónica Black
5. Green Dragon
6. Delta Lloyd
7. Telefónica Blue SUSPENDED RACING
8. Team Russia DNS |
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Green Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker
(GBR) finish fifth on leg 9 from Marstrand to Sandhamn.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Overall
Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 108 points
2. PUMA (Ken Read / USA): 95.0 points
3. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): SUSPENDED RACING 86.0
points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 71.5 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 63.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP): 47.0
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermúdez / ESP): 38.0 points
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points |
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Delta Lloyd, skippered by Roberto Bermudez
(ESP) finish sixth on leg 9 from Marstrand to Sandhamn.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| For elapsed times,
please go to the Data Centre on the official Volvo Ocean Race
website: www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc and
navigate to the Data Tables. You will find the elapsed times
are under Position Data. |
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Ericsson 4 at dawn, as the fleet pass
the Orsund Bridge on the way to Stockholm, earlier
during Leg 9.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for
all the latest news! |
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