Remarkable
comeback for Telefónica Blue in Stockholm In-Port
Race
14:46 GMT Sunday, June 21, 2009. |
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After an extremely
disappointing leg nine, Bouwe Bekking and his men made a remarkable
comeback today to snatch the in-port race in Stockholm from their
nearest rival PUMA. This comes after the disaster of running
aground at the start on leg nine, where they had to
return to Marstrand for emergency repairs. The result of this
meant that the second overall position in the Volvo Ocean Race
2008-09, had slipped away from Telefónica Blue.
PUMA achieved second for Stockholm In-Port Race, while Telefónica Black came third. |
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Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe
Bekking (NED) finish first in the Stockholm in-port
race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The rocks and islands surrounding the course set today for the final of the in-port race series in the Volvo Ocean Race were crammed with thousands of spectators. And out on the water within the Stockholm Archipelago, spectator boats lined both sides of the course with boat masts seen as far as the eye could see.
To maintain some order, the well-behaved spectator fleet was professionally marshalled by the Swedish Navy. It was the perfect day for racing. |
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Perfect weather and hundreds of spectator
boats turn out, for the Stockholm in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| As the breeze built to nine knots for the first of two races and led by Delta Lloyd, the fleet of seven Volvo Open 70s, sailing with plenty of heel and producing foaming white water from their bows made a clean start. |
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Delta Lloyd, skippered by Roberto Bermudez
(ESP) during the Stockholm in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The two local boats, Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4, fought for the pin end of the line and chose the far left of the course.
After a slightly sticky start, PUMA followed Green Dragon out to opposite side of the course to gain clean air. PUMA then took the lead and held on to it until the end of the race.
Ericsson 3 sailing in their home waters and using their expertise in the lake-like sailing conditions, achieved a consistent second place in the first race. |
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The local Magnus Olsson fan club chase
Ericsson 3, skippered by Olsson (SWE) during the Stockholm
in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Telefónica Blue, who was last on the first beat, made a terrific comeback and climbed steadily up through order to take third, which coincidentally, was the same top three finishing order as the second of the Galway in-port races. So close were the next two boats, it was difficult to call the finish.
However Ericsson 4 eventually beat Telefónica Black by a short head of one second to take fourth. Green Dragon came sixth and after a very promising start, Delta Lloyd completed the line up in seventh place. |
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Perfect weather and hundreds of spectator
boats turn out, for the Stockholm in-port race.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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It was in race two
that the outcome for the day was decided as the breeze increased
to 12 - 14 knots and a fog bank started to roll in across the
course.
Telefónica Blue put in her usual polished performance and led the fleet from start to finish. Telefónica Black with syndicate head, Pedro Campos at the helm, sailed a perfect race and spoilt the show for PUMA by finishing second in race two. This ultimatly produced a result that prevented PUMA from claiming overall victory today. |
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Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando
Echavarri (ESP) finish third in the Stockholm in-port
race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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With a third and a first for Telefónica Blue and a first and a third for PUMA today, the tie was broken in favour of the results in the second race, which left Telefónica Blue as the clear winner, from PUMA and Telefónica Black.
It has been an exceptional day of racing and although the order on the overall leaderboard remains unchanged, Telefónica Blue has crept a little closer to second place overall, and is now six points behind PUMA, with one more leg of the race still to come. |
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Green Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker
(GBR) chase Telefonica Black, skippered by Fernando
Echavarri (ESP) during the Stockholm in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Race 1 Stockholm In-Port Race Finish Position
1. PUMA
2. Ericsson 3
3. Telefónica Blue
4. Ericsson 4
5. Telefónica Black
6. Green Dragon
7. Delta Lloyd |
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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken
Read (USA) finished second in the Stockholm in-port
race.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Race 2 Stockholm In-port Race Finish Position
1. Telefónica Blue
2. Telefónica Black
3. PUMA
4. Ericsson 4
5. Delta Lloyd
6. Ericsson 3
7. Green Dragon |
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Perfect weather and hundreds of spectator
boats turn out, for the Stockholm in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Stockholm In-Port Race Results (Provisional)
1. Telefónica Blue 4.0 points
2. PUMA 3.5 points
3. Telefónica Black 3.0 points
4. Ericsson 4 2.5 points
5. Ericsson 3 2.0 points
6. Delta Lloyd 1.5 points
7. Green Dragon 1.0 points |
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Perfect weather and hundreds of spectator
boats turn out, for the Stockholm in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 110.5 points
2. PUMA (Ken Read / USA): 98.5 points
3. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): 92.0 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 73.5 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 64.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP): 50.0
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermúdez / ESP): 39.5 points
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points
Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for
all the latest news! |
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