Top Day For Telefónica Blue In The VOR Light In-Port Race
21:06 GMT Saturday, April 4, 2009. |
 |
| It was a great win in the ‘Light In-Port Race’ for Bouwe Bekking’s Telefónica Blue after a long postponement in Rio de Janeiro today. Also putting in a solid performance to take second place was PUMA (Ken Read / USA). But the surprise result was the outstanding performance by the rejuvenated Delta Lloyd, with Spaniard Roberto Bérmudez in charge, taking the third podium position. |
|
The fleet line up for the start of
the Light In-port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio
de Janeiro.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
Only one race was run due to the two hour postponement, but after the sea breeze filled in, there was a solid seven to 10 knot southerly breeze on Guanabara Bay.
Ian Walker and Green Dragon led the fleet off the pin end of the start line, with Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA); sailing with HRH the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden onboard; and Delta Lloyd looking good at the windward end. |
|
Her Royal Highness Victoria, Crown
Princess of Sweden with skipper Torben Grael (BRA)
and the crew of Ericsson 4 prior to the start of the
Light In-port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de
Janeiro.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| Ken Read elected to start on port tack, and out in the clear air on the right hand side of the course, his choice had paid off. From the first mark, PUMA had led the field, followed closely by leg 5 winner Ericsson 3 with Magnus Olsson as skipper. |
|
PUMA Ocean Racing leading the fleet
after the start of the Light In-port Race in the Volvo
Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| On the first downwind leg, Telefónica Blue and Delta Lloyd; who were mid fleet at the top mark; both benefitted from a big puff of wind on the left hand side of the course and shot into first and second place. Telefónica Blue was never challenged for the lead, but PUMA managed to slip past Delta Lloyd to steal second place. |
|
Delta Lloyd, skippered by Roberto Bermudez
(ESP) finished third in the Light In-port Race in the
Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
The main action today was towards the middle of the fleet, an unusual position for the multiple Olympic medallist and local lad Torben Grael, when he found himself in a race between Green Dragon and Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP).
Both Ericsson 4 and Telefónica Black managed to beat back Green Dragon to post fourth and fifth at the finish, pushing Ian Walker and his men into sixth place. |
|
Telefonica Blue leading the fleet when
rounding the mark in the Light In-port Race in the
Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
| After their superb start, Green Dragon was never really in contention and Ian Walker will no doubt be disappointed with his result today. And Ericsson 3’s day was effectively over when she had to take a penalty for a port/starboard infringement with Telefónica Black. |
|
The
Light In-port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de
Janeiro.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
Today’s results do not change the order on the overall leaderboard, but do close the margin between Ericsson 4 at the top and PUMA and Telefónica Blue in second and third place.
The start of leg six, 4,500 nm from Rio to Boston begins next Saturday, 11 April. |
|
Telefonica Black crossing behind Ericsson
4 and Delta Lloyd, in the Light In-port Race in the
Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
The Light In-Port Race Rio de Janeiro Results (Provisional)
1. Telefónica Blue 4.0 points
2. PUMA 3.5 points
3. Delta Lloyd 3.0 points
4. Ericsson 4: 2.5 points
5. Telefónica Black 2.0 points
6. Green Dragon 1.5 points
7. Ericsson 3: 1 points
8. Team Russia DNS |
|
Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe
Bekking (NED) finish first in the Light In-port Race
in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
|
 |
|
|
Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 66 points
2. PUMA (Ken Read / USA): 56.5 points
3. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): 54.5 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 44.5 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 41 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP): 23 points
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez / ESP): 15 points
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points
Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for
all the latest news! |
|
