Telefónica Blue secures comfortable lead in Atlantic drag race
Leg 6 Day 8 - 15:11 GMT Saturday, April 18, 2009. |
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One week from the start in Rio and Telefónica Blue has extended a nice margin over rest of the Volvo fleet. However, skipper Bouwe Bekking, says the fleet will compress again as soon as Telefónica Blue starts sailing in lighter airs.
"It looks tricky ahead, so it is a matter of keeping our eyes open," he said. |
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Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe
Bekking (NED) at the start of leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Reaching the Doldrums first and immerging almost painlessly into the northeast trade winds, Telefónica Blue took off on a 20-knot reach, which allowed her to put 106 nm between herself and the rest of the fleet, where competition for the other podium places continues to be intense.
Currently Ericsson 4 is holding second position from Ericsson 3 and PUMA just two miles behind. Telefónica Black is a further four miles back and Delta Lloyd nine miles. Green Dragon trails the leader by 133 nm. |
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Ericsson 4, skippered by Torben Grael
(BRA) at the start of leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race,
from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| The competition is red hot, no crew is giving an inch and places on the leaderboard are swapping constantly. Only 27 nm separate second place from the seventh, which leaves the finishing order wide open. |
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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken
Read (USA) at the start of leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean
Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| It has been an exciting 24 hours for Ian Walker and the crew of Green Dragon. "First we gained lots of miles in the Doldrums, getting within sight of Ericsson 3 and Telefónica Black at one stage, and then we had a third and final visit from King Neptune as this is the first time that James Carroll has ever sailed across the Equator," explained Walker. |
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Ericsson 3 chasing Green Dragon, just
after the start of leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from
Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Gustav Morin / Ericsson 3 / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| The team has broken the bearings in their starboard steering system, but replacements onboard have been fitted. "Clearly a whole week on the same tack was too much for it," Walker joked. |
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Onboard Delta Llloyd just after the
start of leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Photo © Sander Pluijm / Team Delta Lloyd / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Telefónica Black is missing their bowman, Mike Pammenter, who was evacuated from the boat minutes after the start with a suspected broken ankle. Navigator Roger Nilson says the crew is tired. "We have been fighting hard and certainly miss the power and enthusiasm of Mike. We are not the biggest and strongest guys in the fleet," he said. |
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Onboard Telefonica Black, during leg
6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Anton Paz / Telefonica Black / Volvo Ocean Race.
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According to PUMA’s MCM, Rick Deppe, the sailing is fast, loose and bouncy with the sails eased in what the PUMA crew calls rlquo;ocean upwindrsquo; trim. Everyone is happy that they are able to point directly towards Boston; there are no gates and islands to worry about and the miles are clicking off quickly now.
Daily runs of over 400 nm should be achievable for at least the next three to four days, given the current conditions. Telefónica Blue clocked up 420 nm in the past 24 hours and has 2,905 nm to run to the finish. |
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Navigator Ian Moore, feeding the crew
of Green Dragon, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race,
from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Guo Chuan / Green Dragon Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Scoring Gate Results Fernando de Noronha
1. Telefónica Blue - 19:58:56 GMT 16.04.09 - 4 Points
2. Ericsson 4 - 22:55:36 GMT 16.04.09 - 3.5 Points
3. Delta Lloyd - 23:28:32 GMT 16.04.09 - 3 Points
4. Puma - 23:29:31 GMT 16.04.09 - 2.5 Points
5. Telefónica Black - 23:42:20 GMT 16.04.09 - 2 Points
6. Ericsson 3 - 00:14:28 GMT 17.04.09 - 1.5 Points
7. Green Dragon - 01:27:26 GMT 17.04.09 - 1 Point |
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Sail changes, onboard Telefonica
Blue, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio
de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Gabriele Olivo / Telefonica Blue / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Leg 6 Day 8 - 13:00 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(Boat name / country / skipper / nationality / distance to finish)
1. Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking / NED) DTF 2,905 nm
2. Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael / BRA) +106 nm
3. Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson / SWE) +108 nm
4. PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read / USA) +108 nm
5. Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri / ESP) +112 nm
6. Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermúdez / ESP) +121 nm
7. Green Dragon IRL / CHN (Ian Walker / GBR) +133 nm
8. Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT) DNS
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all the latest news! |
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