Closest-Ever Volvo Ocean Race Starts Final Leg
After nine months of gruelling competition, the Volvo Ocean Race boats have started the final leg of the closest-ever contest in the round-the-world event’s 45-year history. As the seven competing Volvo 65s passed the Inmarsat-branded start line in Gothenburg, Sweden today, three teams were in a virtual tie for the ultimate crown, with everything to be decided in the 700nm sprint to The Hague. Two teams – MAPFRE and Team Brunel – now sit tied at the top of the overall leaderboard on 65 points with Dongfeng Race Team currently just one point behind them on 64. However, if Dongfeng beats the other two in Leg 11, it means they will also be positioned to receive the bonus point for the shortest elapsed time around the world.
Dongfeng Wins Dogfight in Volvo Ocean Race
Chinese challengers Dongfeng Race Team, which suffered a broken mast in the previous leg, won a closely-contested sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race late on Wednesday. They beat overall race leaders Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing into Newport, Rhode Island, by just three minutes and 25 seconds after an absorbing 24-hour dogfight along the U.S. east coast. Skipper Charles Caudrelier took Dongfeng across the line in Newport, clear of Ian Walker's Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing entry Azzam. Team Brunel arrived third to Rhode Island, roughly 50 minutes behind Azzam, with Mapfre finishing about 35 minutes later in fourth. As of Thursday morning, Team Alvimedica and Team SCA had yet to arrive. The victory in the 5,010-nautical mile stage cut the deficit to the Emirati boat to six points.
Trimaran Averaged 22 Knots to Win Transatlantic Race
The seventy foot MOD70 trimaran 'Edmond de Rothschild', sailed by French duo Sebastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier broke the finish line of the 5450 miles Transat Jacques Vabre race this afternoon at 15hrs 03mins 57s local time (17h 03m 57h UTC GMT) to take overall line honours and win the MOD70 class. After starting from Le Havre on Thursday 7th November at 13hrs local time, Edmond de Rothschild took just 11 days, 5hours, 3 minutes and 54 second to cover the course. They sailed at a real average speed of 22.12kts for their actual distance that they sailed of 5952miles.
