abu dhabi survive mayhem to lead volvo ocean race
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Walker's crew stand 7 points of nearest rivals

Abu Dhabi survive mayhem to lead Volvo Ocean Race

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Abu Dhabi survive mayhem to lead Volvo Ocean Race

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team sail during the Volvo Ocean Race off the coast of Alicante
Alicante - Arab Today

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing emerged victorious on Sunday after 6,776 nautical miles (nm) of immensely challenging racing in leg five to take a big advantage at the top of the Volvo Ocean Race standings.
Briton Ian Walker's crew now stand seven points clear of their nearest rivals, Dongfeng Race Team.
The Chinese boat, Dongfeng, suffered a broken mast in the Southern Ocean last Monday and were later forced to pull out of the leg, having started the stage level at the top of the standings with Abu Dhabi.
Dongfeng were not the only team to encounter serious problems with Spanish boat MAPFRE and the all-women's crew of Swedish Team SCA also crashing to their sides in so-called 'Chinese gybes' before righting.
Additionally, several of the boats suffered damage to their sails along the way.
Walker, as usual, barely had a wink of sleep over the final 48 hours of a three-week leg as he staved off challenges from MAPFRE, Turkish-US boat Team Alvimedica and Team Brunel of the Netherlands, to clinch victory.
An elated but exhausted Walker certainly was not taking overall victory in the race for granted after sailing into a packed Itajai harbour following the 19-day crossing through the South Pacific, Southern Ocean and south Atlantic.
Instead he was simply savouring a very hard-earned win with only 32 minutes to spare from the chasing pack.
"Awesome. It's been such a monster of a leg, we are so, so stoked," said the 45-year-old after beating their closest pursuers by just 32 minutes.
"We have sailed very, very well but it was a very tight finish."
The leg was incredibly closely contested with MAPFRE, Team Alvimedica and Team Brunel, contesting the lead with Abu Dhabi all along the Brazilian coast and eventually finishing in that order with less than an hour separating first to fourth.
Team SCA, who suffered more problems when one of their rudders broke on Sunday, are expected to complete the leg on Tuesday.
The fleet will next sail from Itajai for Newport, Rhode Island, on April 19 and Dongfeng face a race against time to nurse their stricken boat to the south-eastern Brazilian port and then fit a new mast.
From Newport, the boats will tackle an Atlantic crossing to Lisbon, before the race concludes with two shorter European legs, taking the fleet to Lorient in France and then Gothenburg in Sweden, the latter via The Hague in the Netherlands.
In all, they will have covered 38,739nm, visited 11 ports and every continent.
The 41-year-old race, generally reckoned offshore sailing's toughest and most prestigious challenge, is held every three years.
Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

abu dhabi survive mayhem to lead volvo ocean race abu dhabi survive mayhem to lead volvo ocean race

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

abu dhabi survive mayhem to lead volvo ocean race abu dhabi survive mayhem to lead volvo ocean race

 



GMT 07:20 2017 Saturday ,08 April

Joint Security Force deploys in Ain el Hilwe

GMT 12:46 2017 Wednesday ,15 February

Turkey’s entanglement in Al-Bab

GMT 14:20 2017 Tuesday ,07 February

Khamenei rebuffs Trump's warning on missiles

GMT 21:12 2016 Sunday ,23 October

Yemen deports 200 illegal African migrants

GMT 09:12 2017 Friday ,10 February

Trump, senior Republican spat over deadly Yemen raid

GMT 13:58 2012 Thursday ,04 October

Michel Azzi leaves Future TV

GMT 12:54 2017 Monday ,21 August

Lawmakers' efforts praised
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday