Volvo Ocean Race, anche per Puma l’abbraccio di Cape Town

[singlepic=672,250,170,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Cape Town – E’ giunto a Cape Town alle 17.44 GMT Il Mostro, il VOR 70 del Puma Racing Team. Ad accogliere lo scafo di Ken Read, secondo classificato in questa Alicante-Cape Town, prima frazione della Volvo Ocean Race, una folla molto più numerosa rispetto a quella che nelle prime ore di questa mattina aveva salutato l’arrivo di Ericsson 4, vincitore della tappa e leader della classifica generale con un solo punto di vantaggio sul già citato Il Mostro.
Nel corso della notte è atteso l’arrivo di Ericsson 3, allo stato attuale alle prese in un duello piuttosto ravvicinato con Green Dragon: “La situazione è molto tesa – ha spiegato Gustev Morin, media crew member della barca di Anders Lewander – Siamo impegnati in una battaglia senza fine con i ragazzi di Ian Walker. Lo stress si fa sentire e ogni errore potrebbe essere determinante. Manca un giorno alla fine e il tempo pare non passare mai”.

Per guardare i video della regata clicca qui.

Per seguire la regata via web clicca qui.

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Chris Nicholson, Puma Racing Team. Courtesy Volvo Ocean Race.

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Johnatan McKee, Puma Racing Team. Courtesy Volvo Ocean Race.

PUMA GRAB SECOND PLACE
[singlepic=671,270,150,,left][Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] Ken Read’s Puma Ocean Racing finished Leg One at 17:44:50 GMT, or 19:44:50 local time in Cape Town. Gybing through Table Bay with the sun setting to the west, the red and black Il Mostro cut a majestic sight as it raced to the line.

The team can expect a raucous welcome when they pull up alongside the dock. The race village in the V+A Waterfront is officially opening tonight, with a ceremony that includes a full fireworks display, scheduled to start at 20:00 local time.

Behind Puma, there’s still a battle raging for third place, although Ericsson 3, under the steady hand of skipper Anders Lewander, has looked strong in holding off Green Dragon over the past 48 hours or so. But with a lead of just 60 miles on the 16:00 GMT position report, their status feels anything but secure on board.

“Everything is getting to its edge now,” wrote Gustav Morin, the media crew member on board Ericsson 3. “We are still battling the Green Dragons and the situation feels close and stressful… Some of the guys are tired and it’s easier to make mistakes and to get grumpy about things you wouldn’t even think of if you were rested. Add to that the big stress level it is to be racing closely for days and days and when you are only one day from finish. The game is still close and you can’t afford to do anything wrong.”

Telefonica Blue remains in StealthPlay, and is fighting with Team Russia for fifth place. Behind, Delta Lloyd and the wounded Telefonica Black team are closing within 500 miles of the Cape Town.

Ericsson 3 is the next boat due to finish off Cape Town. Currently, her ETA is for near 05:00 GMT tomorrow morning, not far off 24 hours after her sistership, Ericsson 4 won the leg. With Ericsson 4 winning the leg this morning, a second place finish will give Puma seven points for the leg, and 13 in total to move within one point of the overall race lead.

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