Volvo Ocean Race, Ericsson 3 sul podio di Cochin
Ericsson RacingOceanoVelaVolvo Ocean Race 1 Dicembre 2008 Zerogradinord 1
[singlepic=965,250,170,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Cochin – Si completa con Ericsson 3 il podio della seconda tappa della Volvo Ocean Race. Lo scafo di Anders Lewander, che nel corso delle ultime ore si era nascosto utilizzando lo StealthPlay, ha tagliato la linea di arrivo alle 07.36 GMT, anticipando il gruppetto composto da Telefonica Black, Team Delta Lloyd, Puma Racing Team e Green Dragon.
Per Anders Lewander e il suo equipaggio si tratta del secondo terzo posto consecutivo, ma questa volta la soddisfazione è maggiore. Al momento dell’arrivo a Cape Town, infatti, ad Ericsson 3 venne decurtata la metà dei punti guadagnati a causa di irregolarità riscontrate nella lama di deriva che, per problemi di fusione, risultava non omogenea. Sostituita la chiglia difettosa con una nuova giunta dall’Italia, lo scafo dell’equipaggio scandinavo ha preso parte con nuove motivazioni alla seconda frazione, vissuta da protagonista.
Grazie ai punti raccolti tra cancello e piazzamento finale, Ericsson 3 ha scalato diverse posizioni in classifica generale ed è ora terzo assoluto.
“Entrare in porto a fine tappa è sempre una cosa meravigliosa; è un momento che si sogna da quando molli gli ormeggi ed essere sul podio è straordinario – ha commentato Anders Lewander – Dal punto di vista tattico abbiamo dovuto affrontare ogni genere di condizione e lo studio della meteorologia fatto prima del via si è rivelato utilissimo”.
Leg 2, day 16, 10.00 GMT, rankings
1 – Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA)
2 – Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED)
3 – Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE)
4 – Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) DTF 29 nm
5 – Team Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +36 nm
6 – Puma Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +36 nm
7 – Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +44 nm
8 – Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) +465 nm
Per seguire la regata sul Race Tracker clicca qui.
Per accedere alla galleria video clicca qui.
[flashvideo filename=video/vor/Ericsson3_301108.flv /]
Video courtesy Volvo Ocean Race.
PODIUM FINISH FOR ERICSSON 3
[singlepic=966,250,170,,left][Volvo Ocan Race Press Release] Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander/SWE) has filled the third podium position for the 4450 nm leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race to Cochin, India. The team spent the final 24 hours of the leg almost drifting, choosing to activate their StealthPlay in order to keep their position secret and prevent the chasing pack from sailing round them while they were becalmed.
The wind filled in for the final miles and team crossed the finish at 07.36 GMT this morning (13.06 local time) earning six points. This brings their total to 14.5, which is good enough for third place overall. However, once the four-way battle for fourth place is decided later on this morning, Ericsson 3 will be relegated. Ericsson 4, the second boat in this two-boat project won the leg yesterday and leads the race overall.
This is the second time Ericsson 3 has crossed the finish line in third place, however, in Cape Town, the team was docked two points for racing with a non-compliant keel. A new, rule-compliant keel was subsequently fitted and this time the team will be able to celebrate third place properly. The podium finish comes after crossing the scoring gate in second place, which gained the team a further 3.5 points.
On stepping ashore, skipper Anders Lewander said, “Coming into port is wonderful. It is something you dream of and realising it feels so great. A podium position is extraordinary. This race is worth fighting to be involved in. We have spent a lot of time developing and learning and each leg has its achievements, and on this leg, we have been though all sorts of weather. We now know how we can go forward. I have great confidence in the team.”
Magnus Olsson/SWE – watch captain and six-race veteran said, “It’s very good to be here in third. We had great boatspeed and we can get better, we just need to be more aggressive in our tactics. We think we deserve third place and would like to congratulate Ericsson 4 and Telefónica Blue. I already love India it is fantastic exotic place.”
After a dramatic start in Cape Town, when the team caught their headsail around the radar unit, ripping it from its bracket just after the start and tearing the sail, the crew quickly found their place mid-field, close to Ericsson 4.
On day five, as the wind increased to 40 knots, watch captain Magnus Olsson appealed to the wind Gods, “No broach, please God, no broach.” In pitch darkness, a big gust hit the boat and forced the bow deep under water. The boat was heeling badly. The crew on deck, although attached to the boat by their harnesses, were washed down the length of the deck. Bowman, Anders Dahlsjö from Sweden lost his grip and smashed into a winch handle. The handle bent badly and Anders was in agony, holding his hands over his ribs. “Now we have another guy on painkillers,” commented MCM Gustav Morin matter of factly.
The highlight of the leg for Ericsson 3 was crossing through the scoring gate on day six, 20 November, in a respectable second place, with Ericsson 4 just ahead of them. “In the middle of nowhere, with only open seas surrounding us, and just birds and fish listening and watching, six guys are making big noises of joy. With fists in the air, screaming and laughing, we are celebrating being the second boat to the scoring gate,” said Morin.
It was still an all-Ericsson affair on day eight, with Ericsson 4 leading Ericsson 3 by just three miles. For the next five days, the two Ericsson boats led the fleet, swapping the lead back and forth.
When Ericsson 4 made a break and escaped the clutches of the Doldrums, Ericsson 3 was left leading the group of three, Green Dragon, Puma and Delta Lloyd, that had all chosen the middle path through the Doldrums.
The battle for third place continued, but by day 15, Ericsson 3 had a buffer of 40 miles and the team was able to cling on to this to clinch third place.
Leg 2, day 16, 10.00 GMT, rankings
1 – Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA)
2 – Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED)
3 – Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE)
4 – Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) DTF 29 nm
5 – Team Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +36 nm
6 – Puma Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +36 nm
7 – Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +44 nm
8 – Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) +465 nm
To follow the race on Race Tracker click here.
To visit the video gallery click here.
