Volvo Ocean Race, la In-Port Race di Rio a Telefonica Blue
Equipo TelefonicaEricsson RacingGreen Dragon RacingOceanoPuma Ocean RacingTeam Delta LloydVelaVolvo Ocean Race 5 Aprile 2009 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=2178,204,300,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Rio de Janeiro – Una lunga attesa prima, una grande prestazione di Telefonica Blue poi: questo il bilancio della In-Port Race di Rio de Janeiro. Una regata che ha visto Puma chiudere al secondo posto davanti al ricondizionato Team Delta Lloyd, capace di far sua la terza posizione grazie a un’ottima scelta tattica adottata nel corso della prima poppa, quando Roberto Bermudez ha deciso di navigare sulla sinistra del campo, recuperando svariate posizioni. Come dicevamo, una lunga attesa e In-Port Race che si chiude con una prova sola, disputata per altro in condizioni di vento medio. Classifica immutata e flotta che finalmente si ricompatta.
E’ stata quindi una prova a totale favore dei delusi della quinta tappa, visto che Telefonica Blue non era andato oltre la quinta posizione, Il Mostro si era dovuto accontentare della terza e Team Delta Lloyd nemmeno era partito alla volta di Rio de Janeiro, messo al tappeto dagli importanti danni strutturali che ne avevano minato la struttura nel corso della Singapore-Qingdao.
Attardati il leader della classifica generale Ericsson 4, quarto davanti al rientrante Telefonica Black, portato dalla coppia Campos-Doreste, e il dominatore della quinta frazione Ericsson 3 di Magnus Olsson, addirittura ultimo dietro a Green Dragon in virtù di una penalità rimediata per una mancata precedenza.
Tra una settimana il via alla sesta tappa: Rio de Janeiro-Boston di 4.500 miglia.
Volvo Ocean Race, In-Port Race Rio de Janeiro
1. Telefonica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt. 4
2. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) pt. 3.5
3. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) pt. 3
4. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 2.5
5. Telefonica Black (Fernando Echavarri/ESP) pt. 2
6. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/IRL) pt. 1.5
7. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 1
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) DNS
Volvo Ocean Race, classifica generale
1. Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 66
2. Puma Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) pt. 56.5
3. Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt.54.5
4. Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 44.5
5. Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) pt. 41
6. Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) pt. 23
7. Team Delta Lloyd NED/IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) pt. 15
8. Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) pt. 10.5
TOP DAY FOR TELEFÓNICA BLUE IN THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE LIGHT IN-PORT RACE
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] It was a great win in the ‘Light In-Port Race’ for Bouwe Bekking’s Telefónica Blue after a long postponement in Rio de Janeiro today. Puma (Ken Read/USA) put in a solid performance to take second, but the surprise result was the outstanding performance by the rejuvenated Delta Lloyd with Spaniard, Roberto Bérmudez in charge, who took the third podium position.
Only one race was run due to the two hour postponement, but once the sea breeze filled in, there was a solid seven to 10 knot southerly breeze on the Guanabara Bay. Ian Walker and Green Dragon led the fleet off the pin end of the start line, with Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA), sailing with HRH the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden onboard, and Delta Lloyd looking good at the windward end.
Ken Read elected to start on port tack, and out in the clear air on the right hand side of the course, the choice paid off. At the first mark Puma led the field, followed closely by Ericsson 3, the winner of leg five, with Magnus Olsson as skipper.
On the first down wind leg, Telefónica Blue and Delta Lloyd, who were mid fleet at the top mark, both benefitted from a big puff of wind on the left hand side of the course and shot into first and second place. Telefónica Blue was never challenged for the lead, but PUMA managed to slip past Delta Lloyd to steal second place.
The main action today was towards the middle of the fleet, an unusual position for the multiple Olympic medallist and local lad Torben Grael, when he found himself in a race between Green Dragon and Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP).
Both Ericsson 4 and Telefónica Black managed to beat back Green Dragon to post fourth and fifth at the finish, pushing Ian Walker and his men into sixth place. After their superb start, Green Dragon was never really in contention and Ian Walker will no doubt be disappointed with his result today. Ericsson 3’s day was effectively over when she had to take a penalty for a port/starboard infringement with Telefónica Black.
Today’s results do not change the order on the overall leaderboard, but do close the margin between Ericsson 4 at the top and PUMA and Telefónica Blue in second and third place.
The start of leg six, 4,500 nm from Rio to Boston begins next Saturday, 11 April.
Volvo Ocean Race, In-Port Race Rio de Janeiro
1. Telefonica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt. 4
2. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) pt. 3.5
3. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) pt. 3
4. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 2.5
5. Telefonica Black (Fernando Echavarri/ESP) pt. 2
6. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/IRL) pt. 1.5
7. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 1
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) DNS
Volvo Ocean Race, ranking
1. Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 66
2. Puma Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) pt. 56.5
3. Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt.54.5
4. Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 44.5
5. Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) pt. 41
6. Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) pt. 23
7. Team Delta Lloyd NED/IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) pt. 15
8. Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) pt. 10.5
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