Volvo Ocean Race, la lunga volata
Equipo TelefonicaEricsson RacingGreen Dragon RacingOceanoPuma Ocean RacingTeam Delta LloydVelaVolvo Ocean Race 23 Maggio 2009 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=2561,300,204,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Oceano Atlantico – “Immaginate di fare la cosa che più vi piace al mondo per 10 giorni, giorno dopo giorno, ora dopo ora. Queste sono le condizioni che stiamo vivendo al momento. L’Oceano Atlantico ci sta regalando qualcosa di unico, indimenticabile”. Così Gabriele Olivo, Media Crew Member di Telefonica Blue commenta quanto stanno vivendo gli equipaggi a bordo dei VOR 70 lanciati a tutta velocità verso l’arrivo di Galway. Dopo 8 giorni di Oceano, la flotta quindi guarda all’Irlanda non come alla fine di un incubo – come avvenne nel caso di Rio de Janeiro, raggiunto dopo 42 giorni di mare – ma come alla fine di un sogno, una lunga planata iniziata al largo di Boston.
A meno di 200 miglia dall’arrivo le posizioni sono mutate ancora una volta. Ericsson 4, salito più a nord di tutti, è sempre al comando, ma alle sue spalle si sono ora inseriti Il Mostro e, notizia della giornata, Green Dragon, mai così in alto in classifica generale. Ha perso terreno Telefonica Blue, quarto a 52 miglia dal leader, e lo stesso ha fatto il Team Delta Lloyd, posizionato all’estremo opposto di Ericsson 4. Cattive notizie anche per Ericsson 3, ultimo, e Telefonica Black che ha giocato la carta Stealth Play per coprire l’ultima strambata, quella che dall’Oceano ha permesso di puntare direttamente Galway.
L’arrivo è atteso nella tarda serata di oggi.
Volvo Ocean Race, day 8, 13.00 GMT
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) DTF 231 nm
2. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) +39 nm
3. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) +39 nm
4. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) +52 nm
5. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) +59 nm
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) +84 nm
7. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) +88 nm
VOLVO OCEAN RACE, HIGH SPEED DRAG RACE TO GALWAY FINISH
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] After all but Telefónica Black played their Stealth option overnight to cover the timing of the critical gybe, the fleet is now converging on the finish in Galway in what is promising to be dramatic ending to this trans-Atlantic leg from Boston, USA. Accordingly, Galway is prepared for a grandstand finish in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The sailing continues to be fast and wet, but it has been a thrilling and memorable ride across the Atlantic.
“Take what you most love doing in your life and keep doing it for hours and hours, day after day. That is how I would describe the sailing conditions at the moment. No matter what, this remains the best sailing in the world,” wrote an enthusiastic Gabriele Olivo, MCM onboard Telefónica Blue (6th place +52nm).
For team of Green Dragon, it will be a homecoming and the team is currently level pegging with Puma for second place, their best showing so far on this 37,000 nm race around the world.
“The race now is all about speed. There are no tactical options,” said skipper Ian Walker who has extra people on deck to put every last drop of energy into the final miles to the finish. “I am sure no crew is willing their boat forwards more than ours right now,” he said.
Onboard Delta Lloyd, spirits are high. Although the team is in fifth place, it is so close, anything can happen. The team is focused, eager and determined. Navigator Wouter Verbraak sums up the final hours of this leg: “The last two days have been intense, and we are all feeling the grunt of that. We have to keep pushing hard all the way to the end. This is what ocean racing is all about. The end of another marathon is drawing to a close, with it, the grand slam finale right in front of Galway. Perfect.”
With the speeds still topping 23 knots, routing software is currently predicting a finish for the first boat at just after 01.00 GMT tomorrow morning.
Volvo Ocean Race, day 8, 13.00 GMT
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) DTF 231 nm
2. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) +39 nm
3. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) +39 nm
4. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) +52 nm
5. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) +59 nm
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) +84 nm
7. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) +88 nm
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