Volvo Ocean Race, niente è deciso
Equipo TelefonicaEricsson RacingGreen Dragon RacingOceanoPuma Ocean RacingTeam Delta LloydTeam RussiaVelaVolvo Ocean Race 22 Dicembre 2008 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=1166,170,250,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Cochin – Dopo aver navigato schiacciati sotto la costa malese, i VOR 70 protagonisti di questa incredibile Volvo Ocean Race sono impegnati nello sprint finale della terza tappa. A meno di cinquanta miglia dall’arrivo, infatti, Telefonica Blue, tornato al comando da una trentina di ore, controlla gli avversari seppur con un vantaggio di appena due miglia su Il Mostro ed Ericsson 3, a loro volta incalzati da Ericsson 4.
Il vento leggero e ballerino rende impossibile ogni genere di pronostico. Certo è che, per quanto fatto vedere nel corso di questa avvincente frazione, a meritare il successo è senza dubbio l’equipaggio di Bouwe Bekking, secondo al cancello di Palau We nonostante l’opzione sud adottata durante l’attraversamento del Golfo del Bengala e poi battistrada nel corso della difficile navigazione lungo lo Stretto di Malacca.
L’arrivo dei primi, incerto ed emozionante, è atteso nelle prossime ore,mentre il resto della flotta dovrebbe arrivare nel corso della nottata.
Leg 3, day 9, 10.00 GMT, rankings
1 – Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) DTF 51 nm
2 – Puma Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +2 nm
2 – Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE) +2 nm
4 – Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +4 nm
5 – Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) +26 nm
6 – Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +62 nm
7 – Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) +65 nm
8 – Team Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +174 nm
Per seguire la regata sul Race Tracker clicca qui.
[flashvideo filename=video/vor/Waverider_221208.flv /]
Video courtesy Volvo Ocean Race.
VOLVO OCEAN RACE, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] First or fourth? Eight points or five points? That is what is at stake today for Puma, Ericsson 4, Ericsson 3 and Telefonica Blue, as the top four boats on leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race close in on the finish line off Singapore.
Conditions are brutal for ocean racing sailors. The wind is light, shifty and subject to very local influences in the form of land and sea breezes and squalls. The part of the Strait where this battle is being fought is fraught with tidal current, fishing fleets, and heavy commercial traffic. And the crews aren’t sleeping as they make a final push for the finish. It’s not the best way to spend the days before Christmas.
Overnight and early this morning the fleet has spent some time at anchor as the wind has faded completely and an adverse current has threatened to push them backwards. With each puff of wind, positions change as one boat is favoured by the wind gods over the others. It’s not a fun time to be a Volvo Ocean Race sailor.
So how close is it? According to Puma skipper Kenny Read, “A solid 3 iron – that is what it would take to whack a golf ball off of the mainsail of half the fleet at this stage as we literally drift off the coast of Malaysia…I wish I could say that this wasn’t expected but it was…Straight out of the leg three travel guide.”
All change, all the time
The leaderboard among the top four is seemingly changing with each position report. Ericsson 4, the leader into the Malacca Strait, was passed yesterday and hasn’t been able to reclaim the lead, but the overall race leaders isn’t far from the front, and is desperate to get back to the top spot.
“It’s been very positive onboard – everyone was obviously gutted to be passed – but why waste time and effort on regrets?” wrote Guy Salter on Ericsson 4. “The attitude has become one of trying to drag ourselves back into the action…The potential is in place for a real fight to the finish – so stay tuned, and just hope the weather plays ball!!”
At 04.00 the top four boats had split into two groups. Puma Ocean Racing is currently leading the pack, by one mile over Ericsson 4. This pair has stayed in close to the coast of Malaysia.
Heading out towards the middle of the Strait, Ericsson 3 is one mile ahead of Telefonica Blue. All four of the top boats are within just four miles on distance to finish.
And still threatening is Telefonica Black, fifth place and just 13 miles behind the leader. Fernando Echavarri’s crew is splitting the difference with the leaders in terms of distance off the coast.
Straining for sixth
About 35 miles further back, Green Dragon is protecting its sixth place position ahead of Team Russia, who have been steadily gaining on the dragons over the past 24 hours. From being 25 miles behind Green Dragon 24 hours ago, the Russians are just seven miles in arrears this morning, and making better speed.
Delta Lloyd remains out of the race from a competitive standpoint, over 150 miles back of the leader. But the team is still making their way towards the finish under sail and is expected about 20 hours after the leg winner.
The ETA for the leading group is fluctuating as wildly as the speed over ground being registered. With 110 miles to go to the finish, the most optimistic prediction would have the winner finishing late afternoon (GMT). In reality, it could take twice that time and be much closer to midnight.
What is sure is that each mile gained on the opposition is going to be very hard-earned. Some may decry the ‘casino conditions’ but the winner is surely going to be well-deserving of their Christmas presents this year.
Leg 3, day 9, 10.00 GMT, rankings
1 – Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) DTF 51 nm
2 – Puma Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +2 nm
2 – Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE) +2 nm
4 – Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +4 nm
5 – Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) +26 nm
6 – Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +62 nm
7 – Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) +65 nm
8 – Team Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +174 nm
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