Volvo Ocean Race, Puma vince e avvicina Telefonica Blue
Equipo TelefonicaEricsson RacingGreen Dragon RacingOceanoPuma Ocean RacingTeam Delta LloydVelaVolvo Ocean Race 30 Maggio 2009 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=2606,300,204,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Oceano Atlantico – Sovvertendo il pronostico che lo voleva battuto in caso di vento leggero, Il Mostro ha fatto sua la In-Port Race di Galway. Seppur con gli stessi risultati di Telefonica Blue, avversario diretto alla conquista della seconda piazza assoluta, il team di Ken Read si è aggiudicato la frazione grazie al successo ottenuto nella seconda delle due manche portate a termine e ha avvicinato gli uomini di Bouwe Bekking, giunti secondi, ora distanti solo un punto in classifica generale.
Finito terzo nella prima manche, disputata sfruttando un vento ballerino che è andato via via morendo in corso d’opera, il VOR 70 del Puma Ocean Racing ha atteso pazientemente la seconda regata, iniziata dopo l’entrata di una brezzolina leggera leggera proveniente da ovest, per calare il suo carico. Navigando sulla sinistra del campo, Il Mostro è riuscito a guadagnare quel tanto che gli è bastato per mettere dietro la flotta e da quel momento ha chiuso le porte al ritorno degli avversari.
Una fatica che sarebbe servita a poco se non fosse stata accompagnata dall’exploit di Ericsson 3. Giunto secondo, l’equipaggio di Magnus Olsson ha di fatto tolto a Telefonica Blue il successo di tappa. Il terzo posto rimediato nella seconda prova, infatti, ha pareggiato quello ottenuto dal Il Mostro nella prima, ma è risultato più penalizzante nel momento del confronto dei parziali.
A finire terzo, con un secondo e un quarto, è stato Fernando Echavarri e il suo Telefonica Black. Ai piedi del podio un felice Magnus Olsson, per una volta capace di finire una In-Port Race davanti ai cugini di Ericsson 4, in regata con l’animo tranquillo di chi sa di poter vivere di rendita. Sesto Team Delta Lloyd, capace di alcuni spunti degni di nota. Ultimo uno sconsolato Ian Walker, che a Galway, davanti al pubblico amico, sperava evidentemente in qualcosa di più per il suo Green Dragon.
Volvo Ocean Race, In-Port Race, Galway
1. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) pt. 4
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt. 3.5
3. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) pt. 3
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 2.5
5. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 2
6. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) pt. 1.5
7. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) pt. 1
Volvo Ocean Race, classifica generale
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 94
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt. 81
3. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) pt. 80
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 62.5
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) pt. 53
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) pt. 39.5
7. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) pt. 31
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/RUS) pt. 10.5
VOLVO OCEAN RACE, IN GALWAY PUM TAKES ITS FIRST VICTORY
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] Puma won the in-port race series in Galway today after two thrilling races were held on Galway Bay. This is the first time that Puma has been on top of the podium for the Volvo Ocean Race and it brings her closer to second place in the overall standings. Telefónica Blue, second today, maintains second place overall, but only by one point and Ericsson 4’s slightly disappointing performance shaves her overall lead from 14.5 points to 13 points.
In race one, Team Telefónica clearly dominated in what started out as perfect conditions, with blue skies and a building breeze. While local heroes, Green Dragon, opted for a committee-boat start followed by Delta Lloyd, Athens Olympic Gold Medallist Iker Martinez (49-er) quickly steered Telefónica Blue to the left of the course and into a clear lead, which he held until the finish gun. Telefónica Black, with America’s Cup helmsman and syndicate head Pedro Campos in charge, made it a one-two for the Spanish team in conditions that clearly suited the two Farr Yacht Design boats
Puma put in a good performance to take third, from Ericsson 4, just as the wind began to die and seriously shift. A big cloudbank swept across the racecourse sucking the breeze with it and causing a headache for the race committee who had to reposition the windward and leeward marks several times during the course of the race.
Ericsson 3, Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon all had their problems during the race and found themselves trailing the leaders on the procession to the finish line after the windshift.
After a short postponement, race two got underway and the clouds parted to allow the blue sky and sun to shine through. A new westerly breeze of around 10 knots meant a new course was set, slightly closer to the shore.
Delta Lloyd made a blinding start at the pin end of the start line and led the fleet early. Telefónica Black was on course side and had to dip back behind the line and re-start, but made quick recovery. Green Dragon tacked, dipping behind the whole fleet and headed out to the right hand of the course.
Good work from Kenny Read and his men onboard Puma meant they rounded the first mark in the lead from Telefónica Blue and Ericsson 4. The order at the front of the fleet remained unchanged at end of the first downwind leg, while, further back, Telefónica Black overtook Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon, who was struggling in the lighter conditions.
On the second beat, Telefónica Black came right back into contention and followed Telefónica Blue through the mid course gate to the right hand side of the course. Green Dragon also chose the right hand side, nearest the beach.
The fleet converged on the windward mark for the last time with Puma leading the fleet safely round. Second place was very close with Ericsson 3 coming in from the left hand side and the two Telefónica boats approaching from the right. Ericsson 3 got the better of the two Spanish boats and rose up through the fleet from fourth place to round the mark in second place, from Telefónica Blue, Ericsson 4 and Telefónica Black.
On the final spinnaker leg, Puma remained in control to complete the second race in first place, confirming her win today on a tiebreak, which takes the results of the second race as the decider. Ericsson 3 remained in second place and Telefónica Blue finished third in front of Telefónica Black.
Overall, it was a team affair, with Puma taking maximum points today, followed by Telefónica Blue and Telefónica Black, Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4, Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon.
The final in-port race will be held in Stockholm, Sweden on 21 June, and leg eight from Galway to Marstrand, Sweden will start at 1300 local time (12.00 GMT) next Saturday
Volvo Ocean Race, In-Port Race, Galway
1. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) pt. 4
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt. 3.5
3. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) pt. 3
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 2.5
5. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 2
6. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) pt. 1.5
7. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) pt. 1
Volvo Ocean Race, classifica generale
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) pt. 94
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) pt. 81
3. Il Mostro (Ken Read/USA) pt. 80
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) pt. 62.5
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) pt. 53
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) pt. 39.5
7. Team Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bérmudez/ESP) pt. 31
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/RUS) pt. 10.5
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