Volvo Ocean Race, Telefonica Blue primo a Fernando de Noronha

[singlepic=2222,300,204,,left]Volvo Ocean Race – Fernando de Noronha – Alle 19.58 GMT Telefonica Blue ha oltrepassato per primo il cancello di Fernando de Noronha, raccogliendo 4 punti.

Al momento del passaggio del VOR 70 di Bouwe Bekking al traverso dell’arcipelago, Ericsson 4 era in seconda posizione a 22 miglia, a sua volta seguito da Team Delta Lloyd e Telefonica Black.

Lo skipper olandese aveva già conquistato il bottino pieno a Fernando de Noronha nel 2005-06, quando, a bordo di Movistar, poi andato perso durante la traversata dell’Atlantico, anticipò ABN Amro One di Mike Sanderson.

“Non è stato un passaggio facile – ha commentato Bekking – Il vento saltava dai 23 ai 3 nodi. Abbiamo doppiato l’arcipelago nel bel mezzo di un rovescio, con la visibilità molto limitata. La scelta delle vele, però, è stata quella giusta e dopo poco eravamo nuovamente concentrati sul mare aperto”.

Leg 6, day 5, 22.00 GMT, rankings
1. Telefonica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) DTF 3508
2. Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +35 nm
3. Team Delta Lloyd NED (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +38 nm
4. Telefonica Black ESP (Fernando Echavarri/ESP) +38 nm
5. Il Mostro USA (Ken Read/USA) +43 nm
6. Ericsson 3 SWE (Magus Olsson/SWE) +43 nm
7. Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +67 nm

TELEFONICA BLUE’S BOOTY
[Volvo Ocean Race Press Release] Telefonica Blue was first to the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha tonight. The Spanish boat crossed the landmark at the South Atlantic archipelago at 19.58 GMT.

Bouwe Bekking and his men pick up four points for their efforts. Their lead over second-placed Ericsson 4 was 22 miles at the point of reaching Noronha. Delta Lloyd was seven miles further adrift and Telefonica Black one mile behind.

It was the second time Bekking had been first to reach Noronha after a similar feat on Leg 1 in the 2005-06 race. On that occasion, he pipped ABN Amro One (re-invented as Delta Lloyd in 2008-09) for the points.

“The rounding didn’t come easy,” Bekking said. “Heavy squalls accompanied us, and 10 miles before the gate, the breeze dropped from 23 knots to 3 knots.

“But we made the right call on the sail choice and soon we were off again. We rounded just before it became dark, in a huge rain squall, so visibility was reduced, but we had a glimpse of the island.

“We are all happy to have beaten Ericsson 4. Let’s see if we can keep going like this until the finish … which is still a long way away.”

Leg 6, day 5, 22.00 GMT, rankings
1. Telefonica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) DTF 3508
2. Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +35 nm
3. Team Delta Lloyd NED (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) +38 nm
4. Telefonica Black ESP (Fernando Echavarri/ESP) +38 nm
5. Il Mostro USA (Ken Read/USA) +43 nm
6. Ericsson 3 SWE (Magus Olsson/SWE) +43 nm
7. Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +67 nm

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