SAILING VOLVO OCEAN RACE, LEG FIVE:GREAT THUNDEROUS choruses of traditional drums and fireworks marked the send-off from China for the Volvo Ocean Race boats at the beginning of a record 12,300-mile stage to Brazil. But the send-off was premature for some as this edition of the race took yet another unforeseen twist.
Just four boats were lined up alongside the Olympic marina at Qingdao where upwards of 5,000 people had gathered along with dignitaries who dressed the four skippers in ceremonial warriors helmets and capes before leading their crews to the waiting boats.
First to leave was Ian Walker and Green Dragon, the local favourite and as fourth-placed, leaving in reverse order, the adoptive city of Qingdao and its own son and crew-member Guo Chuan were given a heroes welcome.
Then followed Ken Read for Puma Ocean Racing, Dutchman Bouwe Bekking on Telefonica Blue.
Then overall race leader Torben Grael whose lead had been considerably strengthened by the second-placed boat’s decision to swap to larger rudders and incur a three-point penalty.
Barely an hour later, Bekking’s plan to attack Grael’s domination heading into the Brazilian’s home-port was under severe pressure as even before the leg had started, the Spanish boat had collided with an uncharted rock.
Just Green Dragon, Puma and Ericsson 4 started with the home-side boat winning the line ahead of wrangle along the inshore demonstration course as Walker held off a charge from Grael before all three hit a prolonged patch of light airs.
Ashore, Telefonica Blue had been lifted on the travel-hoist and impact damage discovered along the keel and bulb.
A 19-hour delay followed as the shore crew sweated to repair both the damage and the crew’s confidence that their 40 days at sea would be trouble-free.
But the Spanish boat’s shore team wasn’t alone on the dockside.
Fully repaired and raring to go, Magnus Olsen and the crew of the damaged Ericsson 3 finished leg four of the race, collected four points, cleared Chinese immigration and customs, loaded their boat with sails and provisions and cleared immigration all within 91-minutes.
For Bekking, his delay was a seemingly pricey 200-mile deficit.
But against the scale of a 12,300-mile leg with the doldrums and a host of snakes and ladders opportunities ahead, being at sea with a sound boat and healthy team is ultimately a small cost.
Leg Five Day Two
Ericsson 4Sweden (Torben Grael, Brazil) 12,076 nm distance to finish
PUMA Racing TeamUSA (Ken Read, USA)+20
Green DragonIreland/China (Ian Walker, Brit) +44
Ericsson 3Sweden (Magnus Olsson, Sweden) +46
Telefonica BlueSpain (Bouwe Bekking, Holland) +202
Delta LloydIreland (Roberto Bermudez, Spain)DNS
Telefonica BlackSpain (Fernando Echavarri, Spain) DNS
Team RussiaRussia (Andreas Hanakamp, Austria)DNS
Latest positions:
www.volvooceanrace.org
