Steady tactics ensure team in good shape for Volvo Ocean Race Home Leg to UAE capital
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing took a comfortable fourth place in the second in-port event of the Volvo Ocean Race – the gruelling nine-month round the world ‘Everest of Sailing’ – as the team prioritises efforts for the testing 5,430 nautical mile home leg to the UAE capital on Sunday.
Racing off the Cape Town coastline in South Africa, the in-port was the first time the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed team had competed competitively since dismasting in heavy weather on leg one from Alicante, Spain.
Balancing an all out display with keeping the team’s Volvo Open 70 race yacht, Azzam, in top condition ahead of the next leg, skipper Ian Walker was content with adding points and keeping pace with the fleet.
“We held our position throughout and importantly came through unscathed. These in-port races are very hard and the whole fleet did well today. Tactics and a good start are critical. For us, the next leg to our home in Abu Dhabi is priority one; we have overcome such adversity to be ready for this and take a lot of comfort from that. From here it is about building confidence and being quick and steady,” said Walker.
Back-dropped by Cape Town’s Table Mountain, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing headed to the pin end of the race start to opt for the clean air away from the six-strong fleet, hoping to take advantage of the 17-knot wind. Team Telefónica, who won the opening leg from Alicante, started best to open up a short lead before PUMA Ocean Racing powered by Berg snatched first place through the opening mark, with the Abu Dhabi outfit coming in 35 seconds behind.
Taking the left side of the course, with French outfit Groupama and Team Sanya of China, Walker held his ground, as Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing looked to make up time on the leading Telefónica, PUMA and CAMPER with Team Emirates New Zealand trio.
The split paid off well for Azzam as it snuck in behind third-placed CAMPER round mark two as the chasing yachts looked to catch PUMA, which had its own race against time to get ready for the Cape Town in-port after dismasting late in the opening leg.
Rounding mark three in fourth, one minute behind PUMA, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing kept pace with the top three, with an average 20 knot speed, to close the gap on CAMPER to just 10 seconds. As the lead changed at the front, with Telefónica capitalising on PUMA straying into a soft wind area, Abu Dhabi held its nerve to keep its fourth placing at mark five.
With the race settling in the final two legs, Telefónica made sure of its second Volvo Ocean Race victory with a commanding display, as CAMPER, PUMA and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing made sure of a safe finish to add to their points tally. Abu Dhabi currently sits joint fourth overall with PUMA in the race standings.
The Volvo Ocean Race second leg from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi begins tomorrow (Sunday). ADTA, which is behind the emirate’s historic New Year hosting of the race, has committed to making its stopover a highlight. It will host the race fleet, its sea hardened sailors and more than 100,000 fans from 31st December 2011-14th January 2012. It will mark the first time the ‘Everest of Sailing’ has been held in the Arabian Gulf.
To host the race fleet, Abu Dhabi’s purpose-built ‘Destination Village’ on the UAE capital’s Corniche breakwater is the size of eight football pitches. Free to the public, it will be packed with activities and entertainment including exhibitions, shows, simulators, hospitality, game zones, restaurants, cafes and shops.
In addition to daily, free on-shore activities, a full sailing and watersports programme will run throughout the fortnight for kids and adults. Volvo Ocean Race will also run classrooms and practical workshops to teach sailing to all ages, whilst a number of local racing regattas will be held for sailing aficionados and newcomers.
Also the six competing Volvo Ocean Race teams will also compete in front of packed Abu Dhabi crowds in a pro-am and in-port race, before heading off on the 4,500 mile third race leg to Sanya, China on the 14th January 2012.
