OFFICIAL START OF THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE
ABU DHABI TO SANYA
As I'm writing this episode, the Volvo Ocean Race is due to start in the next 5 mins. It is quite misty but hopefully there will be sufficient wind as to not delay the start of the race, as was the start of the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race. Thus far, Alvimedica, Abu Dhabi and Brunel has won the In-Port races of the past three legs, namely Alicante Spain, Cape Town South Africa, and Abu Dhabi UAE respectively. Abu Dhabi also won the Leg 1 offshore race from Alicante to Cape Town and Brunel won the Leg 2 offshore race from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi.
But consistence in any race is far more admirable. So that brings us to the Dongfeng Team who took 2nd place in both the Alicante to Cape Town, and the Cape Town to Abu Dhabi races. So, fellow skippers, watch out for Dongfeng in the Leg 3. As I already mentioned in a previous blog, my money is on the Dongfeng Team. What an amazing feat it would be for the Chinese Team if they could sail into Sanya China ahead of the fleet. Jubilation from their countrymen like no other, I am sure. They are the least experienced sailors but have the most determination to win. In Leg 2 of the Volvo ocean Race, their boat sustained serious damaged caused by a rope that snapped which handycapped them severely, snapping the starboard wheel in half. This may have taken first position in the leg 2 away from them.
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| Two of the Chinese crew doing their very best |
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| UAE, past India, Malacca into the narrow Singapore channel past Vietnam or Borneo to China. |
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| Mist impacting on the start of leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race |
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| Misty conditions are not ideal for the start of any race, but the Volvo ocean race must go on. |
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| Misty conditions at the start of the Volvo Ocean Race with Team SCA in the foreground |
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| Dongfeng is the race Team who I think is going to win the overall Volvo Ocean Race. |
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| Dongfeng at the start of the Volvo Ocean Race |
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| Misty conditions obscure visibility but the race goes on. |
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| Aboard Dongfeng. As can be seen, the damaged starboard wheel has been replaced. |
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| Sailing at the start of leg 3 |
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| Waiting for the gun |
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| Alvimedica right behind, Mapfre, SCA, Brunel and Dongfeng with Abu Dhabi in the lead. |
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| Brunel sailing at 6 knots |
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