Sport-heute: Sailing - Der Start nach St.Petersburg

26. Juni 2009, 14:22

Der Start nach St.Petersburg

Die Boote sind gestartet. Das russische Boot hat nach einer Schleife des Verbandes ebenfalls ins Rennen eingegriffen. Die Boote haben bis Samstagmorgen Zeit, die russische Stadt St.Petersburg zu erreichen. Man hat dort extra zwei Brücken höher gemacht, damit die Boote durchsegeln können.

Brüttisellen, 25.6.09 (mk) Ericsson 3 Leg Ten Day 1 QFB: received 25.06.09 1800 GMT

I was a bit pessimistic in the first blog. I guess I was tired and Stockholm was too good to leave without a sad feeling. But once we got outside Sandhamn to the starting area, the mood got better.

Sun, flat water and 15 knots of breeze would make anyone happy. Unfortunately, we did not come of the start line in a good way. We were stuck with no speed and our poor positioning did not improve by an override with the sheet for the headsail.
But we sorted it out quickly and once we had rounded the last mark, we were just a couple of metres after Ericsson 4, with PUMA and Telefónica Blue a bit further in front.

Now, at 1800, the positioning is pretty much the same. The Russians are behind us to leeward, Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon are straight to leeward. PUMA is still in front and Telefónica Blue and Ericsson 4 are following closely behind.

The most action-filled incident we had so far was when our Finnish guest had to jump overboard. Mason helped her get the drysuit on, then he led her down to leeward, lifted her up and held her with one arm above the surface until he thought the chaseboat was close enough. Then he let her go. Splash and gone! You really understand why you don’t want to fall overboard from one of these boat. To turn around and pick someone up would just take ages
Magnus has cheered up a bit and is now smiling more. He still tired and he knows this will be though. “It’s a bit of an anticlimax but we have to fight on and finish this race in a good way”, he says.

On the last legs we have had a big problem with tiredness. People just don’t get enough sleep. This time we are going to use the ‘standby watch’ system a bit more and everyone will get down to rest as soon as they can.

Gustav Morin - MCM
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Telefónica Blue Leg Ten Day 1 QFB: RECEIVED 25.06.09 1539 GMT

The situation hasn’t changed much; we are still holding the two Ericsson boats behind us while PUMA is 200m ahead of us. Telefónica Black has stopped gaining bearing, we’re holding steady on her while we gained quite a bit on Delta Lloyd and Green Dragon. It’s going to be pure boat speed until the shift of tonight, where the cards on the table may change.

The mood on board is pretty good, plenty of coffee flying around while pushing the boat hard.

The only down side is that my loved SLR died this morning after being serviced in Stockholm. Seems weird that it doesn’t work after having been to the doctor, but I had to go back to the small compact camera and it’s a bit of a pain, but no choice for me. We’re talking of giving her the old style funeral, which means gently letting her going over side… I think she deserves to survive until the end in St.Petersburg!

Got to go back on deck

Gabri Olivo - MCM

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PUMA Leads As Volvo Fleet Heads To Russia

PUMA, who is now assured second place overall, led the Volvo fleet out of Sandhamn, on the outer edge of the Stockholm archipelago today - a spectacular day where conditions were perfect for the start of the tenth and final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 to St Petersburg in Russia.

Sailing confidently in 10 -12 knots of breeze, PUMA, Telefónica Blue and Ericsson 4 were the front runners off the start line and a huge spectator crowd needed no excuse to get out on the water and watch what these ocean greyhounds do best. A steady breeze and flat water ensured plenty of white water spilled from the bows as the boats started a leg for the last time, fully powered up and under a cloudless sky.

Leading round both buoys marking the traditional ‘sausage’ before heading to out to sea, the crew of PUMA had set the black boat up perfectly and extended their lead, while behind, Bouwe Bekking’s bowmen wrestled with their heavy code zero sail, which had remained furled and unused on the bow and was slowing the blue boat down. Green Dragon scorched past overall race winner Ericsson 4, who had the pressure put on by sister ship Ericsson 3, while Telefónica Black and Delta Lloyd were in the second string.

Team Russia joined the pack once the racing fleet had completed the inshore loop, to sail, but not to race, homewards to St Petersburg, with owner Oleg Zherebtsov working the bow as he did in the earlier legs of the race.

Although speeds were good as the fleet left Sweden behind, the leg is expected to be predominantly upwind to Russia and race rules allow for Race Director, Jack Lloyd, to shorten the 400-mile course if necessary. The fleet must arrive in St Petersburg on Saturday morning in order to clear customs and pass through two bridges, which will be raised specially in order to let the fleet into the historic city.

PUMA has now clinched second place overall, their performance improving hugely in the second half of the race. Telefónica Blue will take third after losing the battle for second when they finished last in leg nine after going aground in Marstrand, while Ericsson 4 is the runaway leader, winning the race with a leg to spare.

Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA): 110.5 points
2. PUMA (Ken Read/USA): 98.5 points
3. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED): 92.0 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE): 73.5 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR): 64.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP): 50.0
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP): 39.5 points
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT): 10.5 points

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Guy Salter/Ericsson 4/Volvo Ocean Race Phil Jameson working on the bow of Ericsson 4, at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race The fleet get under way at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race The fleet get under way at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg

Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read (USA), neck and neck with Telefonica Blue, at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg

: Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race. Team Russia, skippered by Stig Westergaard (DEN) at the start of leg 10 from Stockholm to St Petersburg