Sport-heute: Sailing - HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY FOR TELEFÓNICA BLUE

22. Dezember 2008, 19:37

HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY FOR TELEFÓNICA BLUE

Fighting for every inch, Telefónica Blue, skippered by Dutchman Bouwe Bekking, crossed the finish line at the end of leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race to score an emphatic victory in Singapore today at 1451 GMT (2251 local time).

cochin-singapore (mk) It was among the closest finishes in the race history, with the top four boats finishing within 20 minutes following nearly 10 days of racing.

The Spanish team takes a valuable eight points towards their overall score, which now stands at 30.5 points, putting them into second place overall (subject to protest).

The 1950 nautical mile leg, which started from Cochin, India, on December 13, has been a leg of mental and physical torture for the crew, which took nine days, four hours, 51 minutes and 22 seconds to complete (09:04:41:22)

PUMA, led by Kenny Read/USA claimed second, 17 minutes behind the Spanish team, (finish time 1508 GMT) adding seven points to her tally, giving her a total of 27.5 points and third place overall. (Elapsed time: 09:05:08:01)

The final podium spot went to Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander/SWE), who beat their teammates on Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) to take third, and a total of 23.5 points overall. (Finish time 1509 GMT, elapsed time 09:05:09:48s)

Ericsson 4 was relegated to fourth place, adding five points to the four they earned for passing through the scoring gate a Palau We in first place. They still lead the race overall, but the margin has narrowed to just 4.5 points over Telefónica Blue. (Finish time 15:10:28 GMT elapsed time 09:05:10m28s).

After crossing the finish, Bouwe Bekking and his crew were ecstatic. Speaking from Telefónica Blue as they motored to Race Village at Sentosa Island and the waiting crowds and families, Bekking said:

'It is a very sweet victory. Very special - just before Christmas - a nice little gift for us and very nice because all the families are here. It will be good to see all the happy faces when we get in.

'It was incredible for us. We were in the lead, then we lost it and then took it back again. In the final six or seven miles, the breeze died completely and the other guys got very close, then we got a little puff of breeze and I managed to bring her home.

'I have never seen the guys so happy. I have known them for quite a while and normally they are very cool, but they were just ecstatic when they went through the finish. It is a huge thing for us.

'I told the guys to take it easy as especially in this part of the race, the seas can change in half an hour, and then we sailed a really good race from that point on. We had a couple of really good shifts and, tactically, it went our way and the guys sailed very fast in light airs, which is was why we won. It shows that Ericsson 4 is not invincible and it is really good overall for the race itself.'

Ken Read on finishing second said:

'I have never done anything like this before. Not really sure I want to do it again. Unbelievable. Hats off to the Telefónica guys, they did a nice job, congratulations. Nobody can remember the last time they either slept or ate. It has really been all hands on.'

Anders Lewander, skipper of Ericsson 3, the Nordic team, said:

'It's been so enormously tough - all of this leg'but it's been really amazing. I've really enjoyed it because of the close tactics and the mix of conditions. It's hard work but the close encounters and the whole situation on this leg has been really challenging.

'I must admit that on several occasions during this leg, I truly believed we were able to win. I'm really proud and happy about our achievement'this short gybing and close encounters is really good racing.

'The Malacca Strait was challenging with night sailing up the shoreline'then the line-up with the four of us in very variable, light wind conditions. It was a bit of a lottery situation. But it was important to keep in mind the big picture and not necessarily look just at the short term.'

The next boat to finish will be Telefónica Black (Fernando EchÃ¡varri/ESP) at approximately 1800 GMT.

Leg Three Finishing Order Singapore
1. Telefónica Blue: 8 points (FINISHED)
2. PUMA : 7 points (FINISHED)
3. Ericsson 3: 6 points (FINISHED)
4. Ericsson 4: 5points (FINISHED)

Overall Leaderboard (Subject to Protest)
1. Ericsson 4: 35 points (FINISHED)
2. Telefónica Blue: 30.5 points (FINISHED)
3. PUMA : 27.5 points (FINISHED)
4. Ericsson 3: 23.5 points (FINISHED)
5. Green Dragon: 17.5 points (RACING)
6. Telefónica Black: 13.5 points (RACING)
7. Team Russia: 8.5 points (RACING)
8. Delta Lloyd: 8 points (RACING)

Scoring Gate Order
1. Ericsson 4 (4 points)
2. Telefónica Blue (3.4 points)
3. Ericsson 3 (3 points)
4. PUMA (2.5 points)
5. Telefónica Black (2 points)
6. Green Dragon (1.5 points)
7. Kosatka Team Russia (1 point)
8. Delta Lloyd (0.5 points)

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TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.10.08 1549 GMT

A very happy bunch here on Telefónica Azul. We kept our heads cool today, and, as predicted, it wasn't over until close to the finish.

We had all the excitement in the last 50 miles, dodging fishing nets, zig-zagging around tugboats, hundreds of commercial ships, and then the wind, which was ranging from 20 knots to nearly zero. A real test for all the guys' minds, as our nice advantage over the others nearly vanished, but we pulled it off and all the guys did a marvellous job. A better Christmas present we couldn't have wished for.

Cheers,

Bouwe Bekking

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GREEN DRAGON LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.12.08 1434 GMT

All the talk on the Malacca Straits was of pirates, fishing nets, shipping and obstacles but it was the wind shifts and tide that we should have been focusing on.

It has been a frustrating 24 hours on the Green Dragon. We gained many miles back on the leaders yesterday and then were stuck in a similar place to Ericsson 4 with no wind and lots of tide against us. For five hours we sat and were washed backwards into the old wind and we couldn't get into the westerly that carried the leaders away.

It was infuriating, as we knew this was likely to be our one shot at getting back into the race. We licked our wounds and made gains back overnight, but today we again were stuck at the narrowing of the straits in no wind and foul tide. This was simply bad luck on our timing. As we struggled to turn the corner, the Russians reached up behind us in good wind from 24 miles astern! They are now about 3 miles behind us, which will ensure close racing until the end.

This leg has simply not gone our way and I look with envy at the close racing amongst the top four. It might seem strange, but on balance, I think we have sailed the best on this leg that we have so far in the race and everyone remains very focused on the task ahead. What is in no doubt is that we are all looking forward to getting to port. Considering I write that at this stage of every leg, it does make me
question why on earth we choose to do this in the first place!

Ian Walker - skipper

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PUMA LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.10.08 1817 GMT

We just finished the leg to Singapore. I have to be simple with my thoughts because I am too tired to get really in-depth. We finished second on this leg and hats off to the Telefónica Blue team for their leg win.

And I can officially say that it was one of the most stressful seconds in my sailing career.

Let's just take the last 24 hours:

The lead changed hands amongst the top four boats more times than I can imagine. We anchored twice. We were solidly fourth several times. We were winning several times. We were picked off by a tug and barge at the most critical time of the leg (about 15 miles from the finish trying to keep both Ericsson boats from rolling us). We saw more fishing boats and ships than any of us had ever seen before. We just missed massive logs and hunks of rope and other debris on many occasions. We had to dive on the keel to get a tree off it. No one on the boat really remembers the last time they slept or ate. Let's see - anything else I have forgotten? Sounds glamorous eh?

We are powering in from the finish now and our entire team is relieved as well as anxious when we think about what was and what could have been. The team effort on this boat was nothing short of spectacular. The intensity that has to take place 24 hours a day is like nothing that I have ever experienced. A good group of guys, who I believe are proud of what they did over the past 10 days. Even if we did get nipped out by one other boat in the end. That battle amongst the top four was ridiculous.

So, time soon to see the families and friends on the dock. Always an emotional experience. Many of the guys are flying home soon to be with their families over the holidays and I know that all look forward too that.

PUMA Ocean Racing wishes all a wonderful holiday. And please let me know how it goes because I think I may be sleeping all of Christmas day!

Kenny Read - skipper

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22DEC08. PUMA Ocean Racing cross the finish line in Singapore at 23:08:01 local (15:08:01GMT), to finish leg 3 in 2nd place.

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race Ericsson 3, skippered by Anders Lewander (SWE) (pictured) takes third place on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from India to Singapore, crossing the finish line at 15:09:48

Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe Bekking (NED) takes first place on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from India to Singapore, crossing the finish line at 14:51:22 GMT

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe Bekking (NED) takes first place on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from India to Singapore, crossing the finish line at 14:51:22 GMT