Volvo Ocean Race – Abu Dhabi and Dongfeng locked into intense battle
by Dongfeng Race Team on 26 Feb 2015
Leg 4, day 16 - Wolf onboard - Wolf's message on his whiteboard says what all the sailors on Leg 4 are currently feeling, tired! - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Sam Greenfield/Dongfeng Race Team/Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race 2015 teams Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team are locked into such an intense battle approaching Auckland that even the Volvo Ocean Race tracker is showing them as one boat.
They’re that close.
'At the start of this race I was really feeling the pressure. The crew selection is the key to success on this race. You don’t need the best sailors, you need the best team – it’s not the same thing.' – Charles Caudrelier
There is still 800 miles to go and that is a long way in ocean racing. But as you can see from Charles’ blog below, whatever happens we have a skipper that is very proud of his team for coming back from what looked like a desperate last place last week.
'Three days of racing and two obstacles ahead of us. This is what separates us from a dream win in Auckland. Since last night we took the lead again, and with the pressure of being in front. To be in the lead after all the hard knocks we’ve taken on this leg is without doubt one of my, and the team’s, proudest moments since the start of this race.
We’ve had really hard moments, phases of total exhaustion, and moments of real frustration and anger but onboard there is always someone ready to re-motivate the others, someone with a positive outlook. I am so lucky to be surrounded by a magic team. Erwan who has joined us just for this one leg has delivered everything I have asked of him to make up for the absence of Pascal. Fresh and really motivated, he has brought us much more than just his talent – energy that we were perhaps missing after 4 tough legs.
At the start of this race I was really feeling the pressure. The crew selection is the key to success on this race. You don’t need the best sailors, you need the best team – it’s not the same thing. The race is still very long, this leg also, everything can still happen, but those that know me well know that I am never satisfied. However, exceptionally, I can say that I am very happy with the choices I’ve made, and if I had to choose again, I would change nothing.
As a team we are managing to be competitive whilst fully respecting our commitment to train, develop and sail alongside our Chinese sailors.
Looking forward at the next few days, the two main obstacles are the crossing of an old weather front in 24 hours time, and the finish which looks light – not sure yet whether its upwind or downwind, it is not clear. It could be a total restart, but I am really hoping if it is, that it’s between the current top 3. The other boats are now quite a long way back, but anything could happen still.
Of course it’s always better to be leading, and I’d rather be where we are than where MAPFRE is – but MAPFRE has nothing to lose, they are very aggressive tactically. Abu Dhabi meanwhile will follow us for now and wait for an opportunity to jump on us.'
Leg 4: Sanya to Auckland (5, 264 nautical miles)
Days at sea: 17
Distance to finish: 800 miles
Boat speed: 16 knots
Position in fleet: Attached by elastic with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Dongfeng back in first position by just 2nm.
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