Volvo Ocean Race - Camper secure second place overall
by Lucy Harwood on 8 Jul 2012
Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, competing in the Discover Ireland In-Port Race, in Galway, Ireland, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race
http://www.volvooceanrace.com
Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 final In-Port race was held on Saturday 7th July in Galway. Chris Nicholson hailed the spirit and determination of his crew as the curtain came down on Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand’s VOR campaign today.
Camper finished second overall in the inshore series after being edged out by Puma in the In-Port race in Ireland. Simply by completing the Galway in-port race, Camper secured the point necessary to confirm second place in the overall race behind Groupama.
Nicholson was magnanimous after losing out to Puma in the final event of the round-the-world race, and lauded praise on his team-mates for clinching the runner-up spot overall.
'Full credit to Puma for the win here today,' said Nicholson, who steered Camper to their first leg victory on Tuesday (July 3) when the boat crossed the line first into Galway from Lorient, France. 'A second overall and a second in the In-Port Series is a very good feeling. This is the easiest race to lose, so to be runners up makes us very happy and proud of our team who have shown great character the whole way round. It has been a tough, well-fought campaign and it has been an honour to share it with such a great group of guys. This is a great way to finish it off.'
Roberto ‘Chuny’ Bermudez echoed his skipper’s sentiment and reflected on Leg 5 when the boat suffered bow damage and was forced to stop in Puerto Montt, Chile for repairs, resulting in the team dropping to fourth in the standings.
'I think we´ve done a great job, not only in this in-port race but in the whole race around the world,' said the Spaniard. 'We are second overall, and for us it means as much as a win, especially when you consider a few months ago we were in Puerto Montt with a damaged boat and few options. It’s a special day for us. In this world the most important thing is to work and fight to the end. And that´s what we have done in these nine months. We were fourth and now, finally, we are second. Yes, I´m absolutely happy.' Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand website
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