Volvo Ocean Race - Refusing to blink in the face of pressure
by Volvo Ocean Race on 11 Mar 2012
The crew on change watch onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand. Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race
In the Volvo Ocean Race, Ken Read's Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg have just a few hours to go to the finish line and are refusing to blink in the Leg 4 face off for second place against Iker Martinez's Team Telefonica and Chris Nicholson's Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand.
At 1900 UTC tonight Puma were holding on steadfastly to their nine nautical mile (nm) lead over third placed Telefónica with 40 nautical miles (nm) despite having to make a complex detour to the west of the tiny Mokohinau Island chain on their way to the finish line in Auckland.
In third Martínez’s Telefónica crew had their hands full holding off sustained pressure from Nicholson’s Camper who had closed to within four and a half nautical miles in cold and at times foggy conditions with breeze of less than 10 knots.
Meanwhile, just eight and a half miles back in fifth Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing were keeping a wary eye on Mike Sanderson’s sixth placed Team Sanya just 11 nm astern.
Latest ETAs in Auckland:
Puma 2130 UTC (1030 AM Auckland local time)
Telefónica 2230 UTC (1130 AM Auckland local time)
Camper 2300 UTC (1200 PM Auckland local time)
Abu Dhabi 2330 UTC (1230 PM Auckland local time)
Sanya 2350 UTC (1250 PM Auckland local time)
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