Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 1

Volvo Ocean Race- Camper wins Leg 9, Groupama overall winner

by Richard Gladwell on 3 Jul 2012
Camper’s Stu Bannatyne on the helm as they pass 2011-12 overall Volvo Ocean race winner, Groupama, on the way to win Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

The Spanish/New Zealand entry in the Volvo Ocean Race has won Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race, crossing the finish line at 0100UTC, in Galway, Ireland.

Groupama (Franck Cammas) finished second behind Camper, assuring the French team of her overall win in the 39,000nm classic.

Her first win in nine legs, all but assures Camper of second place overall in the Volvo Ocean Race, giving her a six point margin over Puma Ocean Racing (Ken Read) who is expected to finish third into Galway, with Telefonica (Iker Martinez) fourth over the line and on overall points.





The win reversed a series of narrow losses for the Camper team, where they had been pipped on the finish line three times - costing 15 vital points.

That would not have made a difference to the overall result, which is a superb effort for Franck Cammas and his crew, who aside from a disappointing opening leg (finishing third), sailed very well, and improved as the race progressed. As the pressure went on in the final stages Groupama rose above the rest.

Even in adversity, such as dropping her mast on the final stage of Leg 5, into Brazil, when they suspended racing and finished under jury rig was a low and high point for the team.

Having the most experience in Round the World racing - of the Jule Verne Trophy style - Cammas is a former record holder for the fastest boat around the planet, and knew when to push, and when to button off when required. It was probably that ability that set Groupama from the rest, all of whom suffered major setbacks at some stage of the race. Cammas had his setback too, on Leg 5, but that was minimised.

For Camper, the win is a monkey off their back. Now, in nine legs, there have been five winners - and Camper was the last to score maximum points. Again the experience of the round the world team paid a dividend on the final leg, with a strategy of lightening and carefully stacking the sails in the boat, to optimise righting moment.

That was underlined at the start of the Leg when a penalty dropped Camper back to last. However she was able to power through the fleet, as never before, and got into second place - which she was able to hold her own against other boats which are considered to be faster.

To perhaps further underscore the closeness of the racing was revealed in the projected finish time from www.predictwind.com!Predictwind, where just a few minutes covered the finish times for the first four boats - from a position several hours out. Often we have seen that result predicted, and so often there have been critical place changes right on the finish line.

Camper should finish second overall in the Volvo Ocean Race if she can get just one point out of the final InPort race in Galway on Saturday.

For Ken Read and his team on Puma Ocean Racing, a third, with Camper winning is a bitterly disappointing result. And to be honest - the last in a string of disappointments. The first being the loss of the rig on Leg 1, another being the loss of the second 'InPort' race in China, and now third (with Camper leading) into Galway. For all their downs, Ken Read has performed outstandingly as a leader, and his crew have followed through some dreadful adversity. Leaving Miami, there was a good chance that Puma could have won the overall race, despite, incredibly, not finishing a leg. The fact that they came within an ace of taking second overall - scoring only eight legs to the others nine, is amazing. Their ability to bounce back from adversity, outwardly smiling, but inwardly bleeding is an example to all in sailing - young and old - and represents an attitude that is all too rare in professional sport.

Telefonica's , fourth place will be extremely disappointing, given they won the first three legs. But their race fell apart heading into Lorient, when they had to beat Groupama, and but instead broke both rudders in the final hours leading to the finish. The fact that the Spanish entry could slip from the lead mid-race to fourth, underlines the closeness of the race, especially amongst the top four boats.

Team Sanya and Abu Dhabi are yet to finish Leg 9.

Provisional Points:

1. Groupama 250
2. Camper 226
3. Puma 220
4. Telefonica 194








Zhik 2024 DecemberBarton Marine Pipe GlandsRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 4
All on the line Sunday as American Magic Quantum Racing seek to close out eighth world title After three spectacular races today on Cascais, Portugal's showcase high winds arena, Doug DeVos' seven times world title winners American Magic Quantum Racing lead into the final day of the 2025 Rolex TP52 Worlds with a hard earned five points buffer.
Posted today at 6:45 pm
Registration open for Annapolis to Bermuda Race
A2B covers 753 nm from the heart of the Chesapeake Bay to the island paradise of Bermuda The organizing committee of the Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race (A2B) is pleased to announce that registration for the 2026 edition of this iconic offshore sailing event sponsored by Mustang Survival is officially open!
Posted today at 2:42 pm
North launches new Wingfoil Race Collection
Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace Pinch even higher and reach even deeper at pace. Engineered with a VMG-optimised partial double skin for improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower drag and precise manoeuvres at higher speeds.
Posted today at 10:35 am
AEGEAN 600 Attica Warm-Up Race
5th edition sets sail with strong winds and signature Greek hospitality Under perfect sunny skies and brisk northerly winds, the 5th edition of the annual AEGEAN 600 kicked off with a flawless start both on and off the water.
Posted on 4 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D5
Stage set for Finals showdown in Marstrand With just one day to go at the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale in both the Open and Women's classes.
Posted on 4 Jul
Sam Goodchild in the Course des Caps
The final phase is full of potential pitfalls Sam Goodchild, the British skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance who has been dominating the IMOCA round Britain and Ireland race since the start of the third day, says the goal now is to focus on the complex finishing section.
Posted on 4 Jul
29er Europeans at Lake Garda day 2
Light breeze, boat park buzz and big wins off the water >Day 2 brought lighter winds to Lake Garda, but the energy around the event stayed sky-high.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead.
Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race IRC One preview
Beyond the French legends there is plenty of international talent with podium potential With 17 editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race to his name, including five class victories along the way and an outright victory in 2015, could anyone bet against Géry Trentesaux doing it again?
Posted on 4 Jul
International Moth Worlds begin this weekend
Pre-Worlds are under way at Malcesine From 6 to 13 July 2025, the 2025 Moth World Championship officially gets under way, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine and preceded by the Pre-Worlds on 4 and 5 July. The event marks the culmination of three weeks entirely dedicated to foiling.
Posted on 4 Jul