Volvo Ocean Race - From broken mast to first place

by Dongfeng Race Team on 7 May 2015 2014 - 15 Volvo Ocean Race - Dongfeng’s American dream became a reality just after dark local time (early hours 7th May UTC), winning leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race in Newport, USA, beating their arch rivals Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing by just 3 minutes and 25 seconds.

Skipper Charles Caudrelier immediately dedicated this leg win to his shore team:

“I would like to dedicate this victory to the shore team. It started in Ushuaia with the shore crew, when first they delivered the boat to Itajai and then fixed the boat and put in a new mast in less than one week. They worked so hard to have the boat ready – I am very proud of them.

'Everyone on the boat for this leg did a fantastic job and that was the key to winning, for sure. All the team deserves this victory. All the crew have improved, the Chinese improve, we get stronger and stronger each time. To beat Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing shows we have become a great team.”

In many ways there was more at stake for Dongfeng – Abu Dhabi were going to be happy with a second in terms of overall points. But for Dongfeng the energy gained from the comeback was worth more than just the points of victory.

The leg from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, USA has been by no means straightforward. A broken water maker 24 hours into the leg nearly threatened the team’s hopes and dreams, but the indefatigable Kevin Escoffier (Mr Fixit) managed to make a repair that lasted. Then it was head back into the race and by day seven, the Chinese team were in the lead with 3,364nm to go:

“It was a complicated leg, we had a big advantage in speed sometimes, not easy to make the right tactical decisions all the time, so speed was so important. We had something like 10 lead changes. We gained slowly a small advance but every time the other guys came back.

'Abu Dhabi sailed very well – we made a mistake one or two nights ago – we were 10 miles ahead but they got ahead again and we lost a lot. And then they were ahead of us just two or three hours ago when we hit a light spot. It was just crazy but we had a nice fight with them!”

It was always a question mark as to whether Dongfeng could bounce back after being forced to retire from Leg 5 with a broken mast. “I have never seen the gang so focused and intense,” said American Onboard Reporter, Sam Greenfield. “When we won leg 3 into Sanya our lead was comfortable. This time Abu Dhabi was right over our shoulder and breathing down our dry-seals [necks].”

In one of the most intense finishes the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 has ever seen, the identical boats and sheer determination of both teams ensured it was a neck and neck battle lasted right up to the finish line. It was clear that both teams were giving it everything they had with every ounce of energy they had left as they approached the finish.

With only three short legs remaining, and a commanding points lead, the race is Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s to lose.

“Now we still have to push hard – this was the first step to come back in the race after the eight points we got breaking the mast,” said Kevin Escoffier. “We still have three legs to come back on Abu Dhabi and I hope they will do a mistake and we can be better than them. For sure they have not made many but statistically they can. Its not over.'

Leg 6 Top Three Results:

1. DONGFENG/Charles Caudrelier/02:03:00 UTC?
2. ABU DHABI OCEAN RACING/Ian Walker/02:06:25 UTC?
3. TEAM BRUNEL/Bouwe Bekking/02:56:40 UTC?

Day-by-Day Summary of Leg 6:

Day 0: 19.04.15 5,000nm to go start day

Team worked tirelessly to get boat and new mast ready for start day, following mast breakage on leg 5. “I have one goal and that is to perform as well as my shore crew on this leg.” Charles Caudrelier

Day 1: 20.04.15 4,895nm to go left or right?

Upwind and close racing, nothing in it as fleet look ahead to longer term gain and whether they need to be on left or right hand side of the course for when the wind changes further up the coast.

Day 2: 21.04.15 4,757nm no water is a big problem

Broken water maker – serious set back for Dongfeng. They have to fix it or the repercussions could be series: 8-9 hours of pumping to get enough drinkable water from the manual pump.

Day 3: 22.04.15 4,496nm without fresh water we can’t continue

Crew still working on repairing water maker as skipper and shore team consider need to pit stop – rules state minimum pit stop has to be 12 hours. It will cost the team many miles and the leg.

12 hours later Kevin Escoffier (Mr Fixit) worked his magic (again) as water maker repair holds.

Day 4: 23.04.15 4,257nm cloudbuster

Fifth place, as cloud ruins progress: “In one hour Abu Dhabi gained five miles. The wind is not with us. We did a good job [to get back in the race] and lost everything in one hour because of a cloud.” Charles Caudrelier.

Day 5: 24.04.15 4,145nm the big tack

Second place. 24 hours under unstable cloud cover, waiting for the right-hand shift from the trade winds to free them northwards, no real rest for crew or navigator. Lining up for the ‘big tack’ – essentially picking their lane for the next 1,000 miles.
Day 6: 25.4.15 3,9666nm another day of tight racing in South Atlantic

Team Alvimedica split away from the pack, 50nm west of the fleet, holding a 9nm lead. More stable conditions and Dongfeng holding their own in second place.

Day 7: 26.4.15 3,643nm story of determination

First place, ahead of Team Brunel by 6nm and race favourites Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing by 16 miles but for how long?

Day 8: 27.4.15 3,364nm no room for complacency

First place, 4.6nm ahead of Spanish team MAPFRE. Only 23nm between first place and Team SCA in last. Tensions grow, this leg is still anyone’s for the taking.

DAY 9: 28.4.15 2,925nm blame the clouds

Third place. “Not a good day for us,” Kevin Escoffier. “Due to a few bad clouds everyone came back from behind. Crossing the Equator for the final time on the race.

Day 10: 29.04.15 2,467nm a nail-biting decision

First place. Halfway into the leg. Transition zone ahead – stretch of ocean between the South Atlantic trade winds and the North Atlantic weather system – the decision is where to pass through this area of unpredictable weather, westerly lane or push further east? Charles and Pascal are not sure.

Day 11: 30.04.15 2,094nm when west is no longer best

Second , 1.9nm behind ADOR. Westerly option through transition zone no longer an option. Tiredness and exhaustion wearing down the teams: “I’m exhausted,” said Charles. “Whether the other teams will say it or not I know we’re not the only ones suffering.”

Day 12: 01.05.14 1,723nm scrapping over minutest of leads

Second, 4nm behind ADOR. Dongfeng got ahead of ADOR only to see their arch rivals back in the lead 12 hours later. Speed is of the essence – Dongfeng clock highest boat speed of 27 knots and best 24hr of this leg at 484nm. Fleet plagued by seaweed.

Day 13: 02.05.15 1,373nm three horse race…?

Third, front three boats just 1.3nm apart Team Brunel, ADOR, Dongfeng. All about making the smallest of gains as leading trio sailing a higher, more northerly course whilst Team Alvimedica and MAPFRE stick to a more westerly path.

Day 14: 03.05.15 1,101nm audacious overnight move stretches lead

First place but hard fought for lead could ‘melt away’ crossing cold front ahead. There is no way round it, and boat that touches the new breeze on the other site could make significant gain.

Day 15: 04.05.15 807nm Dongfeng’s slim lead

First place but 10nm lead over ADOR shrank to just four miles. Temperatures cool but nerves are frayed.

Day 16: 05.05.15 453nm high pressure in every way

First place ahead of ADOR by 1.9nm. Can Dongfeng hang on to their lead as they approach a ridge of high pressure centred some 100 miles ahead. Fleet take advantage of back eddies of Gulf Stream to push them faster in the right direction.

Day 17: 06.05.15 115nm approaching the land of hopes and dreams

First place, 2nm ahead of ADOR. “The last 24 hours of this leg are going to be a nightmare,” Charles Caudrelier. “It’s going to be very difficult to stay ahead.” Strong westerly airflow, reduced to a weak easterly flow. VOR weatherman Gonzalo Infante predicts a ‘photo finish’.