Please select your home edition
Edition
MySail 2025

Volvo Ocean Race - Team Alvimedica edged out in the Battle of Lorient

by Sail-World.com NZL on 12 Jun 2015
June 09, 2015. Team Alvimedica passing by Costa da Morte - Coast of Death - in Spanish waters during Leg 8 to Lisbon. Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race
Team Alvimedica placed sixth on the water after a fierce five-boat battle for third place in the final 24 hours of Leg 8 to Lorient, France.

For her crew from New Zealand, USA, Italy, Australia and Francethe shortest leg of the Volvo Ocean Race proved to be one of the toughest on the seven-boat fleet with strong winds and mostly upwind sailing battering the fleet for much of the 647-nautical-mile leg from Lisbon, Portugal.

The all-women’s Team SCA dominated, claiming their first leg victory of the race in the pre-dawn darkness today. Team Vestas Wind, racing a rebuilt boat, finished second in the first leg they have sailed since running aground in Leg 2. Ian Walker and his Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew placed third, essentially clinching an overall race victory with one leg still to sail.

The leg to France was disappointing for Team Alvimedica skipper Charlie Enright as the crew had set their sights on a podium finish and looked poised to do just that before going into the final night across the Bay of Biscay. The leg served up a wide range of challenging conditions to a tightly compressed fleet fighting hard for every point. It was a close battle until the very end, with Mapfre and Team Brunel just edging out Team Alvimedica by mere minutes for the fourth and fifth place positions respectively.


“The Bay of Biscay lived up to its name of Bay of Certain Death with gusts over 40,” Enright said of the upwind and often uncomfortable conditions. “We did a pretty good job with that bit. We got a good jump by going offshore with an eventual left shift and picked up a few places there. We wish we could have held on. It’s obviously disappointing for us,” Enright said back at the dock.

“We had the ability to get the best fourth place in the race so far the way the points stacked up but we weren’t able to hold on for a number of reasons. The reality is it’s really close – we didn’t sail poorly by any means. The racing was just so close.”

Team co-founder and watch captain Mark Towill said the short but intense leg produced decent performance but not enough to earn the podium result the team was fighting for. “It was a really intense 72 hours. We were within sight of boats the whole time. We put ourselves in some good spots with potential to gain. The team sailed well – it was a decent leg, but a disappointing result. It was upwind sailing the whole way and big breeze and we handled that pretty well. The team sailed the boat well and the maneuver were good. We just didn’t position ourselves as well as we could have.”

The race is still on for the final podium positions in Gothenburg with only six points separating the second through fifth place teams.


Team Alvimedica race crew for Leg 8 to Lorient: Alberto Bolzan, 33, (ITA); Nick Dana, 29, (Newport, RI, USA); Charlie Enright, 30, (Bristol, RI, USA); Ryan Houston, 32, (NZL); Sebastien Marsset, 30, (Lorient, FRA); Will Oxley, 50, (AUS); Dave Swete, 30, (NZL); Mark Towill, 26, (Kanehoe, HI, USA); and OnBoard Reporter Amory Ross, 30, (Newport, RI, USA).

Team Alvimedica is the youngest entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015, the world's toughest and longest sporting event. The crew is led by American skipper Charlie Enright, age 30. Alvimedica, the European based medical devices company, is the team’s owner. Founded in 2007, Alvimedica is a fast growing challenger in the global field of interventional cardiology, committed to developing minimally-invasive technologies. This is the team’s first entry in the extremely challenging 39,000-mile race that started October 11, 2014 from Alicante, Spain and features stopovers in 11 ports around the world.



Volvo Ocean Race Overall Standings:
1. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing – 19 pts
2. Team Brunel – 27 pts
3. Dongfeng Race Team - 29 pts
4. MAPFRE – 31 pts
5. Team Alvimedica – 33 pts
6. Team SCA – 44 pts
7. Team Vestas Wind - 54 pts

In-Port Race Overall standings (Lorient In-Port Race is June 14)
1. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - 21pts
2. Team Brunel - 25pts
3. Team SCA - 28pts
4. Team Alvimedica – 31pts
5. MAPFRE - 32pts
6. Dongfeng Race Team- 33pts
7. Team Vestas Wind -59pts







Vaikobi 2024 DecemberExposure MarineNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

Summer Youth Olympic Games equipment confirmed
Dakar 2026 will feature 2 sailing events in the Techno293 World Sailing is pleased to announce the selection of Techno293 as the equipment used in competition at the upcoming Summer Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, being held from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
Posted today at 6:08 am
America's Cup entries open on Sunday
A Cup in turmoil - has Grant Dalton dodged a bullet with the new Cup organisation? Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton appears to have dodged a bullet with the formation of of new AC organising body.
Posted today at 4:18 am
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta day 1
Ideal conditions for starting the Southern Wind RendezVous and Trophy The 2025 edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, organised by the YCCS with the support of title sponsor Giorgio Armani, got under way right on time today, 28 May 2025 at 11.30 a.m. on the waters off Porto Cervo.
Posted on 28 May
The international entries taking on Transpac
Aloha to competitors from outside the USA Transpac's reputation as one of the premier offshore regattas always draws a contingent of sailors from all over the world.
Posted on 28 May
America's Cup Power Plays
And Growing Sailing Through Learning There's always so much speculation and intrigue in-between each edition of the America's Cup. Everyone wants to know what is happening behind closed doors, inside the teams, and when the Challengers meet with the Defender.
Posted on 28 May
2025 is going to be a huge season for IMOCA
Antoine Mermod talks about the season ahead Over the next four years the most exciting monohull class in world offshore ocean racing will take on no less than 17 races, covering tens of thousands of miles of the world's oceans.
Posted on 28 May
America's Cup enthusiastically received in Naples
The Castel dell'Ovo, was the venue for the arrival of the America's Cup in Napes The Castel dell'Ovo, set on the tuft peninsula of Megaride was the outstanding setting for the Official Host Venue Presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 28 May
CYCA team to take best shot at the Admiral's Cup
The Australian flag will fly proud on Zen and Back 2 Black The Australian flag will fly proud on Zen and Back 2 Black during the Admiral's Cup to be held in Cowes from the Isle of Wight from 17 July - 1 August.
Posted on 28 May
78th Annual Block Island Race
A test of grit, teamwork, and offshore strategy The 78th edition of the Block Island Race, hosted by the Storm Trysail Club, delivered classic Northeast spring conditions and a course that tested every sailor's resilience, tactics, and teamwork.
Posted on 28 May
Doyle Sails: Ragtime blends retro and modern
Launched in 1966, Infidel now Ragtime Sailing, has celebrated her 60th year with a refit Tina Roberts has beautifully restored Ragtime Sailing in honour of her late partner's wishes, choosing Doyle Sails not only for the world-class sails but for the depth of experience, personal commitment, and collaborative support that define the team.
Posted on 28 May