Volvo Ocean Race – Inshore Practice Race –Dongfeng takes first win
by Rob Kothe and Jedda Murphy on 4 Oct 2014
Dongfeng, Abu Dhabi and Alvimedica, Practice Race - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Sail-World.com
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A glorious Spanish autumn day in Alicante, puffy white clouds and a building breeze, after a postponed start.
Superstitions abound in sailing, with bananas on boats up there with winning practice races but maybe these are not Chinese concerns because China’s Dongfeng team did not hesitate in todays’ Volvo Ocean Race Inshore practice race, they went full tilt from the gun.
In the windward leeward prestart the breeze was gusting to 10 knots as the seven Volvo 65’s lined up. Iker Martinez, newly named Spanish boat Mapfre was close to committee boat, Chris Nicolson tool Vestas and Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi was down towards the pin.
Going fast above Abu Dhabi was skipper Charles Caudrelier and his Dongfeng team, next up was Sam Davies skippered SCA, while Charlie Enright’s Alvimedica was locked in second row.
Bouwe Bekking took Brunel over early and going back, condemning her to a last place. Mapfre did a smart 360 for a prestart infringement.
The SCA women tacked right fairly early, while Abu Dhabi and Alvimedica remained in lockstep
Dongfeng was first around the top mark with Abu Dhabi just ten metres off her stern, with Alvimedica and then Team SCA. Vestas was about 100 metres behind the lead group, then came Mapfre second last at the top mark, just a length ahead of Brunel.
Dongfeng was clearing away a little on the first down wind, with Abu Dhabi and Alvimedica still neck and neck, ahead of SCA. Abu Dhabi was first to gybe, Dongfeng covered her as breeze picked up.
Dongfeng was six boat lengths ahead of Abu Dhabi, with Team SCA and Alvimedica another five lengths metres back.
At the bottom mark set Dongfeng went right, followed by Alvimedica. On left Abu Dhabi followed by SCA
Dongfeng was almost a minute ahead but on the second upwind her lead began to shrink, with Abu Dhabi making consistent gains.
At the top mark for the second time, she was just two boat lengths back. Alvimedica third about 10 lengths back. Team Vestas Wind had climbed into fourth place ahead of SCA, Mapfre and Brunel still well back.
Down the final run Dongfeng cleared away again, and Alvimedica made big gains on Abu Dhabi, then sailed right thru her into second place
Mapfre came from nowhere into fourth ahead of Team SCA, then Vestas and Brunel.
Detailed coverage of today’s racing with lots of images on board and from the water will follow.
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