Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 3

Volvo Ocean Race- Donfeng score another first for China

by Volvo Ocean Race on 8 Feb 2015
February 7, 2015. Team Vestas Wind In-Port Race Sanya; The fleet Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race http://www.volvooceanrace.com
Charles Caudrelier, French skipper of Dongfeng Race Team, is surely the most popular man in the city of Sanya after following up his Leg 3 victory here with victory in today's Team Vestas Wind In-Port Race too.

It was the first time that a Chinese-backed team has ever won an In-Port Race, and marks a little more history made following the red boat's Leg 3 win nearly a fortnight ago.

'It's fantastic,' beamed Charles as his boat pulled back into the dock. 'I think I'm going to become superstitious - this boat was launched on the 26th, which is a lucky number in China!

'Dongfeng means the wind from the east and today the wind blew from the east. We're lucky in China.'

We had been warned that the this race would be a windless go-slow on Saturday, but the forecasters got it badly wrong and instead we were treated to one of the most exciting races in the series.


Dongfeng took all the plaudits after an hour's enthralling in-shore racing in Sanya's sun-drenched bay but wow, they were forced to fight every inch of the way.

The breeze picked up to 10 knots plus just as the race village clocktower chimed 2pm and the fleet - with the exception of MAPFRE - shot away from the starter's gun.
The Spanish boat were forced to cross the startline twice, the first time the wrong way, as the five other boats careered away. They had to carry out a 360 penalty turn after impeding Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

Charlie Enright's Team Alvimedica, the first In-Port Race winners in Alicante, were the first to show and they still had their noses in front at the opening gate while Dongfeng Race Team were left trailing after losing their A3 sheet on a gybe.

'We had a good plan, and we were able to execute it,' smiled Charlie after the race.

Then it was the turn of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing to take the advantage as they found extra pressure to the right of the course while their main rivals went left.

By the second gate, however, the shifty conditions turned against the Emirati boat with Team Brunel, skippered by Bouwe Bekking, nipping in front of them along with new leaders Team Alvimedica.


Still the twists and turns of this intriguing race were not over with Dongfeng opting to go left and the extra breezes pushed them into a narrow lead over Enright's crew who were to struggle in the next leg with an A3 sail which refused to furl properly.

It was by no means over. By the fifth gate, the wind gods seemed to be favouring Azzam of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing again and they had cut Dongfeng's advantage to around 50 metres after trailing by 200 at one stage.

But Caudrelier and his men have shown time after time already in this series and the offshore legs that when the going gets tough they get going - and despite the best efforts of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing they held on for victory.

'Dongfeng did well,' said a frustrated Ian at the end. 'We had our chances and I think we should have won the race, but in the bigger picture it's another good result.

'It was hard. A lot of our crew have been ill and they did well just to get us around the course.'
The home victory gave the series its fourth new winner in as many races. Like the overall event, it could not be more thrillingly poised.

After Ian Walker's Emirati boat came Team Alvimedica, who grabbed the final podium place, then Team Brunel, Team SCA in fifth and MAPFRE in sixth place.





Sanya Team Vestas Wind In-Port Race results (actual finishing time):

1. Dongfeng Race Team 14:54:29 - 1pt
2. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 14:55:07 - 2pts
3. Team Alvimedica 14:56:20 - 3pts
4. Team Brunel 14:56:36 - 4pts
5. Team SCA 14:57:30 - 5pts
6. MAPFRE 15:00:03 - 6pts
7. Team Vestas Wind - DNS


PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMPalm Beach Motor YachtsC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

British Dragon South West Championship
A spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup Torquay delivered a spectacular warm-up for the 2025 Edinburgh Cup, as 13 Dragon teams took to the waters of Tor Bay for the South West Championship, a two-day regatta packed with shifting breezes, tactical gambles, and top-class racing.
Posted today at 8:59 am
Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul
Marblehead to Halifax Race Update
The front-runners are pushing hard toward the finish After nearly 24 hours at sea, the front-runners of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race are pushing hard toward the finish. Temptation/Oakcliff leads the fleet in both elapsed and corrected time, with Boudicca – Gill Race Team close behind.
Posted on 7 Jul
British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul
International Moth Worlds Opening Ceremony
137 sailors from 25 nations have gathered, featuring some of the biggest names in sailing After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 7 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 2
No racing, but spirits stay high in Aarhus Day 2 of the iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus tested the patience of sailors, coaches, and the Race Committee alike, as the wind refused to settle across the bay.
Posted on 7 Jul
Foiling Frenzy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine
The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! Regardless of where sailors are in their careers, or the reputation they have, everyone wants to be there and have a tilt at the title.
Posted on 7 Jul