Volvo Ocean Race - Final Inport Race drama

by Rob Kothe Sail-World on 27 Jun 2015 An amazing finale when the fourth place in the 40,000 nautical mile 2014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race decided in the final leg of the final Inshore race in the River Göt in Gothenburg today.

Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) emerged victorious in the final act of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 today in the Inmarsat In-Port Race Gothenburg.

Double Olympians Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez aboard the Spanish boat MAFRE produced a classic match racing finish when they slowed their rivals Alvimedica down, allowing Dongfeng to sail between the two boats, taking fourth place overall.

A very tight In port course, geographically limited, meant that positioning on the course was critical.

There was a big shift prestart, Chris Nicholson steering Team Vestas Wind has a perfect midline on port with speed, Carolijn Brower helmed SCA across the start line second Brunel locked out by Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi was last to cross the start line.

With the breeze gradually filling in, with MAPFRE getting pressure on the left. When Vestas tacked back from the right, she was well behind MAPFRE,

Then Vestas in pressure crossed ahead of MAPFRE, who were forced to do a second low speed tack.

But behind them Bowe Bekking’s Brunel made big gains on the left coming from last to fourth.



Deep in the first leg, Vestas sailed out of the pressure on the right, giving the lead back to MAPFRE, with Brunel coming in above MAPFRE on port, Brunel led SCA rounded inside MAPFRE to second place, Vestas almost dead in the water, Brunel led, Abu Dhabi last at the top mark and had those positions remained at the race end Abu Dhabi would have lost the Inport series.

Alvimedica only boat to go round right hand mark was able to close up to fourth.

With a wind shift and the marks not able to be relaid, the windward leeward downwind leg turned into a reach.

As they sailed up the river to the bottom mark, Brunel led SCA and MAPFRE, as they reached towards the mark.

The building breeze coming from offshore was compressing the fleet.

At the bottom mark SCA was closing up on Brunel, MAPFRE tried to get inside SCA but was too slow. Alvimedica slid below MAFRE and both boats headed right.

Race officals shortened the course, Brunel led, SCA on left, crossed over MAPFRE coming in from right.

On the final leg at the top mark, Alvimedica was fourth, MAPFRE twice luffed leaving Alvimedica stalled. Ahead SCA gained from the altercation as did Dongfeng behind.

Matchmaking Iker Martinez continued slowed MAPFRE down, with Alvimedica on her stern, trying to get Dongfeng between them.

Alvimedica did not have the speed to sail through MAPFRE to leeward so she was pinned behind the Spanish boat who sailed them wide on the course.

Charles Caudrelier and Dongfeng team arrived almost at Iker Martinez's bidding and sailed past Alvimedica.

Up ahead SCA crossed second in place, Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden onboard SCA took helm as they crossed the line. Overall Sam Davies and her Team SCA crew had secured third place on the podium for the in-port series, behind Ian Walker’s crew and Team Brunel.

Third on the water today was MAPFRE, Dongfeng fourth, Alvimedica fifth.

The Spanish had engineered fourth place overall as they broke the tie for fourth place on countback overall, which they were sharing with Team Alvimedica after nine months' gruelling racing.

MAPFRE Spain’s former King Carlos taking helm, urging the Spanish team to wave to the crowds.

Abu Dhabi finished ahead of Vestas taking Inshore series having earned the six points they needed to win the overall In-Port Race series. They finished just one point clear of Team Brunel in the standings.

And so endth the last race in the 2014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race.