News Corp misses podium in Volvo ocean race

by Ashley Abbott on 10 Jun 2002 It came down to the wire for Team News Corp
in the 32,000 mile Volvo Ocean Race that finished tonight in Kiel.

Leg 9 was a 250-mile sprint from Sweden to Germany that accounted for less
than 1% of the total miles sailed in the race. The leg saw Team News Corp
miss a podium place.

A crowd of more than five thousand crowded the Kiel dock to welcome the team
in. Team News Corp finished eighth in the leg to end the race in fifth place
overall.

Team News Corp was poised to take a third place overall at Goteborg start
and the final result was disappointing. Team News Corp skipper, Jez
Fanstone, was proud of his exhausted crew as they docked just after
midnight, local time.

“We could have come third overall and that was our goal,” said Fanstone. “It
has been an incredibly hard fought race, and the Team News Corp crew have
showed dedication and talent throughout the entire 32,000 miles.”

Watch-leader, Gordon Maguire, credited the team. “For many of the guys the
campaign has been more than two years of blood sweat and tears,' he said.
'The final podium result ended up being decided on a couple of light
patches. It was just a lottery.

“The crew was always optimistic, always trying to do better. Even at the
finish we were trying to catch TYCO.”

Team News Corp started the nine-leg Volvo Ocean Race in September 2001
strongly. Two third places put Team News Corp in second place overall by the
end of Leg 2.

Team News Corp fought hard in every leg of the race. In the second of the
two Southern Ocean legs, Team News Corp collided with an iceberg. Later in
the leg, she lost her rudder. The crew set up a make-shift steering system
and fought hard to avoid heading for the nearest port. They finished the leg
in Rio de Janeiro in commendable sixth place.

Team News Corp triumphed with a first place into Baltimore. The win was
subsequently strengthened by another podium finish in Goteborg. As the final
leg of the Volvo Ocean Race kicked off, Team News Corp was tied in third
place overall.

“We’ve had a solid performance overall and it’s a shame we slipped off the
podium in the last 24 hours,” said Team News Corp Campaign Director, Ross
Field. “It has been an incredible team effort, not only from the sailing
crew, but also from the shore team. We’ve had fantastic support around the
world, in particular from our partner, News Corporation.”

Team News Corp would like to thank all their fans, supporters and sponsors
that have played such an important role in their race around the world.

Team News Corp finished in Kiel 9 June 2002 at 22:11:50 GMT.

The Volvo Ocean race covered 32,000 nautical miles, four oceans, nine
countries and 10 ports. Team News Corp left Southampton on Leg One of the
race on 23 September 2001.

Team News Corp crew list for Leg 9: Jez Fanstone - skipper (UK), Gordon
Maguire (IRE) - watch leader, Barney Walker - watch leader (AUS), Matthew
Humphries - navigator (UK), Peter Isler - tactician USA), Alastair (Alby)
Pratt - sail coodinator (AUS), Craig Smith - trimmer (NZ), Justin Slattery -
bowman (IRE), Damien Duke - bowman (IRE), Peter Doriean - trimmer (AUS).

Overall Points in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001 - 2002

1. Illbruck 61
2. Assa Abloy 55
3. Amer Sports One 44
4. Team TYCO 42
5. Team News Corp 41
6. Djuice Dragons 33
7. Team SEB 32
8. Amer Sports Too 16

Finishing Order and Times 9 June 2002.

1. Djuice Dragons 15:42:30 GMT
2. Illbruck Challenge 16:17:45 GMT
3. Assa Abloy 18:13:40 GMT
4. Amer Sports Too 18:18:10 GMT
5. Amer Sports One 18:19:30 GMT
6. Team SEB 20:01:00 GMT
7. Team TYCO 21:27:10 GMT
8. Team News Corp 22:11:50 GMT