MAPFRE wins the Around Hong Kong Island Race
by Volvo Ocean Race 28 Jan 2018 22:09 AEDT
28 January 2018
Aerial view of the fleet in very light airs for the Around Hong Kong Island Race in Hong Kong © Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race
It was a challenging day for the Volvo Ocean Race teams as they tackled the Around Hong Kong Island Race on Sunday with a generously sized spectator fleet on hand to cheer them on.
Light and variable wind shortly after the start allowed the leading boats to break away as they found new wind pressure first. But it didn't mean opportunities for passing later in the afternoon were completely closed off.
MAPFRE had the best start in the fleet and eked out ahead in light winds. Three teams broke the line early and needed to restart, with Team Brunel, Turn the Tide on Plastic and Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag all turning back.
It put them at an immediate disadvantage, but while Brunel had the best re-start, it was Turn the Tide on Plastic who moved up the fleet to challenge the leading pack over the next 20 minutes.
However as the race progressed, MAPFRE and Dongfeng Race Team found the new favourable wind first and built a commanding lead over the others.
"With these inshore races you never know, because just as you can have the advantage one moment, the next you can lose it," said MAPFRE navigator Juan Vila. "Fortunately today it was more of a race in which the one in front always seemed to have better pressure. The transitions have also gone a little better for us and of course, the start and the moments afterward were key."
"It was very tricky conditions today but we had a lot of good advice from local sailors and it helped us a lot," said Dongfeng Race Team skipper Charles Caudrelier. "So I think we prepared it very well and the result is there, so that's good."
Behind the leading pair, it was team AkzoNobel and Turn the Tide on Plastic battling for third place early. But a the teams rounded the southern shore of the island, Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag and Team Brunel slipped through in the middle of the channel with better wind.
Local favourite Scallywag went from being last across the starting line to a third place finish with Team Brunel just a couple hundred metres back to take a popular podium result.
That left AkzoNobel, who won Saturday's HGC In-Port Race Hong Kong to take fifth place in front of Turn the Tide on Plastic, who had a frustrating weekend trailing the fleet in both races.
When MAPFRE crossed the finish line, they were flying a protest flag but later informed the Race Committee they would not be following through with a protest, making the results on the water final.
Sunday's results mean Dongfeng Race Team has the best overall score on the weekend after two second place finishes. The team will claim a full 7 points from the Hong Kong series which pulls it into a tie on the overall In-Port Race Series Leaderboard with MAPFRE, both sitting on 25 points. Dongfeng Race Team is ranked first based on winning the most recent series in Hong Kong.
"It is a very good result for us," Caudrelier continued. "We are in the same position as the MAPFRE crew which is full of inshore specialists, so I think we can be proud of the team's performance."
Vestas 11th Hour Racing did not race this weekend and has announced it will not participate in Leg 5 to Guangzhou next week as the team coordinates repairs to its boat – see more here.
Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Leaderboard
Dongfeng Race Team – 25 points
MAPFRE – 25 points
Team Brunel – 17 points
team AkzoNobel – 16 points
Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 12 points
Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 9 points
Turn the Tide on Plastic – 7 points
Dongfeng Race Team leads Volvo Ocean Race In-Port series after strong performances in Hong Kong (from Dongfeng Race Team)
The Chinese entry Dongfeng Race Team has taken the lead in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 In-Port Race series for the first time today after two strong performances in Hong Kong.
Following its second place finish in the HGC In-Port Race on Saturday, the crew skippered by Charles Caudrelier of France followed up today with another strong second place in the Round Hong Kong Island Race.
The two results, which are amalgamated to count as one In-Port Race score, leaves the crew sponsored by the Chinese car and truck manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Corporation, tied on 25 points with MAPFRE, at the top of the In-Port Race series overall.
However Dongfeng Race Team is now deemed the overall leader as a result of having beaten the Spanish team – which won today and was fourth yesterday - over the two races in Hong Kong.
"It was a very good result for us," said Caudrelier after today's race. "We are in the same position as the MAPFRE crew which is full of inshore specialists, so I think we can be proud of the team's performance.
"We had very tricky conditions today but we had some good advice from local sailors and it helped us a lot. So I think we prepared it very well and the result is there, so that's good."
Chinese Dongfeng crew member Chen Jinhao, also known as Horace, was delighted to win overall in Hong Kong in front of his home supporters on a round the island course he knows well.
"It is an amazing decision to have a race around Hong Kong as part of the Volvo Ocean Race," he said. "It is a beautiful place for sailing and every year we do this race so it was great to sail it today on Dongfeng.
"We were second today but overall in the In-Port Races here we are the winner and we are leading the ranking overall, so that is very positive for us," he added.
Today's race was staged in very light winds as the crews set sail for a clockwise round the island tour of Hong Kong with the skylines of Hong Kong and Kowloon forming a spectacular backdrop.
Dongfeng, with Caudrelier at the wheel and Pascal Bidegorry calling tactics, made a good start along with MAPFRE and Team AkzoNobel, but could not prevent MAPFRE easing into the building breeze first and getting away.
By the time the crews reached the southeastern tip of Hong Kong Island at Cape D'Aguilar, MAPFRE was already too far ahead to be caught but Dongfeng was then able to establish a secure position in second place.
Behind Dongfeng at the finish at Green Island of what was a shortened course, local boat Team Sun Hung Kai Scallywag was third with Team Brunel in fourth place after recovering from a poor start.
Over both races the Dongfeng crew has demonstrated consistent speed in light winds and fluent execution of manoeuvres – completing more changes of heading than all the other teams in both contests.
The In-Port Race Series does not count towards the overall rankings in the main Volvo Ocean Race – in which Dongfeng lies second behind MAPFRE after four legs – but it will be used as a tie-breaker if two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the race.
After the fleet visits the Chinese city of Guangzhou next week, the sixth leg of the main race – from Hong Kong to Auckland – sets sail on February 7.
Third position for Team Brunel in In-Port Race Series after Hong Kong (from Team Brunel)
In the Hong Kong Around the Island Team Brunel finished in fourth on Sunday, January 28th. Team Brunel was just a couple of hundred metres behind local favourite Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag.
MAPFRE took the victory before Dongfeng Race Team. In the overall standings for the In-Port races, Team Brunel is in the third position.
Team Brunel had a false start
It was a challenging day for the Volvo Ocean Race teams with light and variable wind shortly after the start. Team Brunel, Turn the Tide on Plastic and Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag had a false start.
Helmsman Peter Burling: "It was a tricky day, with a mistake on my behalf. It was a bit of a shame because we were in a pretty good spot for that start. It must be just over, but apparently, we were too early. It's just one of these things you learn from and we have to move on."
Kyle Langford: After the start, we did alright to get back to fourth place. The in-shores results of this weekend are ok but we could do better. The results and the way we sailed shows that we have the potential. Now we need to convert that into the next races."
Team Brunel in third overall
On Saturday Team Brunel took the third place, with the fourth place of Sunday the team take a fourth place and four points for the overall standings.
Skipper Bekking: "I think all with all the result of this weekend is ok. It's not the best but it could be worse."
Next stop Guangzhou
The fleet will leave Hong Kong on Wednesday for Guangzhou, where the next In-Port race is scheduled for Saturday, February 3th.
Burling: "We're looking forward to going to China, for another change in the In-Port race there and next to that I'm looking forward to the Leg to Auckland as well."