December 26, 2005, Cape Town
The Spanish boat clinched a second place at the inshore race, with winds
peaking at 43 knots
The “movistar” starts gaining positions in Cape Town
The Volvo Open 70 “movistar” finished second today in Table Bay, South
Africa. The Spanish boat completed an excellent race, coming from sixth
position after a wrong manoeuvre, as Iker Martínez explained upon arrival:
“We started very strong, staying with the leaders, except when a problem
gybing and were overtaken by the whole fleet. We knew the others could have
the same problem, and they did. We recovered beautifully; everybody on
board did a spotless job”.
Pedro Campos, general manager of the Spanish team, had the following to say
after clinching a second place that will make the Spanish boat gain two
positions at the Round the World race classification: “This is an excellent
result, not only for finishing in second place, but also because we have
proven that we can sail fast when the wind is strong. Ours is the only Farr
design boat to contend with the ABN-AMRO boats. After today, it is clear
that we can still win the Volvo Ocean Race; it will not be easy, but it is
possible”.
43-knot winds
The weather forecasts forebode a tough race in Table Bay waters. The race
started at 13 hours local time under a strong South eastern wind that will
gain in intensity from just 22 knots to peaks above 40, as Bouwe Bekking
explained after the race: “We have measured wind peaks over 43 knots, with
boat speed peaks between 34 and 35 knots. The ABN-AMRO 1 took the lead from
the start and we were unable to catch up, but we fought fiercely for second
position with some of the other rivals. This is a very good result for us,
not only for the 3 points scored, but also because the ABN-AMRO boats were
favourites with such strong winds”.
“Despite the harsh conditions, it has been really fun, and we have kept the
boat under control at all times”, added Iker Martínez.
The Spanish team made a single mistake during the race that relegated them
from second to sixth position, as bowman Pepe Ribes explained after the
race: “There was just one hairy moment on board, after the mistake we
committed while gybing, that cost us the second place. There was some
confusion on boards, everybody arrived late to their positions and all the
sails were on the deck. But we kept struggling thereafter until we
recovered the second place, thanks to the great manoeuvring and the
excellent boat speed”.
The “movistar”’s comeback was based on the power displayed by the RCN
Sanxenxo VO 70 boat on the sterns, as trimmer Xabi Fernández said upon
arrival: “The speed of the boat with stern courses has been crucial. We
have scored three points today on account of being the second fastest boat,
our good manoeuvres and our strategy. Pepe Ribes added to this: “The
crucial factor was our having a spinnaker boom, especially when we overtook
the Pirates, who sail without one. It has hard team work; the best thing is
that the boat has proven its power, despite the rough conditions”.
Mayor on board
There was someone else who had a chance to witness the intensity of this
race. Telmo Martín, mayor of Sanxenxo, was a guest on board the Spanish
boat, and commented the following upon his arrival to port: “This has been
an unforgettable experience. I have never sailed this fast on a sailboat. I
was only scared for a moment, when the boat tilted on her side during
gybing, but after that it was sheer fun, especially at such speeds. I have
been quite surprised by Bouwe Bekking’s command of both boat and crew. The
degree of coordination of the whole crew is also impressive.
Next Monday January 2, the “movistar” will start her journey to Melbourne
along with six other participants to complete the second ocean leg of this
Round the World race. “The next objective is to score as many points as
possible in the second leg”, Pedro Campos concluded.
CAPE TOWN INSHORE RACE CLASSIFICATION:
1º ABN AMRO 1 (NETHERLANDS)
2º MOVISTAR (SPAIN)
3º ABN AMRO 2 (NETHERLANDS)
4º BRASIL 1 (BRAZIL)
5º PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (USA)
6º ERICSSON (SWEDEN)
7º ING REAL ESTATE BRUNE (AUSTRALIA)
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION
1º ABN AMRO 1 (Netherlands): 15 points
2º Brasil 1 (Brazil): 12.5 points
3º ABN AMRO 2 (Netherlands): 12 points
4º ERICSSON (Sweden): 11.5 points
5º MOVISTAR (SPAIN): 6 points
6º ING REAL ESTATE (Australia): 5 points
7º PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (USA): 5 points
“movistar” in the Volvo Ocean Race
· The values that have defined “movistar” since its beginning are similar
to the values identifying a boat at the Volvo Ocean Race: getting to
distant places, taking technology to the remotest corners of the Earth,
facing the challenge of being the first to finish and using the best team
to achieve it.
· “movistar” started its sailing sponsorship activities six years ago.
Since then, the “movistar” boat has achieved a number of successes. Its
main accomplishments are: the Gold Medal in the 49er class won at the 2004
Athens Olympic Games; nine world titles in offshore sailing, Olympic
sailing and grassroots sailing. As a result of these achievements, movistar
sponsorship of this boat in a world class event represents its support and
contribution to maintain the team among the world racing elite.
· “movistar” wants to make the successes of the Spanish racing boats
known to the Spanish audience, so that this traditional sport becomes
popular and our sportsmen are duly recognized all over the world.
· The Volvo Ocean Race departed from Vigo on November 12, 2005, heading
for Cape Town, South Africa.
· The teams will set their feet on the ground at ten different locations:
Galicia (Spain), Cape Town (South Africa), Melbourne (Australia),
Wellington (New Zealand), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Baltimore/Annapolis
(USA), New York (USA), Portsmouth (UK), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and
finally Gothenburg (Sweden), after completing 31,250 nautical miles –
57,875 kilometres – of race.
· A total of seven inshore regattas will be held, one in each of the ports
of destination. The first inshore race took place on November 5, 2005, in
Sanxenxo (Galicia).
· Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Sweden, Brazil and the USA are the
strongest countries in this year’s edition.
· The racing boats will be single-hull Volvo Open 70, with a length of
21.5 meters (70.5 feet) and 31.5 meter (103.3 foot) masts.
· The mainsail of a Volvo Open 70 has 172 sq m; the spinnaker can reach up
to 500 sq m, and in bearing courses can deploy a potential of up to 700 sq
m of sail surface.
· The 2001/02 Volvo Ocean Race was won by the “Illbruck Challenge” German
team, with John Kostecki as a skipper, followed by the Swedish “Assa Abloy”
boat, skipper Neal McDonald, and the Italian-Finnish “Amer Sports”, with
Grant Dalton as skipper. The boats covered a total distance of 58,523
kilometres (31,600 nautical miles).
Ana Garcia
movistar Press Team
Office: +34-91-398 4738
E-mail: ana.garcia@ogilvy.com
|
