07.05.2006
Record spectator fleet witnesses Annapolis re-start
May 7, 2006, Annapolis, Maryland – A record number of spectator craft, estimated at 3,500 by the U.S. Coastguard, lined Chesapeake Bay today to farewell the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 fleet for the start of the sixth leg of the race from Annapolis to New York.
Thousands more fans took up vantage points on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge where traffic also came to a standstill. The figure surpassed the 2,000 spectator boats assembled for the start of the race in Vigo, Spain in November last year.
Brasil 1, skippered by Torben Grael (BRA) led the pack away from the start line with movistar, the winner of the Baltimore in-port race under the leadership of Bouwe Bekking (NED), in hot pursuit.
As the boats headed upwind to a rounding mark just before the Bay Bridge they forced their way into the massive spectator fleet as they headed for the favoured right-hand side of the course.
Brasil 1 and Sebastien Josse’s ABN AMRO TWO were the first to calve their way through the fleet and for Brasil 1 the risky move was profitable as they sneaked out ahead of movistar and local heroes Pirates of the Caribbean.
Grael and his team were the first to round and set their spinnaker, hotly pursued by movistar, who turned just over a minute later, with Paul Cayard’s Pirates of the Caribbean 45 seconds behind.
As the fleet headed downwind back towards the start, Pirates of the Caribbean made some good gains and overtook movistar to move up to second place just behind Brasil 1.
Behind the lead three boats a separate battle raged as Ericsson with skipper Neal McDonald (GBR) back in charge and new navigator Mark Rudiger (USA) onboard, battled it out with ABN AMRO ONE and TWO.
Through the start gate, the final mark before the fleet head out to the entrance of the Chesapeake, Brasil 1 still held the lead followed by Pirates of the Caribbean and movistar. ABN AMRO TWO passed through in fourth place just in front of their sister ship and overall race leaders ABN AMRO ONE who was struggling at the breeze dropped below eight knots.
After a promising start Brunel crossed through the starting gate in seventh place just under a minute after ABN AMRO ONE.
Judging by the tough battle at the start, the fleet will be racing hard all the way throughout the 400 nautical mile journey to New York.
The fleet is expected to arrive into the Big Apple late into the evening of Monday 8 May or in the early hours the next day. The boats will spend two complete days in North Cove Marina before departing on the Transatlantic crossing to Portsmouth, England on May 11.
For all the latest news and stories, log on to www.volvooceanrace.org.
Current Leaderboard
[position/team name/skipper/race points to date]
1st ABN AMRO ONE, Mike Sanderson (NZL) 63.5 pts
2nd movistar, Bouwe Bekking (NED) 44 pts
3rd Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard (USA) 41.5 pts
4th ABN AMRO TWO, Sebastien Josse (FRA) 41.0 pts
5th Brasil 1, Torben Grael (BRA) 37.0 pts
6th Ericsson Racing Team, Neal McDonald (GBR) 30.5 pts
7th Brunel, Grant Wharington (AUS) 0.5 pts
For further information please contact:
Sacha Oswald, Travelling Press Officer in Baltimore
Tel: +1 410 869 6210
Email: sacha.oswald@volvooceanrace.org
Lizzie Green Press Officer at race headquarters:
Tel: +44 1489 554 832, Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.green@volvooceanrace.org
Sophie Luther Press Assistant at race headquarters
Mob: +44 7956 285548 email: sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.org
|
