Volvo Ocean Race 2011/2012 - Leg 6

May 19, 2012 - 1930 UTC
ABU DHABI MAKE IT AN IN-PORT HAT-TRICK AS TELEFÓNICA FEEL MIAMI HEAT

Overall Miami In-Port Total 1 Team Telefónica 1 165 2 Groupama sailing team 5 158 3 CAMPER with Emirates Team NZ 3 152 4 PUMA Ocean Racing by BERG 4 151 5 Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 6 74 6 Team Sanya 2 27

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing launched an 11th hour comeback in the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race to take their tally of in-shore successes to three, while Groupama scored a strong second to pile the pressure on overall race leaders Telefónica. Ian Walker’s crew were rewarded for sailing a near-perfect race on Saturday when they snatched the lead from Groupama on the penultimate leg and went on to seal a dramatic victory.

Portimao Inport Race in Miami
Foto: Ian Roman

Although they were pipped at the post, Groupama’s result moves them to within just seven points of Telefónica, who had yet more in-port disappointment when a penalty for touching one of the turning marks relegated them to last place.

In a thrilling finale, PUMA came from behind to rocket past CAMPER into third just metres from the finish line. It was a fourth successive podium finish in the in-shore series for Ken Read’s PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG crew, and it brought them to within a point of third-placed CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand on the overall scoreboard. Team Sanya, the only team not racing in a new generation boat, were unlucky not to finish higher up the leaderboard, having to settle for fifth after a brave battle with their rivals.
“It feels great,” said a jubilant Abu Dhabi skipper Walker moments after crossing the finish line. “We've had a tough time of it. We had no time at all to prepare for the last in-port race and we made a special point of having two full days' training here. We wanted to show the world that Abu Dhabi hasn't given up. We're a good team, we're determined, and it feels great to win a race.”

With the Volvo Ocean Race entering a critical stage with just three offshore legs and three in-port races left, just 14 points split the top four boats.
Telefónica still lead with 165 points but snapping at their heels are Groupama on 158, while CAMPER and PUMA are dangerously close on 152 and 151 respectively, bolstered by the results of the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race. In a nail-biting contest peppered with position changes, Abu Dhabi capitalised on a strong start along with Sanya but it was Telefónica who led round the first mark, showing off their blistering speed on Leg 1. The action couldn’t have been any more intense with Abu Dhabi and Groupama overhauling Telefónica on Leg 2. Meanwhile, after paying the price for heading offshore, CAMPER and PUMA were left desperately chasing the frontrunners.

While the front two stretched their lead, a fierce battle for third developed, climaxing on Leg 6 with Telefónica hitting the mark and the rest of the fleet piling in behind. Telefónica were penalised by the on-the-water umpires, adding to their in-port misery and ending their hopes of consolidating their overall lead.

Sniffing a chance to pick up crucial points, PUMA, CAMPER and Sanya put pedal to metal and launched an extraordinary comeback that brought them back in touch with then leaders Groupama and second-placed Abu Dhabi with just a few legs left. Abu Dhabi’s defining moment came when they hoisted a bigger sail than their French rivals, making the most of the smallest of speed advantages to pass Groupama despite having to dodge a spectator boat.

With the breeze fading, race officials chose to shorten the course and Abu Dhabi hung on to claim the win, all the more sweet due to the fact that just a few weeks ago their stricken boat Azzam was on a container ship en route to Brazil. The sailors and shore crews are now turning their sights on the final preparations for 3,580 nautical mile Leg 7 from Miami to Lisbon, Portugal, starting on Sunday at 1700 UTC (1300 local time).

PORTMIAMI In-Port Race results:1. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, 74:09 2. Groupama sailing team, +00:333. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, +02:024. CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, +02:11&xnbsp; 5. Team Sanya, +2:356. Team Telefónica, +6:28&xnbsp; &xnbsp; Download Videos ? IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race Team Sanya and Team Telefonica rounding mark during the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Download &xnbsp; &xnbsp; IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race Team Telefonica rounding mark during the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Download &xnbsp; &xnbsp; IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race Team Telefonica rounding mark during the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Download &xnbsp; &xnbsp; IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race The fleet leaded by Team Telefonica, skippered by Iker Martinez from Spain during the PORTMIAMI In-Port Race, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Download &xnbsp;

May 18 1030 UTC
FOUR IN-PORTS, THREE LEGS, TOO CLOSE TO CALL

&xnbsp; Overall Leg 6 Total 1 Team Telefónica 15 164 2 Groupama sailing team 20 153 3 CAMPER with Emirates Team NZ 25 149 4 PUMA Ocean Racing by BERG 30 147 5 Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 10 68 6 Team Sanya 0 25

With just four in-port races and three offshore legs left to go the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 reindexs too close to call - and points have never been more crucial as the reunited fleet gears up to resume competitive action this weekend.
After more than six months and thousands of miles of extreme racing, just 17 points split race leaders Telefónica from current form team PUMA in fourth in the overall standings. In between sit Groupama and CAMPER both also vying for the top spot.With the quest for the Volvo Ocean Race trophy so open, tensions are running high as the crews prepare for Saturday’s PORTMIAMI&xnbsp;In-Port Race and the start of Leg 7 across the Atlantic to Lisbon on Sunday.heading into the seventh of the 10 in-port races, CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand are the team to beat inshore, having notched up 27 points in the in-port series.
“At the end of the day all this race is about is getting the most points possible and people are going to extraordinary lengths to get any point they can,” said CAMPER skipper Chris Nicholson.“We treat it amazingly seriously and that’s what we’ve done right from the start. It just so happens that it gets highlighted more because we’re getting closer to the finish.“We’ve been doing well in in-port racing as a whole and as regards a game plan, we’re still going to stick to what we have been doing so far."

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG trail CAMPER by just a point in the in-port series on 26, with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing on 24.Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker said his team enjoyed the in-port racing and having won two of them already in this edition of the race would be up to make it a hat-trick in Miami.“We enjoy the in-ports and got to do a couple of days practice here,” Walker said.“One thing these in-port races have shown is it’s all about getting a good start, sailing in clear air and having clean boat handing.“Every single boat is capable of doing that, it’s just a question of who has their day.”Inconsistency around the short inshore courses has left Team Telefónica and Groupama sailing team, first and second on the overall leaderboard, with just 18 and 21 in-port points accrued respectively.Nevertheless, Telefónica skipper Iker Martínez said his team would go into the Miami race full of confidence after several days practising their short course skills during the stopover.“I think we are very good for the in-port race,” Martínez said. “We have been training quite a lot for it. We have spent time preparing and a lot of time on the water, so now we are feeling very good.“We have to start well and get good boat speed.
Be good around all the marks and we'll be fine. But that will be the same for everyone.“We have to make sure we are on the podium. Maybe one of two boats can beat us but that will not make a big difference.”Despite having claimed his first short course victory in the DHL In-Port Race Itajaí, &xnbsp;Groupama skipper Franck Cammas played down the chances of a repeat performance on Saturday.“Groupama are not the favourites,” Cammas said. “Telefónica and CAMPER are much more consistent. They are the ones who have more chance of earning the much needed points than us.“But they make mistakes, as they proved in the last in-port race,” he said. “As long as we are close behind them to pick up the points, we will be happy.”The return of Team Sanya, forced out of Legs 5 and 6 with boat damage, brings the six-boat fleet back up to full strength for the first time in more than six weeks.

In contrast to the conservative strategies touted by the other teams, Sanya skipper Mike Sanderson said his crew fully intended to make their presence known.“For sure, on Saturday we are going to mix it up,” Sanderson said. “We will race fair and we will race clean and if they want to be conservative then that is very much up to them.”After misfortune struck PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG in Leg 1 when they dismasted, Ken Read’s men have now clawed their way back into overall contention and go into Leg 7 on the back of consecutive leg wins.Read said the wave of confidence surging through the American team had set them up well for Miami and in good stead for another strong result in the transatlantic Leg 7.“Just to be back in the game is great,” Read said. “It’s no fun being an afterthought, and it’s taken a lot of work to get out of that status and back into the hunt.“We have faith in the boat and faith in the crew. Good things usually happen for us. I think we just go out there and keep doing what we are doing.“We are not focusing on anyone or trying to do anything special.
Let’s just get in the top couple in this race and just keep gaining points,” he added.The PORTMIAMI&xnbsp;In-Port Race starts at 1700 UTC )1300 local time) on Saturday, May 19, with Leg 7 starting at the same time on Sunday, May 20.Leg 7 to Lisbon, Portugal is expected to take around 11 days to complete.
Six points are on offer to the winners of each in-port race, with five for second, four for third and so on down to one point for sixth place. In the offshore legs, the winners receive 30 points, followed by 25 for second, 20 for third, down to five points for sixth.For the latest course and weather information go to volvooceanrace.com &xnbsp;

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