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VOLVO OCEAN RACE

Gale force winds for leg eight of the Volvo Ocean Race

samedi 25 mai 2002Information Volvo Ocean Race

There are warnings of gales in the Plymouth and Biscay area, which indicate that the eight strong fleet racing in the penultimate leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started at 5pm local time today from La Rochelle, France, could encounter heavy sailing conditions as they approach Ushant on the northwest tip of the Brittany coast tomorrow morning.

The shipping forecast issued by the met office at 0505GMT today predicts south-westerly winds force five to seven, increasing to gale force eight for a time.

However, the ominous forecast did not deter large crowds from gathering in the crisp sunshine in La Rochelle today, to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and bid farewell to the fleet as the boats departed the medieval dock of Bassin des Chalutiers. Pere Samoride of La Rochelle Cathedral, carried out the traditional blessing of the fleet, visiting each boat and anointing her with holy water.

As the lock gates opened, fireworks accompanied each team‚s theme music as the boats left the dock in what was probably the slickest departure of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to date. The crew of Assa Abloy, departed with two crew aloft waving huge French Tricolore flags and a sign reading ’Merci La Rochelle’ was emblazoned across the boat’s transom.

La Rochelle has been an extremely popular stopover and a huge armada of boats, including windsurfers, braved the choppy sea and to watch the drama unfold. With an 18 to 22 knot southwesterly breeze, the fleet had a spectacular reaching start to the first mark.

The start line was laid approximately one mile offshore, and at the sound of the starting cannon, illbruck led off the line as the fleet charged up the track on a starboard two sail reach towards the first turning mark set two miles northwest up the track.

Disaster struck Assa Abloy at the back of the fleet when they appeared to become entangled with the cable on the starting mark, which left them trailing in the wake of the fleet as it powered up and took off. Within three minutes of the start, staysails were hoisted as overall race leader illbruck and News Corp raced neck and neck at the head of the fleet.

At the turning mark, it was News Corp two boats lengths ahead of Illbruck, as the fleet sheeted in their sails and beat hard upwind towards the gate. Amer Sports Too was forced to re-round the mark whilst Assa Abloy brought up the rear, rounding the mark approximately five minutes behind News Corp.

RIBS, jet skis and other small craft surrounded the boats enthusiastically as they tacked towards the gate, News Corp opting for the left hand side, whilst the rest of the fleet went to the right.

Grant Dalton’s Amer Sports One pushed into the lead, three boat lengths ahead of illbruck as they approached the gate, followed closely by Tyco, News Corp and SEB. djuice was in sixth position and Assa Abloy finally managed to overtake Amer Sports Too leaving her in eighth position as the fleet headed out into open sea.

This 1150 nautical mile penultimate leg of the Volvo Ocean, has 30 marks of the course and will provide many challenges for the now tired crews as they race hard through one of the busiest shipping areas in the world, beset by fierce tides, shoals and islands. The fleet is set to arrive in Gothenburg at the end of May.


Dans la même rubrique

VOLVO OCEAN RACE : Illbruck Looks to Wrap It Up

VOLVO OCEAN RACE : Amer Sports Too battles Mother Nature

VOLVO OCEAN RACE : Radical changes for djuice

Volvo Ocean Race / Leg 7 : Sidney Gavignet : "Welcome To France"


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