Telefonica Calls the Shots in Home Waters
06/10/2008
The Volvo Ocean Race got underway with the first in-port race ahead of the start of the 37,000nm ocean odyssey and it was to be a one-two for Spanish boats Telefonica boats to the joy of thousands of Spanish sailing fans.
It was the first competitive action of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008 – 2009 and it was a thriller.
Eight state-of-the-art Volvo Open 70 yachts lined-up at the start of the first in-port race and it was not long before the drama unfolded, a collision between Team Russia and Delta Lloyd leaving a hole in the hull of the Dutch boat.
But up at the front of the pack, it was a one-two for home favourites Telefónica, the Blue boat edging-out its Black team-mate to take four and three-and-a-half points respectively.
Skippered by flying Dutchman Bouwe Bekking and with Spanish star Iker Martinez on board, Telefónica Blue enjoyed a 1’ 47” winning margin over the largely-Spanish crewed Telefónica Black and Bekking said, “It’s a 37,000-mile race,” he said, adding, “We got a lead at the start and we didn’t lose it, and the result was very nice.”
American entry PUMA Ocean Racing has pounced into a 14second lead with just 1.6 miles to go but a mistake going into the final gate, combined with Telefonica’s better strategy turned a Bekking silver into a 63-second procession for gold, with the added bonus of second place for Telefónica Black and PUMA Ocean Racing taking the final podium place.
With the first points on the board of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008 – 2009, the offshore action gets underway in Alicante on Saturday 11th October at 14.00CET with the 6,500nm opening leg down to Cape Town where the leaders are expected to arrive on 3rd November.
www.volvooceanrace.org