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Wednesday, 21 December 2005 |
Volvo Ocean Race sailors ready for Boxing Day in-port race
The sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race are getting ready for a Boxing Day
in-port race before setting sail from Cape Town for Melbourne on 2
January. The 6100-nautical mile second leg gives the fleet a fresh
chance to gain points on race leader ABN Amro One after a dramatic
first stage from Spain.
Most of the seven-boat fleet of boats had become damaged on the way to South Africa.
The remote Southern Ocean, with its very high seas and fierce winds, will test boats and crews to the limit.
ABN Amro One leads by one point from Brasil 1 and Ericsson, skippered by Briton Neal McDonald.
The Ericsson team won the first in-port race in Galicia, Spain, but
suffered problems with their canting keel system on leg one.
They limped into Cape Town fourth behind ABN Amro One, ABN Amro Two and
Brasil 1 but Neal McDonald believes the repairs have been successful.
"Now it's time for us to go out and check everything is in good working order," said Neal McDonald.
"During the next few days, it will also be very important for us to
test some new sails for Leg Two as well as making our sail choices for
the in-port race."
ING Real Estate Brunel, formerly Synergy and Premier Challenge, was the only other boat to finish the first leg.
Spanish entry Movistar and America's Pirates of the Caribbean both had
to withdraw less than 24 hours into the race to make repairs to the
keels, however, both boats are expected to start the second leg.
Points are awarded on the seven in-port races and nine legs.
After Melbourne the fleet will also stop off in Wellington, Rio de
Janeiro, Baltimore, New York, Portsmouth, Rotterdam and Gothenburg.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 December 2005 )
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