The final hurdle
Leg 6 Day 15 - 14:36 GMT Saturday, April 25, 2009. |
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| As the Volvo fleet approaches Boston and the finish of leg six, they have one more hurdle to clear. A high-pressure ridge has stopped the leaders and has given the followers another chance at the podium. Once through the ridge, the fleet will have a clear run to cross the finish line tomorrow. |
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Squalls and cold onboard Ericsson 3, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Gustav Morin / Ericsson 3 / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| As Ericsson 4 became the first victim of the high pressure and Ericsson 3, having had a spell in Stealth yesterday, now heads the field into the final straight with Ericsson 4 on her flank a mile behind. In a situation such as this, there is no room for mistakes when another boat is ready to pounce on someone’s misfortunes. |
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Skipper Torben Grael taking a bearing, onobard Ericsson 4, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Guy Salter / Ericsson 4 / Volvo Ocean Race.
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PUMA went undercover for 12 hours at 10:00 GMT today, while the second tier is making some big gains.
Delta Lloyd is holding on to fourth place and still doing 13.5 knots, with Telefónica Black 30 nm behind. The Dragons are the only ones still in double digits behind the leader, and are 101 nm behind. |
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Rob Salthouse in rough weather, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Rick Deppe / PUMA Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| The entire fleet has had a tough time in the Gulf Stream, sometimes fighting a strong adverse current, with wind speeds topping at 38 knots against the current, which whipped up a nasty, confused sea. |
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Green Dragon in rough weather, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Guo Chuan / Green Dragon Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Now, the wind is dropping and the fleet is left wallowing in the leftover sea state. Boat speeds for the leading three are down to less than 10 knots, while the chasing pack is still making good speed. |
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Rough weather onboard Telefonica Blue, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Gabriele Olivo / Telefonica Blue / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Routing software is predicting a finish for the first boat in Boston tomorrow at 16:13 GMT. |
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Sail changes onboard Telefonica Black, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Anton Paz / Telefonica Black / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Scoring Gate Results Fernando de Noronha
1. Telefónica Blue - 19:58:56 GMT 16.04.09 - 4 Points
2. Ericsson 4 - 22:55:36 GMT 16.04.09 - 3.5 Points
3. Delta Lloyd - 23:28:32 GMT 16.04.09 - 3 Points
4. Puma - 23:29:31 GMT 16.04.09 - 2.5 Points
5. Telefónica Black - 23:42:20 GMT 16.04.09 - 2 Points
6. Ericsson 3 - 00:14:28 GMT 17.04.09 - 1.5 Points
7. Green Dragon - 01:27:26 GMT 17.04.09 - 1 Point |
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Delta Lloyd still running in 6th position chasing Telefonca Black while the sun sets in the Caribbean, earlier on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Sander Pluijm / Team Delta Lloyd / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Leg 6 Day 15 - 13:00 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(Boat name / country / skipper / nationality / distance to finish)
Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson / SWE) DTF: 337 nm
Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael / BRA) +1
Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking / NED) +13
Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermúdez / ESP) +66
Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri / ESP) +96
Green Dragon IRL / CHN (Ian Walker / GBR) +101
Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT) DNS
PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read / USA) Stealth |
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Green Dragon in rough weather, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston.
Photo © Guo Chuan / Green Dragon Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for all the latest news! |
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