Telefónica Blue dominates in Boston
Boston In-Port Race - 23:53 GMT Saturday, May 9, 2009. |
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Telefónica
Blue ruled the day on Saturday afternoon earning two wins from
the two in-port races, during the Volvo Ocean Race stopover
at Fan Pier, in Boston.
With Iker Martinez on the helm and Bouwe Bekking calling tactics, Telefónica
Blue dominated the afternoon, leading from pole to pole in both races. |
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The fleet line up for the start of
the Boston in-port race at Fan Pier.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Racing was postponed
for forty minutes in very light conditions, before a weak sea
breeze developed for the first race. Green Dragon and Ericsson
4 raced off the start line at the pin end and looked good initially.
But by the top mark, Telefónica Blue and Delta Lloyd
had used the right side of the course to their advantage to
lead the fleet.
Approaching the top mark, Green Dragon was still holding a good third place
position. But trouble during their final tack to the mark left the boat
floundering on the layline, allowing Ericsson 4 and PUMA to roar past.
Upon rounding the mark, Green Dragon compounded their problems when they
infringed on Ericsson 3, leaving both boats nearly still in the water.
The Dragons acknowledged their mistake with a penalty turn, and trailed
the fleet the rest of the way.
At the front, Telefónica Blue was never threatened, while Delta
Lloyd earned a tremendous second place result with overall Volvo Ocean
Race leader Ericsson 4 close behind. |
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Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe
Bekking (NED) finish first overall in the Boston
in-port race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The hometown heroes
on PUMA were fighting with Telefónica Black for most
of the race with fourth place as the goal, and in the end,
Ken Read’s men were able to hold off the Black boat.
Ericsson 3 never recovered from their incident with Green Dragon
and limped home in sixth.
In the short delay between races, cloud and thin fog enveloped the race
course, killing the sea breeze, but bringing a stronger gradient wind.
Racing started in 10-12 knots. |
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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken
Read (USA) finish sixth overall in the Boston in-port
race.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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| There was plenty
of action on the start line for race two with Telefónica
Blue appearing to be danger of starting early just moments
before the start gun fired. But Iker Martinez was able to luff
up, slow down, and earn some precious room between himself
and the pin mark. In the event, Blue had a clean start at the
pin with plenty of speed. |
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The fleet, covered in fog in the
Boston in-port race at Fan Pier.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Others weren’t
as lucky. PUMA and both Ericsson boats were unable to scrub
off enough speed and were called out for being over the line
early. They all had to return and re-start while the others
raced away at speed.
For Telefónica Blue, this early advantage was enough. Iker Martinez
and Bouwe Bekking never looked back and stormed away to their second race
win on the afternoon. |
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The fleet, leave their trails behind
in the fog, during the Boston in-port race at Fan
Pier.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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It wasn’t
so simple behind. Telefónica Black, in clear air after
three boats returned to restart, also sailed a strong first
leg, as did Delta Lloyd. And Ericsson 4 recovered well from
the start line error to round the first mark in fourth place.
But PUMA and Ericsson 3 remained at the back of the pack for
the first lap of the course.
Everything changed on the second beat to windward. A big right-hand shift
saw Delta Lloyd stranded on the wrong side of the race course and tumble
from third to sixth place. Ericsson 3 moved up to fourth place, while PUMA
clawed their way past Green Dragon and Delta Lloyd. |
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Ericsson 4, skippered by Torben Grael
(BRA) finish second overall in the Boston in-port
race.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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On the final run,
both Ericsson boats gybed inside Telefónica Black to
make a pass and set up some complicated maths for the race
committee in determining the overall standings on the day.
In the final count, Telefónica Blue was the runaway winner, with
Ericsson 4 achieving a clear second and Delta Lloyd holding on for third
place. A three-way tie for fourth was decided in favour of the stronger
position in the second race; terrible news for the hometown favourites
on PUMA. It meant Ericsson 3 would grab fourth, Telefónica Black
fifth while PUMA was left in sixth place. Green Dragon, with two seventh
place finishes, brought up the rear. |
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Delta Lloyd, skippered by Roberto
Bermudez (ESP) finish third overall in the Boston
in-port race.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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On the overall
leaderboard, Telefónica Blue creeps half a point closer
to Ericsson 4, but more importantly opens up some margin over
PUMA in the battle for second place.
The next in-port race day is in Galway on May 30. But to get there, the
fleet will race from Boston beginning next Saturday, May 16.
Race One Boston In-Port Race Finish Position
1. Telefónica Blue
2. Delta Lloyd
3. Ericsson 4
4. PUMA
5. Telefónica Black
6. Ericsson 3
7. Green Dragon
Race Two Boston In-Port Race Finish Position
1. Telefónica Blue
2. Ericsson 4
3. Ericsson 3
4. Telefónica Black
5. PUMA
6. Delta Lloyd
7. Green Dragon |
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Ericsson 4, skippered by Torben
Grael (BRA) finish second overall in the Boston
in-port race.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Boston
In-Port Race Results (Provisional)
1. Telefónica Blue: 4 points
2. Ericsson 4: 3.5 points
3. Delta Lloyd: 3 points
4. Ericsson 3: 2.5 points
5. Telefónica Black 2.0 points
6. PUMA: 1.5 points
7. Green Dragon 1.0 points
Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 81 points
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): 68.5 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read / USA): 65.5 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 55.5 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 45.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP): 31.0 points
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermúdez / ESP): 24.0 points
8. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points
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