Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ador) – the UAE’s entry in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) – have established a seven-point advantage at the top of the overall standings after winning the marquee fifth leg from New Zealand to Brazil.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)-backed crew, skippered by double Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker, crossed the finish line in Itajaí on Sunday after more than 18 days of non-stop ocean racing.
During the 6,776-nautical-mile leg from Auckland, Abu Dhabi set a 24-hour distance record for this edition of the race. Making the most of a near-perfect wind and wave combination on the approach to Cape Horn, they clocked up a blistering 550.82 nautical miles over a 24-hour period.
“This is a hugely satisfying result,” an exhausted but elated Walker told the 10,000 or so spectators on the pontoon in Itajaí. “You always have to be wary of the Southern Ocean and this time was no different. We saw some of the most ferocious conditions any of us has seen – but we stayed strong and made it through. Setting a IWC speed challenge record was a massive bonus.”
Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi, was also delighted with the result. “This leg of the Volvo Ocean Race has been incredibly exciting to follow. From the very start, it has been a tremendous contest through some of the harshest conditions our planet has to offer and Azzam has triumphed. I am incredibly proud of the team,” he said.
Ador started the leg as overall race leaders tied on points with the Chinese entry Dongfeng Race Team.
However, disaster struck for Dongfeng on day 12 when they snapped off the top section on their yacht’s mast, forcing them to divert to the Argentinian port of Ushuaia, before ultimately retiring from the leg.
“Our hearts go out to the Dongfeng crew,” Walker said. “It’s hard to know where the red line is for these boats until you cross it – and by then it’s too late. We wish them the very best of luck in getting back in the race as soon as possible.”
Ador’s victory – their second in this year’s race – maintains the team’s unbroken run of offshore podium positions and establishes a seven-point cushion at the top of the overall leaderboard.
Walker said: “The racing has the same intensity as an inshore race with boat on boat tactics rather than large scale navigational decisions deciding the final outcome.”
After a day of nervously covering the chasing trio as the winds progressively faded on the approach to the Brazilian coast, the Ador crew finally hooked into solid southerly winds for the final 10 miles and crossed the line a little over six-miles ahead.
After such a punishing leg, the Ador crew will get some well-earned downtime with their families as their shore crew get to work on restoring Azzam to peak condition.
The Itajaí In-Port Race is scheduled for April 18, with the start of Leg 6 to Newport, USA on April 19.
