[Zeilen] Volvo Ocean Race (#13) Leg 5 Baltimore

quote:

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 21:00:00 UTC

Over the past 24 hours the inevitable advance of ABN AMRO ONE has continued. The wind built from eight knots and less to ten and then 12, then a touch more. From giving the advantage to the Farr boats, particularly movistar, the wind slowly gave its allegiance to ABN AMRO ONE. Mike Sanderson’s machine gathered its skirts and started its run.

At the last poll at 1600GMT, there was nine miles between the boats and at the rate they were both going it had to be neck and neck at the waypoint.

One hour before the boats were due at the waypoint, there was just two miles between them and 15 miles to go. Movistar was doing 12 knots and AVBN AMRO ONE 15. Still the maths has the boats neck and neck.

At 2145GMT the situation is movistar still in the lead, one mile in front of ABN AMRO ONE. There are five miles to go to the waypoint. movistar is doing 11 knots, ABN AMRO ONE 13. Our calculations still have us believing that the two boats will arrive at the same time – or with a marginal advantage to movistar.

Melbourne all over again.

Then, at 2052GMT or thereabouts, movistar crossed the waypoint with the slightest of leads to take the 3.5 points for first to the scoring gate. A fantastic race to Fernando de Noronha and it’s Bouwe Bekking and his boy’s day, a marvellous result for the Spanish boat.

All of Spain goes wild and doubtless King Juan Carlos is on the sat phone to the boat to congratulate them.

ABN AMRO ONE follows movistar minutes later to take the points for second and now the pressure is eased for the moment for Mike Sanderson and his team. Just the next 4,000 miles to go.

Behind the leading two a battle just as intense is developing. Ericsson has been chipping away at Pirates over the past two scheds and is now just two miles behind. Both boats are sailing at 12 knots and they have 26 to go. Another battle royal is in progress for the 2.5 and the two points.