Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race
Her Royal Highness Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden with skipper Torben Grael (BRA) and the crew of Ericsson 4 prior to the start of the Light In-port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
The fleet line up for the start of the Light In-port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
The Light In-port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Rio de Janeiro
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race
TELEFONICA BLUE RULES IN RIO
"What a result," screamed Wouter Verbraak. "Unbelievable."
The new era of Team Delta Lloyd was welcomed with a maiden podium finish, but Bouwe Bekking had the biggest grin at the end of the 'Light In-Port Race' in Rio de Janeiro today.
His Telefonica Blue team were seemingly out of the running when they passed the first turning mark in fourth place, 27 seconds off PUMA's well-earned lead.
But, having chosen the left-hand side of the track (looking upwind) on the downwind run, they profited from a wind shift and stormed to the front of the fleet.
They got to the bottom mark 20 seconds clear of Delta Lloyd - the only team to join them on the left having been sixth at the first mark - before extending to 50 seconds clear of PUMA on the beat upwind.
Ultimately they stretched their advantage to 54 seconds, celebrating their second win from four in-port races, but, more significantly, they gained half a point on PUMA in the overall standings and one-and-a-half on Ericsson 4.
"It feels pretty nice, to be honest," said Bekking, the team's offshore skipper and inshore tactician. "We sailed very well, made very few mistakes and I think the result shows that."
His team are now two points short of PUMA, while Ericsson 4, who finished fourth today, are a further nine-and-a-half points up.
"It's only a small gain for us, but it all counts," he said. "That was a great result for Delta Lloyd. They sailed a superb race and it's also helped us by finishing ahead of Ericsson 4." Read more...
The new era of Team Delta Lloyd was welcomed with a maiden podium finish, but Bouwe Bekking had the biggest grin at the end of the 'Light In-Port Race' in Rio de Janeiro today.
His Telefonica Blue team were seemingly out of the running when they passed the first turning mark in fourth place, 27 seconds off PUMA's well-earned lead.
But, having chosen the left-hand side of the track (looking upwind) on the downwind run, they profited from a wind shift and stormed to the front of the fleet.
They got to the bottom mark 20 seconds clear of Delta Lloyd - the only team to join them on the left having been sixth at the first mark - before extending to 50 seconds clear of PUMA on the beat upwind.
Ultimately they stretched their advantage to 54 seconds, celebrating their second win from four in-port races, but, more significantly, they gained half a point on PUMA in the overall standings and one-and-a-half on Ericsson 4.
"It feels pretty nice, to be honest," said Bekking, the team's offshore skipper and inshore tactician. "We sailed very well, made very few mistakes and I think the result shows that."
His team are now two points short of PUMA, while Ericsson 4, who finished fourth today, are a further nine-and-a-half points up.
"It's only a small gain for us, but it all counts," he said. "That was a great result for Delta Lloyd. They sailed a superb race and it's also helped us by finishing ahead of Ericsson 4." Read more...
