Volvo Ocean Race, the. SCAtenate win the eighth leg

Good eighth. After a series of (let’s not hide it) disappointing performances, Team SCA finally succeeded in proving its worth by winning leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Lisbon to Lorient, taking 3 days, 13 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds. (photo by Ricardo Pinto and Mark Bow)

THE “BRAIN FACTOR”
It has been 25 years since a women’s crew triumphed in a round-the-world stage (from Maiden’s victory, skippered by Britain’s Tracy Edwards at Whitbread in 1989/90). “We are happy because we were finally able to sail the way we wanted to,” said skipper Sam Davies, “we didn’t panic to defend the first position, we managed not to break anything on board and to keep the crew in shape.” In a shorter stage (albeit a very intense one, given the crossing of the Bay of Biscay in very strong winds and very strong sea conditions), the physical factor (undoubtedly a plus point for the men’s teams) is felt less and the “brains” come out.

A VICTORY THAT SPEAKS ITALIAN
Another good sea story is the second-place finish by Team Vestas, which returned after an absence of nearly five months following a beaching in Mauritius during the second leg of the Volvo. “Before the departure from Lisbon I was hoping for a fourth, maybe a fifth place, but a second is outstanding, we are so happy!” said skipper Chris Nicholson. But it is also an all-Italian victory, as the boat was rebuilt in record time by the Persico Marine shipyard in Nembro (by the way, we were there yesterday, read here).

ABU DHABI CLOSES GAMES
With a third-place finish in the stage, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has effectively (barring accidents) sealed the deal for the 12th edition of the round-the-world race. British skipper Ian Walker’s team was fighting not only for a stage finish but for victory in the overall standings. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in fact needed to finish ahead of its more immediate pursuers Team Brunel led by Dutch veteran Bouwe Bekking and Dongfeng Race Team with Charles Caudrelier with a boat in between, and the two pursuers finished fifth and seventh respectively.

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FRANK/CHINESE DISAPPOINTMENT
Team Brunel retains its second place in the overall, while Dongfeng Race Team, with a disappointing last in stage 8 drops to third place. Fourth are the Spaniards of MAPFRE led by skipper Xabi Fernández, who with this result move up to fourth in the scoreboard, behind the Turkish/Americans of Team Alvimedica, now sixth. The ninth stage will therefore be decisive in defining the remaining leading positions.