Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race
Ericsson 4 tops the fleet in Singapore
Ericsson 4 won the UBS Challenge for the In-Port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race in Singapore today after finishing second in race one and winning race two. The result earned the team the four maximum points on offer which extends their total to 39 points.
The second in the series of seven in-port races started in a gusty 10 – 15 knot breeze. Both sides of the race course were lined with spectator boats for the first ever southeast Asia in-port race.
Two races were held and the results are combined to give an overall winner for the day. PUMA dominated the first race in an impressive display of solid sailing and race tactics, leading the fleet around all of the turning marks, after seeing off an early challenge from Ericsson 3 who sailed a strong first leg before suffering on a port tack approach to the top mark.
In the event, Ericsson 4 was able to secure second place ahead of Telefónica Blue and Green Dragon who fought throughout the short windward/leeward course for third place, the finishing order only being decided on the final run when Telefónica Blue edged ahead.
Ericsson 3, skippered by Magnus Olsson, who has stepped up to take charge of the boat while regular skipper Anders Lewander recovers from knee surgery, finished fifth while Telefónica Black was OCS (on course side) at the start gun and had to return to start properly, but made a good recovery to finish in sixth place.
Delta Lloyd finished in seventh after a promising start, but sail-handling difficulties meant they were never really in contention.
In race two, the first four finishers in the first race opted for the right hand side of the course, while the bottom three headed for the shore immediately after the start. The offshore side of the track clearly had more pressure as Ericsson 4 and Telefónica Blue led the fleet to the windward mark. Green Dragon came in to the mark on port and tacked just inside PUMA to round fourth, with Telefónica Black approaching quickly from the left hand side of the course.
As the fleet split again, PUMA opted for the right hand side with good pressure, while Ericsson 4 and Green Dragon went left. The last run was anything but a procession with lead changes taking place along the full length of the leg in the gusty, shifty conditions.
PUMA came smoking through the fleet, to rejoin the top four and Telefónica Blue attacked from the right hand side of the course. But, at the conclusion, Ericsson 4 fought to hold off Telefónica Black, and finished the race in pole position with Telefónica Black surging into second just moments ahead of stablemate Telefónica Blue in a photo finish. PUMA finished ahead of Green Dragon in the fight for fourth, while Ericsson 3 was sixth, and Delta Lloyd, still struggling due to lack of practise on the water due to work being carried out on her keel, was seventh.
Overall, the day belonged to Ericsson 4 who won the day, with a second in race one and a win in race two, extending her lead overall and bringing her tally to 39 points. PUMA took 3.5 points for a win in race one and a fourth place in race two, for a total of 31 points. Third was Telefónica Blue, who scored three points for two third places (33.5 total).
Telefónica Black was fourth and earned 2.5 points for a sixth and a second (22 points total). Green Dragon was fifth and added two points for a fourth and a fifth (22.5 points total). Ericsson 3 claimed 1.5 points for a fifth and a sixth (24 points total), and, finally, Delta Lloyd scored one point for two seventh places (10 points total).
Useful Links Download In Port Race Course Information (PDF 161kb) Download In Port Race Crew List (PDF 80kb) What is In Port racing? Singapore events calendar www.volvooceanracesingapore.com
In Port Race Video
Watch the full race replay and edited highlights of the Singapore In Port Race Race 1 Full Replay Race 2 Full Replay Race 1 Edited Highlights Race 2 Edited Highlights