VolvoOceanRace Leg 2 finishes in ABU DHABI

Team Brunel has taken the Victory in VolvoOceanRace Leg 2 from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi, ahead of Dongfeng and AbuDhbai teams. They were the first to leave the Start circuit in Cape Town, and the first to finish but not in the lead for the whole Leg. However Brunel were always amongst the leaders all the race, but it was far from easy to win.

Team Brunel takes Victory in AbuDhabi

This VOR version is the first to completely sail this Leg2, as last time the boats sailed to the secret harbour on the Maldives and got shipped to AbuDhabi. So it is as many said unknown territory concerning the best sailing strategy. 

First there was the Cape of Good Hope to pass and area with changing and sometimes calm winds. This time a depression gave them good winds to speed to the East, keeping clear from the Ice-gate. The Africa exclusion zone kept the boats East of Madagascar and Mauritius but on track with a cyclone. Strong winds beat the leaders but it was all not to serious.

That was the grounding of the Vestas Wind Boat. Luckily the crew is all safe and un-hurt , but the Boat is lost. They hit an shallow/reef and got stuck some 200Nm north of Mauritus. I learned that it was human error by not zooming in sufficiently on the electronic cards, that apparently did show these shallows. Now the team is trying to construct a new VO65, but that will not be in time to start Leg 3.

The Results in AbuDhabi
1. Team Brunel                     23d 16h 25m 20s
2. Dongfeng Race Team       23d 16h 41m 40s
3. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing  23d 19h 8m 15s
4. MAPFRE                            24d 11h 18m 18s
5. Team Alvimedica              24d 21h 29m 23s
6. Team SCA                         25d 06h 23m 34s
Team Vestas Wind - did not finish 

The Overall classification has now 3 teams leading all with equal 4 points. 

The Start for Leg 3 from AbuDhabi to Sanya, China, will be on Saturday 3rd January 2015. The In-Port race in AbuDhabi will be on the Friday before, on 2nd January 2015. 

Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.