Volvo Ocean Race Gothenburg In-Port Race
by Volvo Ocean Race 27 Jun 2015 16:29 BST
27 June 2015
Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED) emerged victorious in the final act of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 today in the Inmarsat In-Port Race Gothenburg.
Behind him there was major drama in a race for connoisseurs of in-shore racing as MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP) outwitted Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) in the final few moments of an intriguing race.
By pushing the Turkish/American boat wide to allow Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) to slip in ahead of them (see panel above), MAPFRE ensured that they broke the tie for fourth place on countback overall, which they were sharing with Team Alvimedica after nine months' gruelling racing.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) earned the six points they needed to win the overall In-Port Race series by edging out last-placed Team Vestas Wind (Chris Nicholson/AUS), who have suffered in the shorter races after re-joining the event in Lisbon.
They finished just one point clear of Team Brunel in the standings.
On Monday, Ian Walker's crew had claimed the overall offshore trophy – the main event – with five points to spare, also from the Dutch crew.
Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) sailed a canny race today to claim second place in the Inmarsat In-Port Race Gothenburg, and with it the third place on the podium for the in-port series, behind Ian Walker's crew and Team Brunel.
Two royals had front row seats. His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain was on MAPFRE, and Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, joined Team SCA.
Both would have appreciated more than most, the intricacies of such a tactical tussle in near windless conditions.
International footballer Freddie Ljungberg (SWE) also joined Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing for the race.
www.volvooceanrace.com
Overall In-Port Results:
| Pos | Team | Gothenburg
In-Port | Total points |
|---|
| 1 | Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing | 6 | 31 |
| 2 | Team Brunel | 1 | 32 |
| 3 | Team SCA | 2 | 35 |
| 4 | MAPFRE | 3 | 37 |
| 5 | Team Alvimedica | 5 | 37 |
| 6 | Dongfeng Race Team | 4 | 40 |
| 7 | Team Vestas Wind | 7 | 73 |
Which royal ruled the waves?
Two European royals went head-to-head here in a battle to rule the waves for the final act of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 today.
His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain joined the crew of Spanish challengers, MAPFRE (Iker Martínez/ESP), in a seven-strong fleet for the Inmarsat In-Port Race Gothenburg, which also included Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR).
The Swedish-backed, all-women's crew welcomed the heiress to the Swedish throne, Victoria, Crown Princess, on their boat in a race that was hampered by a lack of wind on the course.
Neither of their regal passengers was allowed to help sail their boats, but both had the perfect spectators' positions onboard.
King Juan Carlos, 77, who 'retired' in 2014 to make way for his son King Felipe, said, before boarding, that he had not had the opportunity to sail on a racing yacht for four years.
He is well known for his love of sailing and a prominent supporter of the race, so would have fully appreciated Iker Martínez's expert strategy in claiming third place.
The Spanish boat, however, could not keep up with the Crown Princess and Team SCA who finished second behind winners, Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED).