Volvo Ocean Race: It’s a WRAP!
After nine months around the globe and more than 45.000 nautical miles, the most magnificent sailing race is now on the books of history!
This year’s finish was the closest one in the race history with three teams battling together for the Champion’s crown.
Before the final leg start, MAPFRE was leading the overall standings followed by Team Brunel and Dongfeng Racing Team. The winner would take the trophy home.
As expected the tension was a lot. Starting the race Dongfeng Racing Team was leading with MAPFRE a few miles back. After the first mark, the two “reds” were ahead of the fleet with Brunel falling fifth.
Going down to Aarhus the Spanish tried to cut off the loss but they couldn’t pass the Chinese boat. The night found Brunel fifth, 15 nautical miles behind the leaders but the distance when the sun rose was cut to the tremendous 1 and a half miles.
Coming down to The Hague the fleet had to make the crucial decision. With the exclusion zones separating the route Dongfend Racing chose the inshore path rather than MAPFRE and Brunel which chose the offshore one. As the leg continued Dongfeng lost their lead falling off even sixth and MAPFRE was found first. With the no return choice and the breeze by their side MAPFRE and Brunel made a difference of 50 nautical miles to Dongfeng!
But the Chinese were the last to talk. The inshore choice started paying off overnight as the leaders saw themselves being out of the wind. Dongfeng seized the chance and after a hard push managed to cut the loss.
When the exclusion zones came to an end the three boats were about to give their last battle. In the last 20 miles of the race, Dongfeng managed to keep themselves inshore with MAPFRE and Brunel tacking around offshore. The breezier weather led the Chinese to an epic finale being the first-ever Chinese team to win the Volvo Ocean Race. MAPFRE came second with Brunel taking third place.
