Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 in the Boston In-Port race. Image copyright Oskar Khilborg/Ericsson Racing Team.
by Victoria Low
Ericsson Racing Team consolidated its first and fourth overall positions Saturday on the Volvo Ocean Race leaderboard.
Ericsson 4, skippered by Torben Grael of Brazil, finished second in the Boston In-Port Race with 5 points on third- and second-place finishes. Ericsson 4 added 3.5 points to its scoreline and retains the overall lead with 81 points.
"Second is a very good result for us," said Grael, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. "We didn't have a very good start in the second race; we were over the line and had to restart. So to have a podium finish is important."
Teammate Ericsson 3, skippered by Sweden's Magnus Olsson, placed fourth with 9 points after finishing sixth and third. Ericsson 3 earned 2.5 points and remains in fourth place with 55.5 points. It also gained 1 point on third place.
A delighted Magnus Olsson after the In-Port races. Image copyright Oskar Khilborg/Ericsson Racing Team.
"Fourth place is good for us," said Olsson, competing in his sixth race around the world. "We got our spirit back in the second race. We had no spirit in the first race. We said keep it simple because that's good for us, but we didn't keep it simple. It was a big improvement that second race. If we can keep that level, we'll be on the podium."
Ericsson 3's fourth place is its best showing in the five In-Port races, and came on the strength of the third place in the second race which helped them win a three-way tie for fourth.
It didn't come easily, however. Ericsson 3 was fouled in the first race when Green Dragon tried to jibe set but instead nearly hit Ericsson 3. In the second race the Nordic crew had to restart after being an early starter.
Those are the types of mistakes that have dogged the Nordic crew previously, but today they rebounded with a solid finish.
"We've been working hard for it," said helmsman Thomas Johanson. "Before the other in-port races we didn't have much training. Here we did a bit more. We sailed well in the second race. Even though we were over early, we kept it simple and had good downwind legs. We're not there yet, but we improved. And it was important to gain that point on third place."
Two races were held on Broad Sound, the body of water northeast of Deer Island and Logan International Airport. The light and shifty conditions have come to typify the In-Port races of this circumnavigation event. Only once in five events has it been considered windy by the competitors. Fog added a level of complication not seen before.
Phil Jamieson on the bow of Ericsson 4. Image copyright Oskar Khilborg/Ericsson Racing Team.
Ericsson 4 was also an early starter in the second race. The crew jibed around to return to the line and then sailed off to the right side of the course. Turns out it was the correct way to go, even if the crew was thinking the opposite side before the start.
"It was hard to read what was going on," said Stu Bannatyne, Ericsson 4 tactician. "What was happening on the water didn't necessarily relate to what was going on at the top of the mast. And with the fog you could barely make out the mid-course gate marks from the start, let alone the top marks. You do what you can with it."
VOLVO OCEAN RACE LEG 6 LEADERBOARD
(After Boston In-Port Race)
1. Ericsson 4, 81 points
2. Telefónica Blue, 68.5 points
3. Puma, 65.5 points
4. Ericsson 3, 55.5 points
5. Green Dragon, 45 points
6. Telefónica Black, 31 points
7. Delta Lloyd, 24 points
Ericsson Racing Team
Volvo Ocean Race
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