The Green Dragon crew receive heroes' welcome to Galway. Image copyright Yongtao Jiang/Green Dragon Racing.
by Lucy Harwood
After one of the most exciting finishes of the race so far, Green Dragon came home to a heroes welcome in Galway, Ireland in the early hours of this morning (24/05/09) after securing a third place on Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race. It was an epic transatlantic leg with gusts of over 40 knots, breakages, knock downs and some of the best sailing that the fleet has experienced so far in this race. It was a battle to the bitter end as Telefonica Blue put pressure on the Dragon over the final 12 hours, pulling back the miles as they made their final approach into Galway Bay. In the end the Dragon held off the Spaniards beating them to the finish line by just three miles. It was a nervous night for both the team onboard and on shore as they watched the hourly position reports coming in.
Navigator Ian Moore wrote in the early hours of the morning, “Without prejudice, this is the most fun I have ever had on a Volvo 70. I mean we, are having a baby in 5 weeks time and I am much more nervous about the next 12 hours than becoming a father again. The guys have been phenomenal. We always feel we really have to work harder for every mile gained in this race and this leg has been no exception. To be in this position is through pushing harder, keeping the gear up longer, and brutal graft. You can be sure that we will continue pushing to the bitter end, whatever it may bring. It will make the first sip of black taste all the sweeter.”
Green Dragon is mobbed by floating spectators as she enters the port in Galway. Image copyright Yongtao Jiang/Green Dragon Racing.
For Green Dragon this is their first clean podium position and their strongest performance in the race so far. In Leg 1 they reached the podium in third position after achieving top points at the scoring gate and after Ericsson 3 were moved down to fourth due a penalty. For the team it marks a circumnavigation for the boat and project. The idea for a stopover port in Ireland was conceived some three years ago, a podium position in their home port made the moment even sweeter for the crew.
Thousands of supporters stayed up all night to see the fleet into Galway. Green Dragon was also welcomed in by a flotilla of boats out on the water.
Galway will now host a two week stopover, with activities running throughout the week.
The fleet will now have under week to turn the boats around ahead of the In Port race this coming weekend.
Leg Seven Finishing Order Galway
1. Ericsson 4: 8 points
2. PUMA: 7 points
3. Green Dragon: 6 points
4. Telefónica Blue: 5 points
5. Delta Lloyd: 4 points
6. Telefonica Black: 3 points
7. Ericsson 3: 2 points
Overall Leaderboard (Provisional)
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) 92.0 points
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) 77.5 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read/USA) 76.0 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) 58.0 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) 52.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) 33.0 points
7. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermúdez/ESP) 25.5 points
8. Team Russia 10.5 points (DNS)
Scoring Gate Order
1. Telefónica Blue
2. PUMA
3. Ericsson 4
4. Ericsson 3
5. Telefónica Black
6. Delta Lloyd
7. Green Dragon
Green Dragon Racing
Volvo Ocean Race
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