VOR: PUMA Aims to Seal Overall Volvo Ocean Race Result in Stockholm

PUMA during the City Sprint from Sandhamn, the finish line of leg 9, to the city of Stockholm. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.

by Kate Fairclough

The PUMA Ocean Racing team could tomorrow seal their final position in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 with one leg of the race to go. Competing in the final In Port race of the Volvo Ocean Race in Stockholm, Sweden, PUMA need to either beat or finish one position behind Spanish entry Telefonica Blue to confirm second place overall in the 37,000 mile round the world race. If the PUMA team are unable to close the competition in this In Port race, second and third place overall in the event will be decided by the result of the final leg from Stockholm to St Petersburg, Russia, which begins on Thursday June 25. PUMA are already assured a podium finish in this edition of the race and are currently seven points ahead of Telefonica Blue.

Having won the Galway In Port race, won leg nine and finished runner up in legs seven and eight, the PUMA Ocean Racing team are on a roll. PUMA has finished on the podium in all but one of the six In Port race days to date. Two races will be held in the Kanholmsfjärden just starting at 13:00 local (11:00 GMT/07:00 EDT). Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the fleet strut their stuff round the short 2.7 mile course just outside the Stockholm archipelago.

Sailing onboard il mostro for the In Port race will be PUMA’s Ocean Racing team of Ken Read, Skipper; Andrew Cape, Navigator; Justin Ferris, Trimmer; Craig Satterthwaite, Trimmer; Erle Williams, Main; Rob Greenhalgh, Tactician; Rob Salthouse, Pit; Casey Smith, Bowman; Jerry Kirby, Mid Bow; Shannon Falcone, Trimmer/Pit, Michi Mueller, Grinder and Andrew Taylor, Grinder. Rick Deppe, PUMA’s Media Specialist will also be onboard providing a live video stream straight from the boat, which can be viewed at www.volvooceanrace.tv in real time on race day.

Skipper Ken Read (USA) commented: “At this point in the race, we have two shots at controlling our destiny; tomorrow’s In Port race and the final leg to Russia. We’re aiming to do that tomorrow. However, the forecast looks like another pretty light wind, weird day, the type of weather in which Telefonica Blue excels.”

“We said from day one that our aim in this race was to finish on the podium. We cannot finish any worse than third, so whatever happens we have succeeded. No matter what, we will always be able to look back at this Volvo Ocean Race and know it has been a success. Do I, and the entire team want to finish this race in second place? Of course. It would be a huge bonus. We have a battle on our hands, this is not over until it’s over. We have continued to improve in light air conditions and we know we can do it. We are as ready as we’ll ever be.”

Following this weekend’s In Port race, the PUMA Ocean Racing team will compete in the friendly Pro-Am race on Monday, which takes place just Stockholm. They will then spend their last three days in Stockholm preparing for the start of leg ten, the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 on Thursday June 25.

PUMA Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race

RTI 2009: Line Honours Winners

JPMORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT ROUND THE ISLAND RACE
Britain’s favourite yacht race - Saturday 20th June 2009: Cowes, Isle of Wight


The crew of Oman Sail - Masirah celebrate winning the Extreme 40 class and making it first around the Isle of Wight at this year's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright onEdition.

The annual JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is the fourth largest sporting event in the UK. Competitors come from all over the UK as well as Europe and the USA to follow the 50 mile course round the Isle of Wight.


The fleet power away at this year's JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright onEdition.

by Flavia Bateson

Oman Sail Masirah has led the fleet back to Cowes in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race as well as taking line honours in the Extreme 40 class. It was a nail-biting finish, with a provisional 29 seconds separating the Omani boat from Russell Coutts helming Team Aqua. Pete Cumming, skipper of Oman Sail Masirah said:


Team Origin and Oman Sail - Masirah Extreme 40 at the start of this year's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright onEdition.


Russell Coutts (Team Aqua) and Ben Ainslie (JP Morgan Asset management/TEAMORIGIN). Image copyright onEdition.

“We were behind Team Aqua right up to Yarmouth but once round The Needles it was true champagne sailing. At St Catherine’s we out-gybed Team Aqua and extended our lead to 22 minutes at Bembridge. We thought we might be able to cruise back to Cowes but then the wind started to go light. Once in the Solent it was even lighter and it shut down completely. We could see Team Aqua and Team Origin (Ben Ainslie) trying to short tack out of the tide. We decided to stick in the middle. It was a case of holding your nerve and covering Team Aqua. It’s always good to have a close race but to go from a 22 minute lead down to a 29 second win, that’s really something.”


Extreme 40s just after their start in the early morning. Image copyright Paul Wyeth.


Russell Coutts onboard Team Aqua at this year's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright onEdition.

The winning team comprised Olympic 49er silver medallist Chris Draper on helm, Pete Cumming trimmer with Mark Bulkeley, Olympic Tornado sailor on mainsheet. David “Freddie” Carr and Khamis al Anbouri shared the bow.


Monohull line honours winner, ICAP Leopard. Image copyright Paul Wyeth.

Meanwhile, the leading monohulls were back in the eastern Solent. ICAP Leopard (Mike Slade) led from Liara (Tony Todd) followed by Sebastien Josse and Ellen MacArthur on the Open 60 BT. These boats were hugging the mainland shore whilst the TP52s Cutting Edge and John Merricks II favoured the Island side and might just have the advantage on handicap.


Ben Ainslie sails the Extreme 40 JP Morgan Asset Management/TEAMORIGIN past the Needles. Image copyright onEdition.

“Rebecca will you marry me?” was the message on the spinnaker of Pavlova (Sigma 38) spotted south of the Island. Who is Rebecca and will she say “Yes”? One couple returned from honeymoon early to take part in the race this year. Will the same apply to Pavlova next year?


Ellen MacArthur onboard BT IMOCA at this year's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright onEdition.


Nick Rogers, double Olympic silver medallist, helming John Merricks II, TP 52, Team Volvo for Life 1 boat at this year's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright onEdition.

JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2009

RTI 2009: STOP PRESS - Russell Coutts Finishes Second in the 2009 Round the Island Race in the UK

Extreme 40s line up before the start of this year's JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Image copyright Thierry Martinez/Sea&Co/onEdition

by SailRaceWin and Flavia Bateson

The first boat to cross the finishing line of the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2009 is the Extreme 40 Oman Sail Masirah. Twenty-nine seconds later, Team Aqua, helmed by Russell Coutts, finished.

After over six hours of racing there were just a few seconds between the finishing times of the boats. Oman Sail Masirah finished at 14.19.40 with Team Aqua at 14.20.09. Ben Ainslie in the third X40, JP Morgan Asset Management/TEAMORIGIN, finished at 14.25.22.

Liara (Performance Yachts 100) was leading the monohull fleet, but has been overtaken by ICAP Leopard on the way to the finishing line. Liara will, however, be ahead of Leopard on handicap.

Extreme 40 Results
Sail number/Boat name/Helm/Finished Time (BST)/Elapsed Time
1. X405 OMAN SAIL - MASIRAH Chris Draper 14:19:40 06:39:40
2. X401 TEAM AQUA Russell Coutts 14:20:09 06:40:09
3. X402 JPMAM TEAMORIGIN Ben Ainslie 14:25:22 06:45:22

JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2009

VOR: Ericsson Racing Team Prepare for Stockholm In-Port Race

Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 during the City Sprint race. Image copyright Oskat Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.

by Victoria Low

Ericsson Racing Team's two yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race are set for tomorrow's scheduled Stockholm In-Port Race.

Ericsson 4, skippered by Brazilian Torben Grael, has clinched overall honors in the 37,000-nautical mile race. The International crew placed third on Leg 9 into Stockholm to give it an unassailable lead. Ericsson 4 can clinch second overall for the In-Port Series with a solid showing tomorrow.


Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 arriving into Stockholm. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.

"We're all very competitive so we'll be trying 100 percent," said Ericsson 4 mainsail trimmer Brad Jackson. "It's never nice to get beat."

Teammate Ericsson 3 is placed fourth overall on the leaderboard and tomorrow will be battling for pride. Skipper Magnus Olsson was unequivocal in expressing his expectations for tomorrow.

"I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself and the crew," said the 60-year-old from Stockholm. "We have to do very well and want to do very well. I think we can do very well."


Ericsson 3 battles upwind, surrounded by boats, during the City Sprint race. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.

Tomorrow's racing is slated for Kanholmsfjärden on Stockholm's outer archipelago inside Sandhamn, where Leg 9 finished. The weather is expected to be light and shifty, a familiar pattern for the in-port races. Team meteorologist Chris Bedford is forecasting winds less than 10 knots for much of the day.

Ericsson Racing Team
Volvo Ocean Race

VOR: Green Dragon Announce Crew Changes for Stockholm In-Port Race

Green Dragon finishing leg 9. Image copyright Yongtao Jiang/Green Dragon Racing.

by Lucy Harwood

Green Dragon has announced their crew for the In Port race this Sunday 21st June in Stockholm, Sweden. The team will feature a new line up including an additional grinder in the form of Swedish America’s Cup sailor Henrik Norberg and French navigator Jean-Luc Nélias. Also onboard will be Green Dragon shore team regulars Johnny Mordaunt and James Carroll. Green Dragon navigator Ian Moore has returned to the UK to be with his wife ahead the impending birth of their second child. “This was my final leg aboard the Dragon as my wife is due to have a baby during Leg 10, so I will be hanging up my boots for a few months. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us over the last 9 months and to the Green Dragon team, it has been a pleasure sailing with you all and I wish them every success in the final In Port and last leg of the race”, said Ian Moore.

“Tomorrow is still a race and we still want to do well in it. Ian Moore has left to go home for family duties! So we have Jean Luc joining us onboard, who is a very experienced offshore and inshore navigator, and I’m looking forward to sailing with him. I think he will bring something fresh and different onboard and I’m hoping he can bring something new to the team for the last push to Russia,” said Skipper Ian Walker.

The latest forecast for Sunday suggests an easterly 10 knot breeze, there is potential for the breeze to build to the low teens as the conditions move to the south east. This will be the last In Port race, with some of the final points up for grabs. The course will be a windward-leeward, with a mid-course gate and triangular viewing area. The bottom mark will also be a gate giving the yachts a choice of either mark to round for the next lap. Each leg will be two nautical miles long and the race committee will be hoping to fit in two races, with the first start kicking off at 1300 local time (GMT + 2).


Green Dragon finishing leg 9. Image copyright Yongtao Jiang/Green Dragon Racing.

Henrik Norberg (SWE)
Henrik has been sailing professionally since he was 14 years old. He has made his name of the Swedish Match racing circuit and at Victory Challenge during the America’s Cup.

America’s Cup
2007 - United Internet Team Germany
2005 - Victory Challenge
2002 - Victory Challenge

Jean-Luc Nélias (FRA)
A rigorous, well-organised and hard-working sailor. Jean-Luc has a straightforward approach and likes to get involved in every domain of his trade, a trade he mostly learnt while crewing big multihulls with the likes of Paul Vatine, Jean Maurel or Serge Madec. He then skippered the Belgacom trimarans on the ORMA circuit, Jean-Luc is an expert in terms of navigation and weather routing, he was also behind Roland Jourdain’s winning strategy during the 2006 Route du Rhum.

Sailing CV
OPEN 60 (IMOCA)
2007– Barcelona World Race with Roland Jourdain on Veolia environnement(60’ Imoca)

ORMA TRIMARANS
2003 – 2nd Trabsat Jacques Vabre on Belgacom (60’ trimaran)
2002 – Winner of the Fécamp ORMA 60 Grand Prix on Belgacom(60’ trimaran)
2001 – 3rd ORMA Championship on Belgacom (60’ trimaran)
1989 – Winner of the transat Québec St Malo on Elf Aquitaine(60’ trimaran)
1997 – 2nd Transat Jacques Vabre on Chauss’Europ (60’ trimaran)

FIGARO
2006 – 4th in the 2-handed AG2R Figaro Transat with Roland Jourdain(Figaro)
2004 – 7th overall and 1st rookie in the Solitaire du Figaro(Figaro)
1999 – Winner of The Tour de Bretagne(Figaro)

“I am looking forward to sailing onboard Green Dragon for the final section of this epic race. The In Port should provide some close and fast racing and the final leg to Russia will have its fair share of navigational challenges in store. The Volvo Ocean Race holds a lot of interest for me so it will be great to step onboard and get a taster for what it is all about!” Green Dragon navigator Jean-Luc Nélias.

Green Dragon Crew List Stockholm In Port Race
IAN WALKER (GBR) - Skipper
JEAN-LUC NELIAS (FRA) – Navigator
NEAL McDONALD (GBR) - Helm
DAMIAN FOXALL (IRL) - Mainsheet/Straegy
SCOTT MILLAR (IRL) – Trav/Runners
PHIL HARMER (AUS) - Trim
ANDREW MCLEAN (NZL) - Pit
ANTHONY MERRINGTON (AUS) - Trim
JUSTIN SLATTERY (IRL) - Bow
FREDDIE SHANKS (GBR) – Bow
JAMES CARROLL (IRL) – Pit Assist
JOHNNY MORDAUNT (IRL) – Grinder
HENRIC NORBEG (SWE) - Grinder
GUO CHUAN (CHN) - Media Crew Member

Green Dragon Racing
Volvo Ocean Race

VOR: FINAL IN-PORT RACE DAY ON SUNDAY IN STOCKHOLM

The City Sprint from Sandhamn, the finish line of leg 9, to the city of Stockholm: PUMA and Telefonica Black at close quarters. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.

by Sophie Luther

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet will take to the waters off Stockholm on Sunday afternoon for the seventh and final in-port race day of the event, and like many of the others, the forecast is for light winds.

The teams are racing on a body of water called Kanholmsfjärden, about 25 miles from the race village in Stockholm. That will make for an early start for the sailors; the fleet will leave the dock in Stockholm by 07:30 local time to get to the race area in time. Racing is scheduled to start at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT), with two races on the cards.

While Ericsson 4 has mathematically locked up the overall race title, the battle for second place is still alive. PUMA has built a seven-point margin over Telefónica Blue, after the Blue boat ran aground and finished in last place in leg nine. But, with 12 points still available between now and the race finish in St. Petersburg, the battle is still alive.

Telefónica Blue has the best record of all the teams in the in-port race series, including wins in Rio de Janeiro and Boston, along with second place in Galway. But the winner in Ireland was PUMA. So, with the leaderboard the way it is, Telefónica Blue skipper Bouwe Bekking is expecting some special attention from PUMA.

"We will see. They will probably try and sail us to the back of the fleet, but they are so comfortable (with the seven-point lead)," he said. "We are just trying to win and see where we end up. If they want to make it a match race, it is still very tricky with other boats around."

The forecast is for light winds in the morning, with a sea breeze forecast to build near 10 knots by race time. Bekking says anything between five and 15 knots is possible on the day.

It will be a special race day for the two Ericsson boats as well, sailing in home waters. Ericsson 4 is sailing with the same 11 core crewmembers it has used for every leg and in-port race to this point. And, for Ericsson 3's Nordic crew, the opportunity to sail in front of a home crowd is sure to be inspiring.

Overall Leaderboard
Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA): 108 points
PUMA (Ken Read/USA): 95.0 points
Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED): 88.0 points
Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE): 71.5 points
Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR): 63.0 points
Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP): 47.0
Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP): 38.0 points
Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT): 10.5 points

Volvo Ocean Race

VOR: STOCKHOLM IN-PORT RACE CREW LIST

Telefonica Blue finishes leg 9 in Sandhamn in seventh place having hit a rock at the start of the leg in Marstrand and suspending racing to undertake repairs. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.

by Volvo Ocean Race media

Crew List Stockholm In-Port Race

DELTA LLOYD
1. Roberto Bermúdez De Castro/ESP – skipper
2. Wouter Verbraak/NED – navigator
3. Sander Pluijm/NED – MCM
4. Stuart Wilson/NZL – mainsheet
5. Nick Bice/AUS – pit
6. Andre Fonseca/BRA – tactician
7. Ben Costello/NZL – trimmer
8. Ed Van Lierde/NED – grinder
9. David Pella/ESP – pitman
10. Gerd-Jan Poortman/NED – bowman
11. Morgan White/AUS – mid bow
12. Marcelo Ferreira/BRA – trimmer
13. Dave Miller/NZL - grinder

ERICSSON 4
1. Torben Grael/BRA - skipper
2. Jules Salter/GBR - navigator
3. Guy Salter/GBR - MCM
4. Brad Jackson/NZL – mainsheet
5. Stu Bannatyne/NZL – tactician
6. Dave Endean/NZL - pitman
7. Horacio Carabelli/BRA - trimmer
8. Tony Mutter/NZL - trimmer
9. Joao Signorini/BRA - trimmer
10. Ryan Godfrey/AUS - bowman
11. Phil Jameson/NZL – bowman
12. Brian McInnes/CAN – grinder
13. Joe Spooner/NZL - grinder

ERICSSON 3
1. Magnus Olsson/SWE – skipper
2. Aksel Magdahl/NOR - navigator
3. Gustav Morin/SWE MCM
4. Arve Roaas/NOR – mainsheet
5. Richard Mason/NZL - mainsheet
6. Thomas Johanson/FIN - helm
7. Eivind Melleby/NOR - trimmer
8. Martin Strömberg/SWE – trimmer
9. Jens Dolmer/DEN - pitman
10. Anders Dahlsjö/SWE - mastman
11. Martin Krite/SWE - bowman
12. Jann Neergaard/DEN – grinder
13. Rasmus Koster/DEN - tactics

GREEN DRAGON
1. Ian Walker/GBR – skipper/tactician
2. Neal McDonald/GBR – mainsheet
3. Guo Chuan/CHN - MCM
4. Damian Foxall/IRL – strategy
5. Jean-Luc Nelias/FRA - navigator
6. Anthony Merrington/AUS – trimmer
7. Phil Harmer/AUS – trimmer
8. Andrew Mclean/NZL – pitman
9. James Carroll/IRL – pit assistant
10. Justin Slattery/IRL – bow
11. Freddy Shanks/GBR – mid bow
12. Henrik Norberg/SWE
13. Johnny Mordaunt/IRL – grinder

PUMA OCEAN RACING
1. Ken Read/USA - skipper
2. Andrew Cape/AUS - navigator
3. Rick Deppe/GBR MCM
4. Craig Satterthwaite/NZL – trimmer
5. Robert Greenhalgh/GBR – tactician
6. Rob Salthouse/NZL – pit
7. Justin Ferris/NZL – trimmer
8. Shannon Falcone/ANT – trimmer/pit
9. Casey Smith/AUS – bowman
10. Erle Williams/NZL – mainsheet trimmer
11. Jerry Kirby/USA – mid bow
12. Andrew Taylor/NZL - grinder
13. Michael O’Mullahan/IRE - grinder

TELEFÓNICA BLUE
1. Iker Martinez/ESP - skipper
2. Bouwe Bekking/NED – tactician
3. Simon Fisher/GBR- navigator
4. Gabriele Olivo/ITA - MCM
5. Jonathan Swain/RSA – trim
6. Jordi Calafat /ESP – mainsheet
7. Xabier Fernandez/ESP - trimmer
8. Pablo Arrarte/ESP Spanish - trimmer
9. Laurent Pages/FRA – trimmer
10. Daryl Wislang/NZL - bowman
11. Pepe Ribes/ESP – bowman
12. Federico Giovanelli/ITA – grinder
13. Carlo Castellano/ITA – grinder

TELEFÓNICA BLACK
1. Fernando Echávarri/ESP – skipper
2. Luis Doreste/ESP – Tactician
3. Roger Nilson – MCM
4. Antonio (Ñeti) Cuervas-Mons/ESP – trimmer
5. Gonzalo Araujo/ESP – watch captain
6. Jaime Arbones/ESP – watch captain
7. Pablo Iglesias/ESP – trimmer
8. Javier de la Plaza/ESP – trimmer
9. David Vera/ESP - bow
10. Michael Pammenter/RSA - bow
11. Maciel Cicchetti/ARG – trimmer
12. Iñigo Losada/ESP – grinder
13. Pedro Campos/ESP – helmsman

Volvo Ocean Race