The City Sprint from Sandhamn, the finish line of leg 9, to the city of Stockholm. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
by Volvo Ocean Race media
Magnus Olsson's Ericsson 3 team sailed past their teammates on Ericsson 4 on Wednesday afternoon to claim top honours in the Stockholm 'City Sprint'.
The City Sprint from Sandhamn, the finish line of leg 9, to the city of Stockholm. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
The fun race format added a bit of spice to the delivery trip from the leg 9 finish line at Sandhamn to the race village in Stockholm. Although no points were at stake, the teams sailed with their regular crews on board for the 12 mile race.
The City Sprint from Sandhamn, the finish line of leg 9, to the city of Stockholm. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race.
Sunny afternoon weather provided the perfect excuse for thousands in Stockholm to play hooky from work to take in the action. The race course, which twisted and turned through the narrow waters between the islands off Stockholm, was filled with spectator boats. As was the shoreline around the city. It was all too much for Magnus Olsson.
Telefonica Black during the 'City Sprint' race to Stockholm. Image copyright Maria Muria/Equipo Telefonica.
"Did you see all the people everywhere?" he asked after the race. "There were thousands - millions - 10 million people watching!! I think you cannot have better propaganda for sailing. Lots of boats around us and everybody behaved very well.
"It was fantastic. I think we did a good show for what sailing in these boats is all about. I think everybody did a good race and it was very close. Even if it is a fun race, you want to win. That's how we work. I cannot help but to want to win all the time."
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden joins race winners Ericsson 4 for the City Sprint from Sandhamn, the finish line of leg 9, to the city of Stockholm. Image copyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.
In the event, the racing - even if it was just for fun - turned out to be very, very close. Ericsson 3 nipped Ericsson 4, with Telefonica Black just ahead of Delta Lloyd, PUMA and Green Dragon.
Volvo Ocean Race
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