Abu Dhabi clinch nerve-jarring win in leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing win leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Ian Roman / Volvo Ocean Race

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing win leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race © Ian Roman / Volvo Ocean Race

Abu Dhabi shrugged off seven months of frustration to seal their first offshore victory in a nerve-jarring transatlantic leg from Miami to Lisbon, while Groupama’s second place finish -- five and a half minutes behind after more than 3,500 nautical miles racing -- was enough to take them top of the leaderboard in place of long-term leaders Telefonica.

Groupama spent days snapping at the heels of the Emirati team and were within a mile of their rivals as they headed up the River Tagus towards the finish line.

Ian Walker’s team defended resolutely, however, matching their rivals gybe for gybe to ensure their first podium finish on an offshore leg would also be their first win, and spark wild celebrations lit up by a booming firework display.

Groupama move top

For Groupama, the consolation prize came soon enough, as Telefónica’s finish in fourth place -- behind PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG in the third podium slot and just ahead of CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand -- meant the French team climb above them.

Abu Dhabi, who finished at 21:23:54 UTC, received 30 points for victory, with Groupama netting 25 after their finish at 21:29:21. PUMA took 20 points, Telefonica 15 and CAMPER 10.

Team Sanya finished sixth to pick up five points.

Groupama, skippered by Franck Cammas, now lead Telefónica by three points overall, with the Spanish team dropping off the lead for the first time since their victory on Leg 1 from Alicante to Cape Town back in November.

Four teams remain separated by just 21 points, making it the closest contest in the 39-year history of the Volvo Ocean Race with just two offshore legs and three in-port races still to come.

The arrival in Lisbon represented a homecoming for Abu Dhabi, who had a training base in nearby Cascais during the build-up to the race.

"It's incredible -- what a welcome," said Walker, before he and Emirati crew member Adil Khalid were chucked into the water by their team mates.

"Do you think you can make the last 10 miles of a race any harder than that?

"It’s one of the most amazing experiences of my sailing career, that’s for sure. Mentally, certainly I’m exhausted. It's just such a relief."

Abu Dhabi also visited Lisbon in much less happy circumstances during Leg 1, after a dismasting within the first few hours ultimately forced them to ship the boat from Lisbon to Cape Town.

While they have notched up three victories in in-port races, and have a strong chance of winning the series, this is the first time they have really been able to shine in an offshore leg.

First Groupama and then Telefónica enjoyed the lead for long spells on a leg that started out looking like a fast, direct sprint across the Atlantic before the effects of Tropical Storm Alberto altered things drastically.

One by one, the boats were forced to head ever further north towards the ice exclusion zone.

Abu Dhabi moved into the lead on Day 6 and after briefly surrendering it to CAMPER they were back ahead the following day.

Two days later they were clear, though skipper Ian Walker warned repeatedly that a light-air zone inside the final 300 nautical miles would see the fleet compress.

That’s exactly how it turned out, with Abu Dhabi forced to scrap every step of the way to an emotional victory at the team’s second home.

"It came down to the wire, and we certainly had our ups and downs, but we are very happy," said Groupama skipper Franck Cammas. "it was a good operation for us!"

Third place for PUMA kept them in contention for the overall lead, 12 points behind new leaders Groupama.

"This is a great result," said the team's American skipper Ken Read. "There’s still a lot of points on the board and to be on the podium is a big deal for us."

The battle between Telefónica and CAMPER for fourth and fifth came down to a slow-motion tussle over an excruciating final few miles, with no breeze and the current against them.

Telefónica eventually finished with an advantage of 102 seconds and less than a boat length for a five-point boost that could yet prove crucial.

The action resumes with the In-Port Race on June 9, followed by the start of Leg 8 to Lorient the following day.

Leg 7 results:

1. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing – 11d, 04h, 23m, 54s
2. Groupama sailing team – 11d, 04h, 29m, 21s
3. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG – 11d, 06h, 26m, 52s
4. Team Telefónica – 11d, 08h, 28m, 27s
5. CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand – 11d, 08h, 30m, 09s
6. Team Sanya – 11d, 08h, 44m, 25s

Leaderboard after Leg 7:

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Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing reigns supreme to become Atlantic kings (from Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing)

Gulf National Adil Khalid completes debut Atlantic crossing in-style as leg goes down to wire

Lisbon, Portugal. 1st June 2012: In the dark of night in Lisbon, Portugal, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, the Abu Dhabi-backed outfit in the Volvo Ocean Race, was the shining star as it became the first Arabian team to win a leg in the gruelling round-the-world sailing odyssey, after a highly tense Leg 7 battle that went right down to the wire.

Widely regarded as one of the Everest of Sailing’s ‘blue ribbon’ legs, this year’s 3,500 nautical miles Trans-Atlantic crossing from the USA to Western Europe has been one of the most thrilling in the 39-year race history. The six-strong fleet exchanged blows from the very offset to the closing stages.

It was the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)-backed outfit, skippered by double Olympic medal winning Briton, Ian Walker, that snatched the history-making win, after defending resolutely to hold off a late surge by French outfit, Groupama, to finish five-and-a-half minutes ahead after more than 11 punishing days at sea.

Speaking dockside, a visibly emotional Walker – who has been a mentor to the team’s young Emirati star, Adil Khalid, the first Gulf national to take part in the race – said the win was a huge relief.

“This is a big outpouring of emotion. It's been a tough, tough leg. We had such high hopes coming into this race but we've been struggling for pace. We have such skilled people involved with us, both on the shore and in the sailing team, but we weren't getting results leg in leg out. It's brutal but now we've won a leg it's all worthwhile,” said the 42-year-old father-of-two from Southampton, UK.

“For all the people who follow the team in Abu Dhabi, and around the world, this victory is for you. Our yacht is called Azzam, which means determination in Arabic, and we hope we have proven that the whole team has as much determination as anyone out there.

“This is my second Volvo Ocean Race; that means I’ve sailed about 70,000 miles around the world and I’ve never won a leg. To clock up that many miles around the world is a lot of effort. To win a leg was a personal and the whole team’s goals for this race, and it feels great.”

Walker was also full of praise for 23-year-old Khalid, who notched up the race’s first Atlantic crossing for a Gulf national in style.

“Let me tell you that this leg, more than any leg, Adil came of age. Adil sailed the boat as well as anyone we could have put on the boat. He’s now won the transatlantic, he’s sailed across the Pacific, he’s sailed most of the way around the world, and that’s a tremendous achievement,” added Walker.

A beaming Khalid, the young Olympian who beat off more than 120 hopefuls for a spot on the team, dedicated the win to the people of Abu Dhabi.

“It’s a great day for Abu Dhabi, and we hope to be able to do this on the remaining legs also and make Abu Dhabi proud of us. It’s such a great feeling, everyone dreams of representing their country, it’s so great to be waving the flag and being here right now. This is for all our fans back home and around the world,” said the wide-grinned youngster.

Having left Miami, USA two weeks ago, after soaring to victory in the stadium-style In-Port Race, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, sailing its Azzam (determination) race yacht, lived up to its namesake from the offset.

Despite the fleet sailing straight into the Gulf Stream and a tropical depression, before being forced to head north to dodge a high pressure system blocking the direct path towards Lisbon, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing held its nerve with navigator Jules Salter picking the perfect path through shifting breezes and swirling Atlantic currents to a low pressure system that powered the team to within a couple of hundred miles of the finish.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, which led from day six of the leg, didn’t have it all its own way. On more than one occasion, the chasing pack pushed Abu Dhabi to the limits, sometimes closing its lead down to less than a mile. In the final 24 hour stint, it looked like Groupama might roll the team to spoil the party, but some deft tactical manoeuvres and gritted resolve from Abu Dhabi ensured the outfit weaved through the unpredictable waters of the River Tagus up to the Lisbon finish in first, sparking wild celebrations that were further boosted by a booming firework display.

Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi, which was also behind the United Arab Emirates’ capital hosting the race earlier in the year, said the win was another important chapter in the emirate’s long sailing history.

“The determination shown by the team is incredible and epitomises everything we have hoped to achieve from day one. Abu Dhabi has a deep-rooted and very proud sailing heritage that stretches back many centuries when Emiratis, sailing traditional dhows, would ply the ocean waves, forging routes that are still used today. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has continued that tradition with this win, and we hope that it will inspire future generations of young sailors to take up the sport and keep our relevance on the global stage, both competitively and as a world-class winter watersports destination, alive,” said Al Sheikh.

On the shore, jubilation was running high. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Emirati shore crew member, Butti Al Muhairi, said the win was a great boost for the team.

“We have been working round the clock for the last 18 months, so this win is the culmination of all that hard work and dedication. It is a great moment for Abu Dhabi and everyone involved in the project. I am very proud to be an Emirati today and hope we can add a few more wins before the Volvo Ocean Race finishes next month,” said Al Muhairi, who trained with his countryman Khalid, all around the world before the race started.

After a much needed rest, the action resumes with the Lisbon In-Port Race on June 9, followed by the start of Leg 8 to Lorient, France the following day. The entire 39,000 nautical mile race concludes in early July in Galway, Ireland.

"A very good job" (from Groupama Sailing Team)

By finishing second, a little over five minutes behind Abu Dhabi, Franck Cammas and his men sailed a superb seventh leg, which has enabled them to move up into the lead of the overall standing. Extremely intense throughout the 3,590-mile course between Miami and Lisbon, this leg confirms the determination of the crew of Groupama 4 who, in last place just two and a half days ago, finished just astern of the winning Emirati boat...

It's the finest leg of the Volvo Ocean Race so far, even though the French didn't secure a win! Indeed, Franck Cammas and his men have had everything thrown at them during this leg: leading as they exited a tropical storm shortly after the start, they saw the entire fleet close on them, then overtake them as they failed to hook onto a front which was escaping to Europe. After a climb against the wind at the back of the fleet, Groupama 4 latched onto some strong south-westerly wind offshore of Newfoundland and then began a fantastic comeback at an average of over 22 knots.

Confirming in Lorient

In conditions the French boat is particularly fond of, the crew put all its energy into this incredible charge of over 1,000 miles across the Atlantic. The upshot of this was that Groupama 4 managed to move back into second position, but the most difficult part of their journey still lay ahead them as the fleet was tightly bunched less than 400 miles from the finish. A zone of calms still needed to be traversed and Franck Cammas and his men managed to find a way out to the South, whilst keeping their rivals at a respectable distance. Solely Abu Dhabi managed to extract itself from this ridge of high pressure with them, albeit with a lead of just fifteen miles as the wind kicked round to the North. What ensued was a battle royal at the entrance to the Tagus River, since the two boats were sailing within sight of each other as night fell over Portugal.

In a breeze, which was gradually dying the closer they got to the finish line, the two crews had a nerve-jangling climax to their race, less than 500 metres from one another. Ultimately the Emirati boat secured the win by just 5 minutes 27 seconds after 11 days 4 hours and 29 minutes of racing! Though the result comes as a great satisfaction for all the Groupama team, most important to them is their success in the overall standing, since the French have now taken control: the Spanish finished fourth behind the Americans, with a lead of just 1 minute 42 seconds over the New Zealanders...

Whilst there are still two offshore legs remaining (Lisbon-Lorient and Lorient-Galway), Franck Cammas and his men, newcomers to the round the world race, are well placed to set their sights on outright victory in Galway. After an eight-day stopover in Lisbon, four boats are still in with a chance of the big prize in this high-tension climax to the event. However, Groupama 4 has become a very serious contender, with one leg victory in Auckland, two second places in Sanya and Lisbon, and one victory in the Itajai In-Port race...

Quotes from the boat

"We may have done a very good job: it depends on where Telefonica finishes after this second place in Lisbon, though we still regret not having secured a win. We weren't far behind Abu Dhabi and there was nothing in it at the end! We sailed a fine leg: we had our highs and lows and we finished on a positive note. We had some very varied weather conditions and the leaders put themselves in some difficult situations: it was at our expense at the start of the race and in our favour at the end of the leg. The standing is deserved because Abu Dhabi sailed a very fine leg: they weren't used to being in such a favourable position and it's very good for them. We fought our corner well with some fine options. There are two offshore legs remaining now and there's likely to be a lot of jockeying for the top spots, but to be the leader in Lisbon is already a very positive thing! We're feeling increasingly at ease on the water, but it's a tough battle between the four pretenders for outright victory. Lorient is an opportunity to assert ourselves," commented Franck Cammas on his arrival in Portugal.

"On arriving in the Tagus River, we had nothing to lose, just a few additional points to win. It was really good to round off a leg like that: we were surprised to see Abu Dhabi close-up just hours before the finish. It fired up the match again and we were flat out over the last few miles. Ian Walker and his crew sailed a very fine race and good for them, after all the troubles they've suffered prior to this. Our next mission is to make it into Lorient still at the top of the overall leaderboard: that would be even sweeter! Added to that, we've only won a single leg for now and we're keen to bag some more... Indeed victory has a taste all of its own: it's a magical moment!" confirmed Charles Caudrelier on the pontoons of Lisbon.

"We must remain unfazed because we know that the Volvo Ocean Race is capable of putting us in a perilous or even desperate position, but by playing it tight, making small gains, there are opportunities which are created to win the race on the last day of the leg! Here, we went from last to second place and that's excellent news for the whole crew... Even though we were very frightened at one stage, we remain aggressive in the overall standing. We had the intelligence not to go out on a limb when we were in a bad situation and opportunity came knocking: three days of sailing with the wind on the beam and Groupama 4 is a fabulous boat on this point of sail!" explained the navigator on Groupama 4, Jean-Luc Nélias.

PUMA third to Lisbon (from PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG)

The PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG crew returned to the podium with a third-place finish into Lisbon, Portugal, early Friday morning to complete Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. The PUMA crew made the more than 3,500 nautical mile transatlantic crossing from Miami, Florida, to Lisbon in 11 days, 6 hours, 26 minutes and 51 seconds. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing captured their first leg win, crossing the line into Lisbon less than 6 minutes ahead of second-place Groupama Sailing Team, with PUMA 2 hours back.

“We’re very, very happy with third place. To beat two of our closest competitors, we’ll take it and run,” said skipper Ken Read. “Physically it wasn’t that hard of a leg, but mentally it was difficult. This was a battle of a race. It seemed like every time somebody would make a good move, the fleet would invert, and someone else would be on top. There were so many lead changes, and the finish was a perfect example of how hard this leg was for the entire fleet. We’ll take this, keep racking up points and keep moving forward.”

PUMA departed Miami on May 20 for the start of the shortest leg of the race to date. Traveling up the Atlantic coastline and battling the Gulf Stream, the crew encountered the outskirts of Tropical Storm Alberto in the move east. The journey took them to the northern Atlantic Ocean toward the ice gate, before beginning the press to Lisbon. PUMA’s Mar Mostro crossed the line in Lisbon at 23:26:22 UTC/00:26:22 local.

“It was a tricky race, full of transitions which were very hard for lead boats to deal with,” said navigator Tom Addis. “Nobody could every really get ahead and stay ahead, and the fleet could never relax into a rhythm. There were always opportunities for the boats behind to catch up. In a race like this, especially with a park-up so close to the finish, you’re happy with any podium position.”

With the third-place finish in the leg, PUMA now moves into third place in the overall standings with 171 total points. Groupama took over the top slot with 183 points, while Team Telefónica dropped to second at 181, leaving 12 points separating the top three boats. The entire fleet finished the leg within 5 hours of each other.

Leg 7 marked the second transatlantic crossing for PUMA’s Mar Mostro. The team first departed U.S. waters on July 3, 2011, with the start of the Transatlantic Race 2011 from Newport, Rhode Island, to Lizard Point, Cornwall, U.K. Their first trip across the Atlantic Ocean was successful as they notched wins in both IRC Class 1 and IRC Overall of the race.

The original PUMA crew was back in tact for the first time since Leg 4. Casey Smith (Brisbane, Australia), who missed Leg 6 due to a lower back injury, returned for Leg 7.

The Volvo Ocean Race started on November 5 in Alicante, and the fleet is traveling 39,000 nautical miles through 10 ports, finishing in Galway, Ireland, in July 2012.

The PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG team is under the leadership of Read (Newport, Rhode Island, United States). Collectively, the crew has won the Around the World Race six times. The core includes: Tom Addis, Navigator (Sydney, Australia); Ryan Godfrey, Pitman (Adelaide, Australia); Kelvin Harrap, Helmsman & Inshore Tactician (Napier, New Zealand); Brad Jackson, Design Coordinator & Watch Captain (Auckland, New Zealand); Rome Kirby, Trimmer & Driver (Newport, Rhode Island, USA); Michael “Michi” Müller, Bowman (Kiel, Germany); Tony Mutter, Aerodynamics Coordinator & Watch Captain (Auckland, New Zealand); Jonathan “Jono” Swain, Helmsman & Trimmer (Durban, South Africa); Amory Ross, Media Crew Member (Newport, Rhode Island, USA); Kimo Worthington, General Manager (Portsmouth, Rhode Island, United States); and Tim Hacket, Shore Team Manager (Sydney, Australia).

A fight until the bitter end (from CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand)

It was a fight to the bitter end for CAMPER as they battled over the final miles into Lisbon against their nemesis, Telefónica.

With an adverse current, at times up to two knots, working against the two boats the last ten miles seemed to last a lifetime with each boat tacking to cover the other along the Tagus River.

In the final mile the breeze died and CAMPER and Telefónica were becalmed drifting towards the shore. It was to be a reenactment of the leg finishes in the Maldives (end of Leg 2a) and Auckland (Leg 4), with the boats just metres apart heading towards the finish line.

Less than 100 metres from the line both boats stalled, and were in a battle against the tide, in a nail biting finale crowds of people watched from the shore line cheering the teams on. But it was not to be CAMPER’s day as they lost the battle with the tide and were edged into fifth.

"I am sure that everyone entering the river thought that there was going to be an element of luck, and I guess it was not our day." commented Nicholson after the finish.

"What do you say, it is a hard race and we are a good team. We sailed the boat quite nicely but it did not happen for us. We need to go and look at why mid leg we didn’t cement the lead but I think our guys had a good leg."

"After the finish we sat down in the cockpit and didn’t know what to say to each other, other than it was damn rotten luck. They are professional guys and we will bounce back. There was a lot of hard work from a very good team and I think we deserved a lot better."

After 4,800 miles of racing, yet again the six boats finished within hours of each other, with the final results coming down to the closing few miles. Abu Dhabi took a much deserved leg win coming into a huge crowd in Lisbon, Groupama were close behind in second but the battle for the remaining podium positions and the pivotal points came down to Puma, CAMPER and Telefónica. Puma had the edge on the chasing boats and took third place.

The re-shuffle of the fleet at the end of Leg 7 has seen a change of leader with French team, Groupama moving up to take the top spot, Telefónica moves down to second and Puma is elevated to third.

CAMPER is now in fourth, but this race has proved so far that it is anything but normal, and with two legs and three InPort races remaining, CAMPER will be hoping that anything can and will happen.