NEWS

Start of the 3rd stage of Volvo Ocean Race: scandals, losses and strong winds

Share on social media

The whole fleet of the Volvo Ocean Race, including Scallywag team, recently notorious for scandalous video, and Dongfeng Race Team, which won the third leg of the race but lost one of its most experienced sailors a few hours before the start of the race, set off from Cape Town yesterday.

The first 18 hours after the start of the race met the participants with rather severe weather conditions.

The night consisted of fierce winds gusting in excess of 35 knots. It was a real challenge even for the most experienced boaters.

The boats are now passing through an area of high pressure and weak winds, but soon they will be in one of the stormy areas of the Southern Ocean. The route of the third leg passes through «Roaring Forties», as well as surrounding Antarctica with consistently low temperatures, high waves and strong winds.

«It's the worst you can go through in sailing, but it's also the best»," said Stu Bannatyne, a three-time Volvo Ocean Race winner and Dongfeng team member, in response to questions about sailing the Southern Ocean.

In the morning on the day of the start of the third stage Dongfeng crew took the victory in the third port race in the hardest struggle.

The crew captain Daryl Wislang had to stay on shore due to the back injury, presumably a spinal disc dislocation.

His role was passed to Charles Caudrelier and Stu Bannatyne, with Fabien Delahaye coming onboard from the bench.

The infamous Scallywag crew also entered the third stage of the race with a new line-up. Despite the fact that the team's main jokers David Witt and Steve Hayles were acquitted, Hayley still did not return to the line-up and his place was taken by Antonio Fontes.

The charge against the Rule 69 team captain and navigator, which could have led to the disqualification of the entire squad, was denied by the International Jury, with the following explanation:

«David Witt and Steve Haley did not commit misconduct because the video was not widely circulated around the world and did not damage the reputation of the sport».

Against all odds, the seven crews left the African continent with the aim of covering 6,500 nautical miles to reach Melbourne, Australia, faster than anyone else. And the reason to compete for first place is quite significant - the winner of this race will get 15 points at once. The lucky winner, according to organizers' calculations, is to be determined on December 24-26.

Share on social media