Chinese-Irish entry Green Dragon on Tuesday took the lead from Sweden’s Ericsson 4 on the fourth day of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world.
But one of the pre-race favorites, Spain’s Telefonica Blue, remained in last place about 80 nautical miles (148km) behind the leader after an enforced stop to repair a broken rudder soon after the start.
Green Dragon, skippered by British Olympian Ian Walker, was at the head of a breakaway group of five yachts on the first leg from the Spanish Mediterranean port of Alicante to Cape Town, South Africa.
Ericsson 4, captained by another Olympian, Brazil’s two-time gold medalist Torben Grael, and which had led from the start on Saturday, was second, ahead of the US entry, Puma Ocean Racing, Sweden’s Ericsson 3 and Spain’s Telefonica Black.
With winds of 18 knots to 20 knots, the eight yachts are heading southwest toward the first “scoring gate” at the island of Fernando de Noronha, off Brazil.
The boats are expected in Cape Town on Nov. 3.
After 37,000 nautical miles, the finish line is in St Petersburg, Russia, where the teams are expected in June next year.
Each of the yachts receive points according to their position in each of the 10 legs. Half points are also awarded at seven scoring gates along the route and for the seven ‘in-port’ races.
On Oct. 4, Telefonica Blue, skippered by Dutch veteran Bouwe Bekking, took an early lead in the competition by winning the first of seven in-port regattas.
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