Photos: L ©David Branigan R ©Martin Stockbridge
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Sun, 11 Jun 2006 12:11:00 UTC
1215GMT Official finishing times:
1, ABN AMRO ONE, 1 hr, 55 min, 32 sec
2, Brasil 1, 1 hr, 58 min, 52 sec
3, Pirates of the Caribbean, 1 hr, 59 min, 43 sec
4, Ericsson, 2 hr, 1 min 17 sec
5, Brunel, 2 hr, 7 min, 2 sec
6, ABN AMRO TWO, 2 hr, 8 min, 33 sec
1140GMT A great second place finish for Brasil 1 two minutes and 45 seconds behind ABN AMRO ONE. They so nearly were the winners, but ABN AMRO ONE went to the left, Brasil 1 went to the right and the blue and yellow boat lost out in a patch of soft and fluky wind. Put this second with their win from Leg 8 and you get a great idea of the progress of this team - and the sense that there could be a big party tonight.
Pirates are third and Ericsson have closed right up on the lead rather as they did in Melbourne when they were judged to be over early there too and fought back to fourth. Neal McDonald must be suffering a severe case of de ja vu.
Brunel are fifth and ABN AMRO TWO bring up the rear.
During yesterday's finish to Leg 8, Brunel missed out the turning mark off Ijmiuden 32 miles from the line and the Race Committe had issued a protest against them. Today the team announced they would be retiring from the leg. That's a blow to the team after a stirring performance during the leg.
1137GMT ABN AMRO ONE close on the finish well in front. They went to hoist their headsail, but dropped it again when they heard the shorten course signal from the committee boat. They drop their spinnaker as they cross the line - into the water. A home win for the Dutch boat.
1130GMT Pirates and Brasil 1 gybe first while ABN AMRO 0NE carries on for a while and then gybes on the layline towards the finish at the leeward mark. It looks as though Pirates are trying to get up to Brasil 1, but Torben Grael and his crew are doing a great job to hold them off.
Despite their lead and the proximity of the finish, ABN AMRO ONE have Justin Slattery up the rig on the top spreaders spotting wind.
Pirates and Brasil 1 have a gybing battle going on, with Pirates attacking.
1125GMT ABN AMRO ONE leads round the mark from Brasil 1, the lead having gone from eight seconds to one minute and 20 seconds. Ericsson are comfortable in fourth, then Brunel and finally a long way back is ABN AMRO TWO who sailed into a very soft patch at the last mark.
1115GMT The wind looks like getting lighter and lighter, but ABN AMRO ONE is a long, long way ahead of Brasil 1 who is struggling with Pirates in the light conditions. ABN AMRO ONE close on the windward mark. Talk is all aboout the possibility of shortening course, which is unlikely unless the wind dies completely, though the race is a bit of a procession since ABN AMRO ONE shot off into the distance. All the boats are on port tack towards the mark, getting ready for their hoists.
1110GMT Mike Sanderson and Stan Honey seemed to have pulled another one out of the hat and by going left - they have just tacked back towards the right and the mark - have locked into wind and good angle, and have pulled out a big lead on the other two.
1105GMT ABN AMRO ONE are taking a big gamble and still head out to the left. Brasil 1 and Pirates are both going out to the right. The wind looks like getting very light which will play into the hands of Brasil 1 and Pirates, who tack from the right side some time after Brasil 1. ABN AMRO ONE might be in slightly more wind than the others, but it is changing all the time.
Mark roundings are: ABN AMRO ONE after one hour, 14 minutes and 30 seconds, then Brasil 1 chopping the lead once again at 12 seconds, Pirates at 28 seconds more. Ericsson fourth three minutes and 50 seconds after the leader. Brunel two mnutes and 51 seconds behind Ericsson, ABN AMRO TWO was one minute and 15 after Brunel.
1055GMT Just a boat length between Brasil 1 and ABN AMRO ONE. They drop at the mark and round close, but slowly, and roll straight into a tack. Brasil 1 carry on. You might have thought that they would have stayed on top of Brasil 1 but they must be looking for the left side again. The wind is much lighter and Brasil 1 must be fancying their chances of going into the lead. The three leaders are well ahead of Ericsson. ABN AMRO ONE are on their own going to the left on starboard, the others have stayed on port and are going right.
1050GMT It looks as though Pirates might have gained on Brasil 1, but ABN AMRO ONE seem to have pulled away slightly from Brasil 1. Torben Grael seems to be sailng higher and faster now, unlike early in the leg when they were low. Pirates have made a big gain.
1040GMT Ericsson seems to be closing on Pirates slightly, but the recent wind shift has brought Brasil 1 closer to ABN AMRO ONE, they cross with Brasil 1 about half a length astern. ABN AMRO ONE rounds just in the lead, then Brasil 1 followed by Pirates.
The leader has lost a lot of distance in the lighter wind. Brasil can sail lower in the light wind with their spinnaker pole instead of the bowsprit used by AN AMRO ONE and Pirates. It looks highly likely that the Brazillians might get through.
Two back to back wins for the Blue and Yellow boat? It's certainly possible!
Ericsson round with Brunel, Neal McDonald's boat is just a length behind and luffs out to try to roll the Australian/Dutch boat. With a poor hoist Brunel slow and Ericsson snatch fourth. This looks like a repeat of the what might have beens for Ericsson.
Mark times were: ABN AMRO ONE after 56 minutes and ten seconds of racing, then Brasil 1 having done a great job to take 17 seconds out of the leader to be just 16 seconds astern. There looks like a great battle in prospect. Pirates is 31 seconds astern of Brasil 1, then Brunel at two minutes and 46 seconds, Ericsson just eight seconds astern - but imediately after the rounding Ericsson rolls Brunel - then ABN AMRO TWO three minutes and six seconds astern of Ericsson.
The ABN AMRO sail programme has done wonders with the light weather perforamnce of the black boat, but it's not so good for Sebastien Josse's boat. The wind seems to have shifted to the left slightly.
1020GMT Brunel and ABN AMRO come to the mark very close with Brunel just in the lead by a couple of lengths. ABN AMRO TWO's headsail snags on the gybe, Ericsson close up on ABN AMRO TWO. ABN AMRO TWO have had to drop the headsail to clear the snag. Ericsson go past as they wallow with no headsail up. It looks as though a batten end has caught in the luff of the sail as it was hoisted. It's now up again, but they are dead in the water and have to back the headsail to get the bow to pay off to port.
Mark rounding times were: ABN AMRO ONE round after 33 minutes and 20 seconds, Brasil 1 a good gain at 33 seconds, then Pirates at 39 seconds behind Brasil 1. Brunel was one minute and six seconds behind Pirates, then ABN AMRO TWO 18 seconds back and Ericsson 42 seconds from ABN AMRO TWO.
1015GMT ABN AMRO TWO gybe to the left first, followed by Ericsson and then Brasil who is eventually chased by Pirates who waited for their gybe for about a minute. Enough wind to move the boats well and keep the spinnakers full, plenty of spectator boats though to chop up the water. ABN AMRO ONE close on the mark and ready their drop. ABN AMRO TWO look as though they have made a gain on the rest by going left early in the leg. ABN AMRO ONE are sailing with their headsail and their spinnaker. Eventually they drop the spinnaker and round.
1005GMT Ericsson is last after their premature start, but they have caught up on ABN AMRO TWO. Brunel had a problem hoisting their spinnaker, but are still holding off ABN AMRO TWO. Mark one times were: ABN AMRO ONE first in 17 minutes and two seconds, then Brasil 1 after 57 seconds, Pirates another 22 seconds back, Brunel 38 seconds behind Pirates, ABN AMRO TWO another 24 seconds and Ericsson 21 seconds from them, two minutes and 42 seconds behind the leader.
00957GMT ABN AMRO ONE crosses ahead of the fleet, taking a couple of hundred metres out of Brasil 1 in second, Pirates third, ABN AMRO TWO. Mike Sanderson is looking invincible in front of his home crowd. ABN AMRO ONE round the mark and hoist well in the lead.
0950GMT ABN AMRO ONE dig hard in to the left as all the others have gone to the right. They tack at last. Pirates look good on the right, having tacked back onto starboard now, ABN AMRO TWO and Bruunel are about a length apart, but Brunel is not happy in this windward work, losing ground to ABN AMRO TWO. The wind is about ten knots or just under. Brasil 1 seems to be going very well. Brasil 1 cross Pirates and tack back, Torben Grael can take another bite out of Pirates lead for second overall if he stays ahead.
0945GMT Brunel has to tack off Pirates hip and are now on port tack. Brasil 1 are on ABN AMRO ONE's windward hip and are stopping them from tacking. Pirates has tacked to port. Brasil 1 is looking very strong. Ericsson, Brunel and Pirates are all heading to the right on port tack.
0940GMT Start. All the boats close together towards the Committee Boat end. ABN AMRO ONE comes to the line first, but has to bear off, making for the pin end. Brunel at the Committee Boat gets a great start over Pirates. Ericsson at the pin end has to gybe off - over early as they scythe through the spectators and spin round the pin end buoy. Brasil 1 gets a good mid line start, ABN AMRO ONE to leeward, but going well in about ten knots plus. Brunel a little behind but to weather, Pirates coming through, Brasil 1 trailing slightly. Ericsson restarts more than a minute after the others and heads for the right side of the course.
0935GMTThe five minute signal has been given.
0929 The postponement flag comes down and the start sequence will resume at 0930 - we think.
0910GMT Postponement flag still flies as the Race Committee has to not only re-lay the start line, but also adjust the spectator exclusion zone. The wind is a solid eight to ten knots, but it is still clocking to the right as the gradient wind and the seabreeze fight it out.
0902GMT As well as shifting, the wind has increased slightly and is perhaps ten knots. This means that there really won't be anything in it today. There is not enough wind for ABN AMRO ONE to run away and hide, and it's not light enough for her to stick like she did in Spain and in Baltimore. There are still changes going on with the course as the wind continues to shift. We might have a while more to wait for the start
0857GMT Postponement. The wind has shifted direction and the start line is being altered to the new wind that has gone to the right.
8055GMT Five minute gun. A short start line. Three boats want to do well in front of heir home crowd, ABN AMRO ONE, ABN AMRO TWO and Brunel, all have massive local support. There is also a good battle in prospect between Brasil 1 and Pirates of the Caribbean as these two are in contest for second overall. The wind is increasing slightly and is about eight knots.
Update 0850GMT Ten minute gun. The fleet prepares for the start in light winds.
Update 0845GMT The spectator fleet grows out on the North Sea just to the north of the entrance to the Maas river that goes up to Rotterdam at Scheveningen. The boats are probably just too far offshore to see clearly from the beach. If you are on the water remember the sunblock.
The wind is south to southeast at about six knots at the moment.
The live video starts at 0850GMT to accompany our usual audio commentary, and our friends at Rotterdam Stopover www.rotterdamstopover.nl will be providing a video feed with Dutch commentary, also from the 10-minute gun.
0800 GMT Five of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet left early to motor out the three hours to the start line for the In Port race, with Brasil 1 leaving late. Partying too much perhaps?
Last night was a night of hard work for the shore crews, and rest and recuperation for the sailing crews. The boats have been stripped and prepared, sails changed, gear serviced and after a slow trip round the British Isles, they are ready for a race. Lets hope that the wind cooperates. At the moment it's about five or six knots from the south. There are some one hundred spectator boats out there at the moment, but it's early yet.
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