Yachts & Yachting – April 2018

VOLVO SHAKE-UP

VOLVO SHAKE-UP NEWS SPOTLIGHT

With the two standout performers of the Volvo Ocean Race to date

struggling from early on in Leg 6, it was all to play for, for the rest

A

fterwhathasarguably

been the most exciting

legoftheoftheevent

so far, Team AkzoNobel

hastakenfirstplace

inLeg6oftheVolvoOceanRace

from Hong Kong to Auckland.

ThisisthefirstwinfortheDutch-

flagged AkzoNobel team, who sailed

the 6,344 miles from Hong Kong to

Auckland in 20 days, 9 hours 17 minutes

and26seconds.Howeverthefinal

mileswereextremelytenseastheyonly

justmanagedtoholdoffacharging

Scallywag, who sailed into Auckland just

two minutes adrift to take second place.

“It’s been a 6,500 mile match race, it’s

unreal,” said AkzoNobel skipper, Simeon

Tienpont. “I’ve never sailed a race like

thisinmylife.We’vealwaysbeenineach

other’s sights. They were always there.

It’s been neck and neck. Huge respect to

Scallywag, they never stopped fighting

and we never stopped defending. I’m so

proudofourcrew.Theyneverflinched.”

It is an impressive comeback for

AkzoNobel, who had possibly one

oftheworststartstoaVolvoOcean

Race campaign imaginable when

a serious contract dispute between

Tienpontandthesponsorsawhim

fired, then reinstated, before setting

off with a much-changed crew for

Leg1aheadofaslowandsteady

climb through the rankings since.

The second position for Scallywag

will be another boost for the team

after they won the last leg into their

homeportofHongKong.Inbothlegs

Scallywag have made some impressive

navigation calls, taking advantage of

the scant data on offer for the doldrums

crossing and playing the weather in

front of them. It is of little surprise

that Libby Greenhalgh has been the

navigator on board Scallywag for these

two legs – she developed something

of a reputation as a navigator willing

Above

AkzoNobel at full-

tilt on their way

to Volvo Ocean

Race Leg 6 victory

10 Yachts & Yachting April 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk