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Volvo leg start delayed by wind, high waves
Source: Agencies |
February 20, 2012, Monday
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GALE-FORCE winds and 10-meter waves forced Volvo Ocean Race organizers to delay a leg start for the first time since the event began in 1973.
Instead of heading straight for Auckland, New Zealand, at the scheduled restart time of 2pm local time yesterday, the boats will sail a four-hour race outside Sanya Bay in China before returning to wait out the worst of the weather.
If forecasts are correct and conditions become sailable again, organizers hope to restart the race after a delay of 12 to 16 hours
Iker Martinez, the current World Sailor of the Year and skipper of race leader Telefonica of Spain, backed the decision to wait it out.
"We're talking about a wall of waves," he said. "It has to be a case of safety first."
Once the race restarts, the boats will sail 5,220 nautical miles on leg four to Auckland. The race will then go on to Brazil, the US, Portugal and France before finishing in Galway, Ireland, in July.
Telefonica holds an 18-point lead over Camper/Team New Zealand at the top of the standings after the Spanish team won the Sanya in-port race on Saturday.
Instead of heading straight for Auckland, New Zealand, at the scheduled restart time of 2pm local time yesterday, the boats will sail a four-hour race outside Sanya Bay in China before returning to wait out the worst of the weather.
If forecasts are correct and conditions become sailable again, organizers hope to restart the race after a delay of 12 to 16 hours
Iker Martinez, the current World Sailor of the Year and skipper of race leader Telefonica of Spain, backed the decision to wait it out.
"We're talking about a wall of waves," he said. "It has to be a case of safety first."
Once the race restarts, the boats will sail 5,220 nautical miles on leg four to Auckland. The race will then go on to Brazil, the US, Portugal and France before finishing in Galway, Ireland, in July.
Telefonica holds an 18-point lead over Camper/Team New Zealand at the top of the standings after the Spanish team won the Sanya in-port race on Saturday.
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