Movistar finished third in the inshore race today in Melbourne. The Spanish team sailed a good regatta, adding 2,5 point to it’s scoreboard getting closer to the second place on the Volvo Ocean Race overall classification.
Today, it has been our best race so far”. Iker Martínez, tactician again onboard Movistar, summarized the feeling he had after the regatta. “We have done a good race since the start and we only made a big mistake; anyway, at the end, the price we have paid for is very high”.
The bowman, Pepe Ribes, talked on the dock about the start of this 3rd inport race. “We wanted to start by the Committee pin end, and we did it, but Brazil 1 did it better than us, and then became leaders”.
Iker Martínez adds : “we have seen two boats early on the line –Ericsson and ABN AMRO TWO-. The start has been really tough”.
Bouwe Bekking, Movistar´s captain, commented the conditions on the Race Area: “The race started with 12 knots of wind and it was building up to 20 knots. I feel ok with the performance of the boat and the team. For us, this 2,5 points are really important, and this is our third podium, so we should be happy”.
Movistar rounded the first mark in third position, behind Brazil 1 and ABN AMRO 1, but soon the Spanish entry passed the Dutch boat. “We have noticed that, with up to 14-15 knots, and talking about speed, we are faster than ABN AMRO ONE, but with more wind they are still faster –Pepe added–. During the first downwind we passed them, and when we tacked over the second mark, we were second, getting closer to the Brazilian team. At the moment the wind was increasing the speed, ABN felt more comfortable and took the first place. They have done a superb work”.
Movistar was getting better until the moment they had a problem with the spinnaker hook.
The Olympic medalist, Xabi Fernández, talked about the feelings of the race: “It has been amazing, the boats were like dinghy boats, all sailing so closer. We have sailed good and we have been on the right place”.
ABN-AMRO ONE –skippered by Mike Sanderson– crossed the finish line first, after 2 hours, 28 minutes and 12 seconds of racing. Second was Pirates of Caribbean, skippered by Paul Cayard, 1 minute and 31 seconds behind, and 13 seconds forward the Spanish team. “movistar” beated Ericsson by 15 seconds.
Thanks to the shore crew
Iker Martínez and Bouwe Bekking agreed talking about the importance of the shore crew. “Without the great work the shore crew is doing, this project wouldn’t go forward. Their effort is a constant, and because of this we have the guarantee that all the repairs and changes done in the boat are ready when the team needs them. They are an essential part of the “movistar” team”.
Closer to the second place
After this inport race, “movistar” keeps the third place in the scoreboard but gets closer to the second and increases the difference with the fourth. The Spanish boat has 18 points, thanks to the 2,5 points they have added today.