On this glorious Sunday at 18:00 GMT/ 13:00 local time the Volvo Ocean Race fleet took the start in the sixth leg of this RTW competition which will take them from Annapolis to the big lights of New York.
Thousands of spectators turned out to wave them off as the bay came alive with approx. 3000 vessels and countless masses of people watching from the shore and lined up on the impressive 11 km Chesapeake bridge.
The barely 6 knot winds that dominated in Chesapeake Bay allowed the Farr designed boats (Brazil 1, Movistar, Ericsson, and Pirates of the Caribbean) to take the lead at the first mark as the fleet headed towards the mouth of the bay, and out to the open sea. The Dutch boats ABN Amro One and Two were battling against one another for fifth and sixth place, at the start of this sixth leg, whilst Australia’s Brunel found themselves at the back of the fleet.
The other 100 miles of the Chesapeake Bay towards open sea, before the northward course towards New York, with lots of wind-shifts and changes and obstacles such as sand banks and fisherman’s nets will surely be decisive in terms of positions. Then the Eastern breeze should help them on their course to Manhattan Bay and the Big Apple itself.
In about 30 hours time the Statue of Liberty will bear witness to the RTW fleet’s arrival in New York.
On Thurs 11th May the fleet will depart, beginning the seventh leg in the competition, which will join the USA to Europe, as the fleet take on the Atlantic and set course to Portsmouth, UK.
Three goals will be in their sights: Victory in this leg and at the scoring waypoint at Cape Lizard; to smash the record set by the ABN Amro Two boys of 563 miles in 24 hours; to grab the Transatlantic record between the Ambrose light (USA) and Lizard point (UK).
Provisional Rankings 6th leg (Annapolis-New York)
Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006
1º Brazil 1 (BRAZIL), 375 miles to finish
2º Pirates of the Caribbean (USA)
3º MOVISTAR (SPAIN)
4º Ericsson (SWEDEN)
5º ABN AMRO TWO (HOLLAND)
6º ABN AMRO One (HOLLAND)
7º Brunel (Australia)
Provisional Rankings Volvo Ocean Race
1º ABN AMRO One (HOLLAND): 63,5 pts
2º MOVISTAR (SPAIN): 44 pts
3º Pirates of the Caribbean (USA): 41,5 pts
4º ABN AMRO Two (Holland): 41 pts
5º Brasil 1 (Brazil), 37 pts
6º Ericsson (Sweden): 30,5 pts
7º Brunel (Australia): 0,5 pts