Yachting: Telefonica Blue reaches Stockholm after accident
AFP
STOCKHOLM - Spain's Telefonica Blue completed the ninth stage of the Volvo race Friday, almost four days after the six other yachts, after an accident forced it to undergo repairs in the Swedish port of Marstrand.
Telefonica scored two points for completing the Marstrand-to-Stockholm leg in last position, and maintained a slim hope of snatching for the second place overall from US entry Puma Ocean Racing when the event concludes in Russia this month.
It is now seven points behind Puma, while there remains only a maximum of 12 points to be won in an in-port in Stockholm and the final leg to St Petersburg, Russia.
The Volvo race was won on Monday night by Ericsson 4, which secured an unassailable lead in the event by finishing the stage in third place.
The event began in the Spanish Mediterranean port of Alicante October, and the yachts will have covered 10 stages over 37,000 nautical miles when it concludes in St Petersburg late this month.
Overall standings after ninth stage:
1. Ericsson 4 (SWE)/Torben Grael (BRA) 108.0 points (winner)
2. Puma Ocean Racing (USA)/Ken Read (USA) 95.0
3. Telefonica Blue (ESP)/Bouwe Bekking (NED) 88.0
4. Ericsson 3 (SWE)/Magnus Olsson (SWE) 71.5
5. Green Dragon (CHN/EIR)/Ian Walker (GBR) 63.0
6. Telefonica Black (ESP)/Fernando Echavarri (ESP) 47.0
7. Delta Lloyd (NED)/Roberto Bermudez (ESP) 38.0
8. Team Russia (RUS)/Andreas Hanakamp (AUT) 10.5 (withdrawn)
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