Feature: Volvo Ocean Race

This weekend the Volvo Ocean Race teams have been competing in a series of races in the port of Auckland. I've been eagerly awaiting this event since the opening of the race village a few weeks ago. It is a rare opportunity to see the boats sail, because they only dock in 10 harbours during their race around the world. In the harbours the sailors repair the boats, refresh themselves and prepare for the next leg. They also have time to give the viewers a good show with some spectacular in-port races, but these are not important in the overall rankings of the teams. The real race is decided on the ocean legs, but these competitive teams do not pass up on any chances to beat the others.

Team DongFeng got some extra training in Tuesday before the races

Thursday afternoon I went to see the first practice race. When I found a comfortable spot on the Queens Wharf pier, the race had already started and team Mapfre was in front. They continued to lead the fleet around the top at Devonport and down again to the harbour bridge. I enjoyed a great view of it all from my spot, as I was near the middle of the course.

A light breeze and large clouds made tactics interesting

In the second race the fleet split in two on the upwind seeking opposite sides of the course. The boats on the north side found a lift and were favoured at the top mark. On the downwind three different tactics were chosen by the captains. Some sought the north side of the course, but they lost pressure at a big headland. Some did an early jibe to get to the southern side, which seemingly had more pressure. The winning team, Mapfre, uniquely chose trim their sails in a butterfly formation to go directly downwind. Their gambit was to sail slower than the other boats, but more directly down the course. Apparently, they had found a line with pressure that they were able to follow throughout the downwind leg and take the win.

The red Mapfre boat is leading, because they are deeper
 in the course than team SCA in the background  

All boats go at full speed as they cross the start line

Friday offered more of the same weather and the same teams doing well. Team Mapfre and Brunel were once again leading the fleet. They seemed to find just a little more pressure than the other teams in the tricky light conditions. In one of the races Mapfre tried a butterfly trim like they had done so successfully the previous day, but were not rewarded. Team Brunel stayed on the starboard tack and followed the north shore all the way to the finish as they found more and more lift throughout the downwind leg. The other teams caught on quickly, but were not able to catch team Brunel who won both races Friday.

Team Dongfeng comes very close to the pier

Two of them wave to us while the others complete a tack

The final in-port race was more important, because the results can be used to break ties in the overall scores. In this race team SCA did surprisingly well, redeeming themselves after a poor performance in the practice races. I was not there to watch it live, but I have read that they won the start and held on to their lead throughout the entire race.

SCA in front in the final race
image from VolvoOceanRace Twitter