The 13th edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is inexorably drawing to a close. Before Cardiff, the port race on Friday was about important points for the inshore rating, which then becomes relevant as a tiebreaker if two or more teams are tied at the end of the race around the world. In the one-hour race, AkzoNobel had initially taken command. The Danish match racer and security officer Nicolai Sehested positioned the Dutch boat well after the start and rounded the first turning point with an eight second lead over the Dongfeng Race Team, which was already jostling from behind at the time.
Contested harbor race off Cardiff: a perspective from photographer Jesus Renedo
While at the end of the field Charlie Enright's team Vestas 11th Hour Racing had to clean up after a very early start and chase after the fleet, in the leading group it was Simeon Tienpont's team AkzoNobel that led the race over two and a half laps, but then after making mistakes boat by boat was passed through to the rear.
In this order, the teams also lead the overall standings in the Volvo Ocean Race: Dongfeng ahead of Mapfre ahead of Brunel
The result of the harbor race in the British area off Cardiff
The intermediate result in the series of harbor races before the last two races in Gothenburg and The Hague
After an almost flawless performance, Dongfeng reached the finish line with a 49 second lead over Xabí Fernandez 'Team Mapfre, who finished sixth at the first turning point with a silver finish. Bouwe Bekking's team Brunel seemed a bit inconsistent, who had caught themselves 47 seconds behind the leaders between the first and the second mark, and in between came up to 35 seconds to the leading boat, but in the finish with third and first place: 12 minutes behind had to be satisfied.
On the podium were those three teams who will fight for the overall victory in the Volvo Ocean Race on the two remaining stages from Cardiff to Gothenburg and from Gothenburg to the port of destination The Hague: Dongfeng, Mapfre and Brunel. The tenth of the eleven stages begins on Sunday at 4.45 p.m. German time and will be broadcast live here.
Very good to see in this scene: Early start of Vestas 11th Hour Racing!
Could still fight for 5th place despite the early start: Charlie Enright's Team Vestas 11th Hour Racing