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VOLVO OCEAN RACE

VOR: Nicholson hails shore crew as CAMPER sails again

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CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand is back at sea and in the chase for precious points after repairs to the boat’s bow were completed in Puerto Montt.
 
The team left the Chilean port at 0600 GMT on Saturday (April 7) and are now making their way towards the point where they suspended racing five days ago, which is 160 nautical miles away. Structural damage to the boat’s bow was suffered in brutal Southern Ocean conditions that have ravaged the fleet in Leg 5.
 
CAMPER is expected to take up to 14 hours to reach their restart point to Itajai. It is then expected to take them at least 10 days to complete the grueling 2,800 nm voyage around Cape Horn before the finish in Brazil.
 
Skipper Chris Nicholson hailed the heroic efforts of the shore team for putting the boat back in the frame.
 
“It’s been a short but very beneficial stop for us. We now commence the final 2800 miles back with a boat we have full confidence in to take us around Cape Horn,” he said.
 
“It’s hard to put into words the effort and commitment of our shore team; they simply gave up on sleep during our four-day stopover. They knocked out the highest quality work, and there was never a complaint. These are the people that keep these programmes on track. We simply cannot thank them enough.”
 
Nicholson was deeply touched by the warmth and generosity of the Chilean locals.
 
“They went out of their way to try and help us; they even took us into their home to feed a very hungry CAMPER crew,” he said. “We leave here with fond memories of the country and of the people.” Nicholson acknowledged his crew are up against it to make the Itajai in-port race on April 21 in good time.
 
“At this stage the weather looks okay, but it will be a big push from the entire team so that we are ready for the next leg of the race,” he added.
 
For finishing in fourth place CAMPER will claim 15 precious points that will soften the blow of a punishing leg. It will also leave them within 28 points of current race leader Team Telefonica, a gap that can be closed quickly with 30 points on offer for a leg win.
 
On Friday PUMA posted their first leg win of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race after holding off a late surge from Telefonica. Groupama, who dismasted on April 4 and had to stop in Punta Del Este, Uruguay for repairs are likely to clinch third spot. ph - Hamish Hooper

07/04/2012 20:16:00 © riproduzione riservata

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