Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing focused on race for United States

Sport360 staff 14:59 18/04/2015
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  • Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is focused on maintaining its performance levels.

    Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR), the emirate’s entry in the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR), is maintaining its intense focus on peak performance levels, despite enjoying a seven-point advantage at the top of the overall standings on the eve of the sixth leg of the epic, round-the-world yacht race.

    – Dongfeng make it to VOR Leg 6 start in Itajai after mast wreckage
    – Ian Walker admits momentum is with ADOR

    Despite the points cushion, with four legs still to race in the nine-leg global challenge, ADOR skipper Ian Walker said that there was no chance of complacency creeping into the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)-backed team as they prepared to cast off on Sunday to race from Itajaí, Brazil to Newport, USA.

    “We have got to where we are in this race by sailing quickly and smartly and minimising the risks,” Walker said.

    “We aim to maintain that successful strategy and to continue to take the race one leg at a time.”

    UAE Olympic sailor Adil Khalid – who re-joins the ADOR line-up after a two-leg absence due to illness – said the mood amongst the sailors was upbeat, but cautious.

    Emirati star Adil Khalid has returned to action for ADOR in time for Leg 6.

    “We all know there is still an enormous amount of racing to go in this race,” Khalid said.

    “We are in a good position but in ocean racing there are lots of things that can go wrong. We will need to be at our very best on this next leg to secure a podium place.”

    The 5,010 nautical-mile route through the Atlantic Ocean will see the six-boat fleet head north from Itajaí on their way to one last negotiating of the light winds of the Doldrums before crossing the Equator and returning to the northern hemisphere.

    On the way to the finish in Newport – one of America’s main sailing hotspots – the crews may be able to use the warm, fast-flowing waters of the Gulf Steam to try to hitch a ride up the east coast of the USA.

    ADOR will leave on Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Brazil to Newport.

    According to ADOR navigator Simon Fisher, while Leg 6 is unlikely to deliver the ferocious winds the boats experienced on Leg 5 through the wilds of the Southern Ocean, it will nevertheless have plenty of challenges.

    “In a way it’s a reversal of the weather systems we encountered on the opening leg of the race,” Fisher said.

    “This time we skirt the light winds of the South Atlantic high pressure system, hook into the southeasterly trade winds, slip through the Doldrums, cross the Equator and switch to north-easterly trades to take us north avoiding the light winds of the Azores high.

    Then, the Gulf Stream could be a big factor for the final section along the US east coast.”

    Boosting ADOR’s line-up for the initial inshore section on Sunday will be British comedian and writer Dom Joly, who will be on board Azzam for the start and will jump from the Abu Dhabi yacht before it heads offshore at the Itajaí leaving marker.

    Joly will be jumping from Azzam's stern as ADOR leaves Brazil.

    Joly is most famous for the anarchic, highly popular hidden camera shows Trigger Happy TV and Fool Britannia and has also written two travel books.   

    “I’m really excited about the opportunity to be a small part of the Volvo Ocean Race and particularly thrilled about being onboard Azzam and joining the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team for a day,” said Joly.

    “I’ve never done anything like this before – it’s going to be very special.”

    The sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean from race from Itajaí, Brazil to Newport, USA starts at 1400 local time in Brazil (2100 in Abu Dhabi) and ADOR fans can follow the action live at volvooceanrace.com/live

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