Mapfre have won the Lisbon in-port race, beating Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing by just one second in a thrilling finish.
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The Spanish boat led for large parts of the race, but ADOR cut their lead from 400 metres at one stage to chase them down in an exciting finale.
Rounding the final marker the teams were neck and neck before a final gybe from both teams saw Mapfre hold on, crossing the finish line a few metres ahead of the Abu Dhabi-backed boat in 59 minutes, 45 seconds.
Both crews are led by Olympic Games medal winners in Ian Walker and Iker Martinez, with the British and Spanish skippers leading their teams in a drag race to the Portuguese finish line.
For Mapfre, it was a second in-port race win in a row, after they claimed victory in Newport, Rhode Island, but for Walker and co. they will take solace in second place, which sees them not only retain their lead at the top of the in-port race standings, but extend it to four points over Team Brunel, who finished back in fifth.
Well done guys! #MAPFRE wins the InPort Race in @VORLisbon @volvooceanrace #vamosMAPFRE @YoSoyNetifan #VOR pic.twitter.com/OPfbgfkZkG
— MAPFRE in the VOR (@desafioMAPFRE) June 6, 2015
Team Alvimedica took third place, Charlie Enright’s crew finishing more than five minutes behind ADOR, while Team SCA claimed fourth place, three minutes behind the Turkish-backed boat.
Despite returning to VOR action for the first time in more than six months, controversy continued to surround Team Vestas Wind.
It looked as if they had claimed fourth place, only to be penalised right at the finish line after they collided with one of the bouys in an attempt to beat SCA.
They remain 26 points adrift at the back of the standings in seventh place, after collecting eight points in each of the previous five in-port races since crashing into a reef in the Indian Ocean on leg two, on November 29.
Dongfeng Race Team were a disappointing sixth for the second in-port race in a row.
The results in Lisbon mean ADOR extend their lead in the race’s mini series, Walker and his men enjoying a four point lead over second place Brunel.
Bouew Bekking’s crew themselves are three points ahead of SCA in third.
Under a boatlength between leader MAPFRE & ADOR in second as the race to the finish. #inabudhabi #goazzam pic.twitter.com/nM2ohbQHxI
— AbuDhabiOceanRacing (@ADORlog) June 6, 2015
Alvimedica are three points further back in fourth, with Mapfre’s win in Lisbon moves them above Dongfeng onto 32 points, one behind Alvimedica, with Dongfeng on 33, 26 ahead of the returning Vestas.
Although the in-port series plays second fiddle to the main race, the winner of it will gain an extra point in case of a tie in the overall race, and with ADOR looking for every gain possible in their bid to be crowned winners of the VOR, they are in a favourable position.
Leg eight, from Lisbon to Lorient, France, begins in June 7th.
