Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing complete unique Volvo Ocean Race double

Matt Jones - Editor 18:22 27/06/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Another celebration for Azzam.

    Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing signed off from the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race by winning the in-port race series.

    Already crowned overall race winners, the Emirati-backed boat completed a unique VOR double, with sixth place enough to cap victory in the race’s mini series ahead of second placed Team Brunel.

    It wasn’t quite the stylish finale Ian Walker and co would have hoped for, but they picked up the result they needed.

    Not even former Arsenal footballer Freddie Ljungberg could inspire ADOR to victory.

    The Swede won 75 caps for his country in a glittering career. That also included a season at West Ham in the 2007/08 season.

    Walker, who is a passionate Hammer himself, must have pulled a few strings to get him on-board Azzam as the team’s celebrity guest for the in-port race.

    It didn’t seem to have much of an impact though, as the Dutch team took victory in trying, almost windless conditions on the Gota alv river, finishing in 59 minutes and five seconds, just over a minute ahead of Team SCA, the all-female crew finishing the VOR with a flourish.

    In an exciting battle for the final podium place, Mapfre took third ahead of Dongfeng Race Team and Team Alvimedica.

    Team Vestas Wind started the 10th and final in-port race superbly, shooting to the front of the fleet before fading badly to finish last.

    That was crucial as Abu Dhabi stayed ahead of them in sixth to complete the offshore and in-port double – last achieved by Mike Sanderson’s ABN AMRO ONE in 2005/06.

    The results mean ADOR finish the in-port series on 31 points, claiming the title one point ahead of Brunel, with SCA (35) an impressive third.

    Brunel finished in second overall.

    Mapfre and Alvimedica were tied on 37 points but the Spaniards were awarded fourth on countback, with Alvimedica fifth, Dongfeng sixth and Vestas seventh.

    Perhaps it was a recognition of his team’s achievements, perhaps it was the presence of his family, including his parents, when ADOR arrived back on the dock that brought tears to the Englishman’s eyes.

    A visibly emotional Walker said: “(It’s a) little bit emotional, having my parents here and Lisa and the girls. I’ve put a lot of work into this over the years but you can’t do it without the support of your family.”

    Walker has two Olympic silver medals to his name, but he admitted that he entered the VOR in order to achieve something that his children, daughters Zoe and Emilia, would remember.

    “When I won my Olympic medals my daughters weren’t born and life was very different,” he said.

    “I really wanted to do something they were old enough to remember when I did it and it doesn’t come much bigger than the Volvo Ocean Race.

    “My wife’s always in the background, she’s always hiding away, but she’s the one doing the hard work, bringing up the kids and making it possible for me to do what I want to do and it’s a team every which way.”

    Speaking of the final in-port race, the 45-year-old added: “I’m a bit annoyed with today’s race because we were in such good control, made one mistake and the whole thing turned round, but I guess I’ve got to let that go.

    “No-one’s going to remember that. We’ve won the double and it feels good, really good.”

    VOR CEO Knut Frostad was pleased with what he described as “hardcore” match racing after nine months sailing around the world.

    “It’s a well-deserved win,” the Norwegian said of ADOR’s double delight.

    “Ian Walker has been incredibly focused and driven, I’ve never seen determination like it. He deserves everything and so does his crew. They have a fantastic crew and coach in Neal McDonald. It’s a big achievement.

    “They have been the consistent team. They’ve not won too many legs but have been extremely consistent and that’s paid off.”

    It’s been a lucrative nine months for the Abu Dhabi crew, who picked up a total of four awards during the race.

    Apart from the overall race and in-port trophies, Ian Walker’s men also collected the IWC Schaffhausen Speed Record Challenge, awarded for sailing the most nautical miles (550.8) in a 24-hour period throughout the whole race.

    They also won the Roaring Forties Trophy, an accolade handed out to the team who completes the fastest time between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.

    Recommended