What a start to the Volvo Ocean Race... It's well known that the Med can play some cruel tricks and it has definitely put the six boats to the test in this eleventh edition edition of the round the world race. Winds above 40 knots (74 km/h) and over ten metre waves were reported from the chinese boat.
The scene being as it is, the crews have spent the first 24 hours with no rest with two crews already having abandoned the race for now: a broken mast for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and hull damage for Team Sanya.
"Telefónica" with Iker Martínez is holding firm, along with American team "Puma", sailing close to the Spanish coast at the height of Torremolinos near Malaga to avoid the big swell. The Atlantic Ocean, which the Spanish boat has sailed often during their training is now just 50 miles away, the distance separating the boat from the Gibraltar Strait.
The Team Telefónica crew are in second place in the fleet, sailing at 10 knots, while the New Zealanders on "Camper" were leading the fleet at the time of the 14:00 local time position report, just 6.3 miles ahead in the middle of the Alboran Sea.
The cold has begun to set in, as Diego Frutuoso pointed out in his report last night: "During the day the temperature's not so bad, but now the cold is setting in. Ñeti commented on this with Pepe as they were preparing for a sail change. Activity on board the Spanish entry "Telefónica" isn't letting up".
Over the next few hours and with nine months of competition ahead, keeping the boat together and taking care of the equipment is crucial.
It is expected that during the night the Spanish boat will put the Mediterranean behind her and will head into the Atlantic Ocean and will set course South.
PROVISIONAL RANKINGS LEG 1
ALICANTE (SPAIN) - CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA): 6,500 miles
Day 2 - 14:15 local time - 6th November 2011
1st Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson), 6,242.9 miles from finish
2nd Team Telefónica (Iker Martínez), + 6.3 miles from leader
3rd Puma Ocean Racing (Ken Read), + 9.4 miles
4th Groupama Sailing Team (Frank Cammas), + 10.1 miles
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker), suspended racing
Team Sanya (Mike Sanderson), suspended racing
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