Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Makes Daring move to the north after keel collision

Azzam in fifth place after mid-Atlantic pallet incident

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (ADOR) – the emirate’s team in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) – is banking on a swift passage around the Atlantic Ocean light wind zone known as the ‘Azores High’ to help get them back in contention for a podium place on Leg 7 from Newport, Rhode Island to Lisbon, Portugal.

Despite leading the fleet for much of the 2,800 nautical-mile transatlantic leg, the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)-backed team dropped to fifth place after snagging a wooden cargo pallet on the keel of their yacht Azzam overnight on Day 4.

After urgently clearing the obstruction and finding a decrease in their speed for the 24 hours after the incident, ADOR has now made a bold maneuver to the north in a bid to catch the higher winds, avoid the center of the ‘Azores High’ and catch up to the rest of the fleet on approach to Lisbon.

Big decisions face Azzam's skipper Ian Walker during the
final stages of Volvo Ocean Race Leg 7

Seven days into Leg 7 and with less than 1,000 miles left to race before the finish line, ADOR is in fifth place but within striking distance of a top three place.

ABOUT ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programs relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The authority supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honor the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.

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