Volvo Ocean Race Boats Arrive Tonight in Newport between 8pm and 3am
The past 24 hours have been swift for the six boats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race and the leader's estimated time of arrival is now expected tonight, between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. tomorrow morning.
The Volvo Ocean Race Newport Race Village at Fort Adams State Park will remain open past the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time and into the late evening to accommodate race fans and families of the sailors who will be on hand to welcome the weary sailors after a 5,010-nautical mile leg.
Based on this morning's position report of 8:40 a.m. EDT (12:40 p.m. UTC), Dongfeng Race Team, skippered by Frenchman Charles Caudrelier, led the fleet with 116 miles to the finish in Narragansett Bay off Fort Adams State Park.
Dongfeng's lead was far from safe. Close behind was overall race leader Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker of the U.K. Abu Dhabi was within sight of Dongfeng, just 2 miles in arrears, setting up the prospect of a photo finish.
"Right now we need to pull out all the secrets we've got," said Abu Dhabi's onboard reporter Matt Knighton of Chicago. "In the breezy downwind conditions of the darkness, they've (Dongfeng) managed to sail lower and faster towards the mark and extended to 3nm ahead. We've found at least 10 rabbits in this magic hat of ours this leg - we just need to find one more."
After the two leaders was Team Brunel, skippered by Bouwe Bekking, 127 miles from the finish, followed by Mapfre, Iker Martinez skipper, with 135 miles to the finish.
Team Alvimedica, skippered by Rhode Island's Charlie Enright, was fifth, 150 miles from the finish, and the all-female crew Team SCA, Sam Davies skipper, was sixth, 243 miles from the finish.
Admission to the Race Village is free and parking this evening is also free. Visitors can purchase food from the Russell Morin catering café and beverages from the Heineken Docks beer garden, Mount Gay Bar, and Moët Champagne garden into the late evening. Video of the arrivals will be broadcast in the video dome.
For boaters who plan to be on the water to escort the fleet to the finish, complimentary berthing is available at the Alofsin Pier adjacent to the Race Village.
EVENT WEBSITE
Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race Newport Schedule
ABOUT THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE NEWPORT STOPOVER
The only North American stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race will be hosted May 5-17 by Sail Newport, Rhode Island's Public Sailing Center, the State of Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM), Discover Newport, and the City of Newport. The twelve-day Stopover will be a public celebration and will include entertainment, a marine Exploration Zone, kids' activities, a food court, team compounds, Heineken Docks beer garden, sponsor pavilions, a theater, up-close viewing of the race boats during the Pro-Am Race, the In-Port Race, and the Leg Start to Lisbon -- all taking place within yards of the shoreline at Fort Adams State Park.
AMERICAN SAILORS IN THE RACE
The Volvo Ocean Race features seven sailors with strong ties to Newport and two more from the U.S. for a total of nine American sailors. Team Alvimedica skipper Charlie Enright, from Bristol, R.I., is the youngest skipper in the race at 30 years of age. Other Newporters include Nick Dana and Amory Ross (the boat captain and onboard reporter, respectively, for Team Alvimedica), Sam Greenfield (onboard reporter for Dongfeng Race Team), Corinna Halloran (onboard reporter for Team SCA). South Dakotan Sarah Hastreiter (crew Team SCA) and Hawaiian Mark Towill (co-founder and watch captain of Team Alvimedica) and both call Newport their adopted home.
Other Americans in the race include Sally Barkow (Waukesha, Wis.), a helmsperson for Team SCA, and Matt Knighton (Chicago, Il.), the onboard reporter for overall race leader Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. A 10th sailor, Sophie Ciszek of Team SCA, holds dual Australian and American citizenship.
NEWPORT SPONSORS
Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover Port sponsors include Sweden-based SCA, a leading global hygiene and forest-products company, and 11th Hour Racing, which seeks to create systemic change for the improved health of our oceans. Other sponsors include Heineken, Cox, Sunsail, MetLife, Mt. Gay Rum, Bell Helicopter, Castle Hill Inn, National Biodiesel Board, Moët & Chandon, M32 North America, Marriott Newport, Hotel Viking, The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina and Hyatt Regency. Media sponsors include Channel 10/WJAR TV, The Newport Daily News, Coast 93.3/iHeart Radio and Sailing World. In addition, Viti Volvo, Newport Restaurant Group, Lila Delman Real Estate, Sea Corp., Rhode Island Bay Cruises, Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty, The Hinckley Company, Team Alvimedica, Focal and Dimeo Construction join the sponsors of the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover.
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