NEWS

MAPFRE third in the In-Port race in Sweden, claim fourth overall in the Volvo

The ninth leg, which finished today in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, bids farewell to the offshore legs of the Volvo Ocean Race. The Spanish team claims their fourth podium position in this edition of the race, by overtaking Donfeng in the last mile up to line, to finish in third place.

The Spanish team finished the penultimate leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in Lorient this morning in fourth place, overtaking their greatest rivals on the overall leaderboard. MAPFRE moves even closer to the podium; to be definitively decided in Sweden

MAPFRE left Lisbon today on the penultimate leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the last push in the competition that began eight months ago, and whose winner will be decided over the next 1607 miles of the last two legs.

The International Jury today announced in Lisbon the resolution of the four protests that were affecting three of the Volvo Ocean Race teams: Team SCA, Dongfeng and MAPFRE

MAPFRE finishes Leg 7 at 5:31 UTC after nine days, 11 hours, 31 minutes and 39 seconds. It is the third podium finish in this Volvo Ocean Race for the Spanish team, which includes British sailor Rob Greenhalgh among its ranks.

We will have to wait until Lisbon (Portugal) to find out. The fleet is expected to arrive on Wednesday 27th May.

The Volvo Ocean Race returns to Europe with the start of Leg 7 from Newport (United States): 2800 miles to Lisbon

The International Jury has resolved several protests in Itajaí. Among them one made by the Spanish team, who were penalised with two points on the general classification for not having been informed of repairs made on the previous leg. Xabi Fernández stated, “the international jury has declared that we had no advantage to our performance or speed with the repairs undertaken on board. It was just an administrative error and a little bureaucracy regarding the way a boat informs of any damage suffered and how it is repaired. We have been given a penalty for making the repairs, and the team does not agree with it. We feel it is completely out of proportion”.

6776 miles (12,549 km) in 19 days. The Spanish boat skippered by Iker Martínez claims a brilliant and well-earned podium position in the master leg of the Volvo Ocean Race

The Spanish boat from the Real Club Naútico de Sanxenxo, skippered by Olympic Champion Xabi Fernández wins the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, crossing the finish line in Auckland at 8:31 UTC

Leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race has begun. The Spanish team, with Xabi Fernández as skipper, is already sailing the early stages of a leg of almost 10,000 km. In the immediate future, they have four tough days upwind until North of the Philippines.Leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race has begun. The Spanish team, with Xabi Fernández as skipper, is already sailing the early stages of a leg of almost 10,000 km. In the immediate future, they have four tough days upwind until North of the Philippines.

Dental problems – one of the worse curses that can strike an offshore sailor in the middle of the ocean – have forced MAPFRE’s Anthony Marchand out of the next leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Sanya to Auckland.

Xabi Fernández’s team finished in fourth place after a last intense 30 hours in which there was no time to rest.

The thick fog and light winds spoiled the beginning of the leg last Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of them, 4670 miles to Sanya (China) where “MAPFRE” hopes to be complete in about 22 or 25 days

The Spanish crew has crossed the finish line in Abu Dhabi at 03:18:18 UTC, after 24 d 11 h 18 m 18 s of racing.

We’ll have to wait to see the final outcome of “MAPFRE’s” bet towards the east but it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Ahead, there will be several difficult steps which can result into large differences. Skipper Iker Martínez explained: “First, crossing the Equator and then, further north, another area where it’s forecasted not much wind. After that we will still have 1500 miles to go… Wow, there is still lots to go!”

Spectacular start in Cape Town of the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. The fleet sailed a coastal course with gusts that went from 40 knots (74 km/h) of wind speed to an absolute lack of it which have strongly slowed and accelerated the teams. “MAPFRE” passed the offset mark after the Dutch team, heading towards Abu Dhabi in second place.

The Spanish boat crossed the finish line at 13:47:32 hours Spanish time after sailing the longest last few miles without any wind. “SCA” made the most out of this situation and crossed the finish line ahead of the Spaniards, who are already thinking about Leg 2.

Finally the day arrived. As expected, at exactly 14h00, the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race started in Alicante and the first few miles of “MAPFRE”, the only Spanish boat in the starting line of the around the world race. After an eight-mile coastal race in front of the city of Alicante, Iker Martínez’s team heads towards Cape Town and in first place.