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YACHTING

Leg 3 sprint gets underway with valuable points on the line

Sunday 15 January 2012, 10:24AM

By Emirates Team New Zealand

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CAMPER chases Telefonica on the race out of Abu Dhabi
CAMPER chases Telefonica on the race out of Abu Dhabi Credit: Emirates Team New Zealand
CAMPER rounds an inshore mark while leaving Abu Dhabi
CAMPER rounds an inshore mark while leaving Abu Dhabi Credit: Emirates Team New Zealand

Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Abu Dhabi to Sanya in China has got underway with valuable points on the line for  CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand.

 The first part of the leg involves a 106 nautical mile sprint down the United Arab Emirates coast to Sharjah where the boats will be placed on a ship  and transported under armed guard through a high risk piracy area to a secret safehaven in the Indian Ocean where racing will resume. Stage 1 of the leg carries 20 per cent of the overall Leg 3 points, with six points up for grabs for first place meaning that a strong finish for CAMPER will see them further the close the gap with overall leader Telefonica.

 In almost perfect conditions of a 15/16 knot west-northwest breeze  Telefonica lead the fleet around the inshore aspect of the course followed in hot pursuit by CAMPER in second place as the boats headed out for what should be a quick 6/7 hour drag race down the coast to Sharjah. The wind is expected to build throughout the day as the effects of the Shamal front comes into force, creating north-westerly winds gusting in excess of 20 knots.

 CAMPER skipper Chris Nicholson sees the first part of Leg 3 as a prime opportunity to turn in an improved performance.

 “We’ve made some subtle modifications to the boat and improved our sail programme here in Abu Dhabi so we’re seeing this little sprint as a good opportunity to show what we’re capable of.

 “If the forecast conditions eventuate they should also suit us a little better than what we had on the way into Abu Dhabi so we’re looking forward to it.

 “As a team we’re incredibly hungry for a first place and that’s what we’ll be looking for out there today but it won’t be easy as this is an incredibly competitive fleet.

“It’s quite difficult for a sailing team mentally preparing for an offshore leg to have to sail with high intensity on an inshore course but we’ve talked about the need to do that in our team meetings.

"This sprint leg could very easily decide the overall winner of Leg 3 so we’re going to be giving it everything we’ve got.”

Upon arriving in Sharjah, CAMPER and the rest of the fleet will be loaded onto a ship and transported under armed guard through a high risk piracy area to a secret safehaven in the Indian Ocean where racing will resume with a 4000 mile slog to Sanya.