Sunday 22 October , the VolvoOceanRace (VOR) started in Alicante with the race on the Starters circuit.
It was a fierce battle, with many lead changes, sharp sailing and strategic moves to benefit your Boat and push your competitors to the back.
This video shows the whole Start circuit race , for you to enjoy, if you missed it.
Mapfre made a good start and got the lead in the beginning. Donfeng, did start reasonably well, but on the 1st downwind leg could pass Mapfre on pure boat speed.
Towards the end, Dongfeng with a Starboard, pushed both Brunel and Mapfre into a late gybe for which both Boats were penalized. Thus giving Dongfeng a good begin of the VOR.
Brunel, got a problem with their spinnaker, while making the penalty 360, and lost a huge amount of time,and distance.
Vestas and Turn the Tide benefitted from this and were both quick in the Open Waters.
The worst situation caused, I guess , by the VOR organisation, was the dangerous passage of the VOR Boats through the anchored visitor Boats. Terrible, VOR org. should have known the potential courses for the VOR fleet and made the visitor to anchor in a safe place. This could have ended the race for a VOR boat already had it collided with a bigger visitors boat.
Upto Gibraltar.
