Amazing between the sixth and seventh to get to Cape Town: 1 minute 8 seconds!!

The team AkzoNobel took the fifth place in the second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race by imposing the final stretch by a little margin on the two ships that pursued him less than 4 miles away.

It is not common for a fifth position to look like a victory, but given how hard the battle was with the SHK / Scallywag and the Turn the Tide on Plastic, the Simeon Testipont and his team were extremely satisfied.

Stage 2 - Provisional results

1. Mapphre - 19 days, 01h: 10m: 33rd
2. Dongfeng Race Team- 19 days, 04h: 02m: 39s
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing - 19 days, 05h: 37m: 53s
4. Team Brunel - 19 days, 10h: 14m: 47s
5. team AkzoNobel - 20 days, 07h: 24m: 40s
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag - 20 days, 07h: 55m: 21s
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic- 20 days, 07h: 56m: 29s

Volvo Ocean Race - Provisional General

1. Mapphre - 14 points
2. Vestas 11th Hour Racing - 13 points
3. Dongfeng Race Team - 11 points
4. team AkzoNobel - 7 points
5. Team Brunel - 6 points
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag - 5 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic - 2 points

25 / 11 / 2017: South winds of 17 knots accompany the tail of the Volvo towards Cape Town

Three of the competitors of the Volvo Ocean Race have not yet arrived in Cape Town: "AkzoNobel," "Sun Hung Kai" and "TT Plastic," all three below 50 miles from the arrival. The four who have achieved this:

1. Mapphre 19 days, 01 hour, 10 minutes, 33 seconds
2. Dongfeng Race Team
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing
4. Team Brunel

24 / 11 / 2017: The script in the Volvo was fulfilled: crushing victory in Cape Town of the "Mapfre"

The Mapfre sailed in the second stage a total of 7,886.5 nautical miles at an average speed of 17.3 knots

The "Mapfre" has taken the second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race, a 7,000-mile marathon that has taken the fleet from Lisbon to Cape Town. During the first half of the stage, the Spanish ship was behind the wake of the "Dongfeng Race Team" in the long downhill to the south, but last weekend the navigator Joan Vila and the patron Xabi Fernández took off the winning bet. A quick move to the south-west that the Dongfeng did not cover... the search for the winds of a blush to the south was the choice of the Catalan navigator... and the "play" became a master, for within hours the "Mapfre" had a tactical advantage to which he would never give up during the last week of competition.

The team wins 8 points for victory at Stage 2 (7 points plus a win bonus point), which gives it enough income to raid the general leadership in the race, regardless of what its rivals do... at 23.15 hours a day, things are as follows:

1. Mapfre - entered at 15: 10.33 - 19 days, 01 hour, 10 minutes, 33 seconds
2. Dongfeng Race Team, 19-04-02-39
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 19-05-37-53
4. Team Brunel to 23.6
5. Team AkzoNobel to 354.0
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic to 355.1
7. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag to 356.0

23 / 11 / 2017: "Mapfre" is expected in Cape Town at 15.30 in the Volvo

The "Mapfre" has the duties almost done in the second stage

The second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race has, if nothing strange happens in the little over 100 miles remaining for the end, almost all the ballots sold: the "Mapfre" continues to stand out from the group, and despite the fact that both "Dangfeng" and "Vestas" chose the silent position in their desperate strategy, the situation is almost impossible to return to. Shortly after 9: 00 in the morning of Friday the Spanish ship sails at 19 knots and has a wind of a south-east component of just over 21 knots. At his stern the other three fleet-headed ships, including the "Brunel" over 90 miles from "Dongfeng" and "Vestas" are far behind (40 and 60 miles respectively). Already tremendously far away the other three ships more than 400 miles from the Spanish ship. The estimated time of completion of this second phase Lisbon - Cape Town is as follows:

Mapfre- Friday 24 - 15: 43
Dongfeng Race Team - Friday 24 18: 27
Vestas 11th Hour Racing - Friday 24 19: 50
Team Brunel - Saturday 25 00: 23
Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag - Saturday 25.21: 10
Team AkzoNobel - Saturday 25 21: 11
Turn The Tide on Plastic - Saturday 25 21: 12

22 / 11 / 2017: "Mapfre" is already 800 miles from Cape Town and continues to command with authority

Impeccable "Mapfre" in the second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race... as it is said in the taurino argot held up, waited for the bull and nailed it on all high... masterful all the crew with special mention for its navigator Joan Vila. The Spanish ship at the edge of 8: 00 p.m. Wednesday is already about 800 miles from Cape Town sailing to just over 22 knots, when it does so with a wind from the almost west (of the 296th) of about 19 knots that remains stable throughout the area. The three persecute ships that are waiting for some "red" failure are by this order, "Dongfeng," "Vestas" and "Brunel" in the around 20 to 35 miles... further back... forgiveness much later the remaining three already in around 150 miles, which is not little.

21 / 11 / 2017: A northwest of 23 knots throws "Mapfre" to victory in Cape Town

A north-west of 23 knots leads to the "Mapfre" in pursuit of victory in the second stage, at the edge of 11: 00 Tuesday night. After the Spanish ship "Dongfeng" about 25 miles, "Vestas" at 32 and "Brunel" at about 40... from here on the differences are the wide ones. The prediction is that the first ship will arrive in Cape Town on Friday... surely Saturday will have to be finished this super exciting second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race.

21 / 11 / 2017: The Volvo through "Tristan da Cunha" with "Mapfre" of leader

Tristan of Acunha is a British archipelago composed of several islands, some uninhabited and inaccessible, in the South Atlantic... along with the island of Gonçalo Alvares, the whole territory is constituted as a dependence on the island of St. Helena, the nearest inhabited place, located 2.173 km to the north... access to the main island is very complicated, due to its remoteness and its surrounded by cliffs of more than 600 meters high. Tristan of Acuña is the most remote inhabited place on Earth

"Mapfre" sails early on Tuesday, November 21, at more than 21 knots of speed in the head of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet, about 1450 miles from Cape Town and very close to the British archipelago of Tristan da Cunha. After the Spanish boat "Vestas" to just over 26 miles and "Dongfeng" very close to the ship on which Chuny Bermudez de Castro sails... at the top of the "Brunel" also near, about 30 miles from the leader. Already unhung "AkzoNobel" over 60 miles, "Sun Hung Kai" about 100 and "TT Plastic" over 100 miles.

The "Mapfre" now flies to 22 knots with "Vestas," "Dongfeng" and "Brunel" within 30 miles

20 / 11 / 2017: Volvo: They escape "Mapfre" and "Vestas" and are already 1800 miles from Cape Town

"Mapfre" is a solo march in search of the arrival line in Cape Town, from which it is just over 1800 miles away. After his "Vestas" stele that holds the pull of the Spanish ship, and that in the second position overcomes the "Dongfeng" that has lost strength in the last few hours... in which "Brunel" is in STM, in silence under the rules of the Volvo, and the other three ships are increasingly unhanged. It is sailed with speed: around 20 knots all ships.

19 / 11 / 2017: The tactic of seeking the eraser places "Mapfre" as leader of the Volvo

Joan Vila was right to mark the tactic of the "Mapfre..." the Catalan who indicated to look for the winds of the blush to the south of the fleet has been awarded his theory with the first position of the Spanish ship, which already leads the fleet less than 2,200 miles from Cape Town. "Mapfre" sails to a little over 18 miles leads to the "Brunel" that is literally flying over 20 knots, as is "Vestas" which is however the fourth in discord, currently occupying the third square the "Dongenfg." You have to expect it to happen tonight, to make a place composition of how the fleet can be left in the final straight of this second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race.

19 / 11 / 2017: Another brutal change in the Volvo: "Brunel," "Vestas" and "Mapfre" on the head

It was seen coming... I turn tremendous in the positions of the fleet... lottery?, I believe that tactic and struggle without barracks and right in the proposals like "Mapfre" in which Jon Vila wagered to look first of all for the winds of the blush to the south and came out of pearls, climbing from the last position to the third, but very close to "Vestas" and extremely affordable after "Brunel" to just over twenty miles. On the opposite shore "Dongfeng" that went for the book and now it is seen last and about 70 miles from the head. The fastest boat is now "Mapfre" at 19 knots, follow from "Brunel" to 18.9... the most lentro the Chinese of the Sun Hung Kai only at 14.4 knots. What is happening in this second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race is simply spectacular.

18 / 11 / 2017: "TT Plastic" orders in the Volvo less than 2500 miles from Cape Town

"Mapfre" sails south to find more wind (Photo James Blacke)

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Dongfeng seems to have changed tactic, and now it's about 80 miles further east. That means it's closer to Cape Town, but it's also closer to the lighter winds of the high pressure system.

On the contrary, the Mapfre has wager to continue to win south, making the wind in which it sails more powerful by being further away from the cyclone. In fact, while the Spanish ship was sailing with 16 knots of wind in the report of the 1300 UTC, the Dongfeng is seeing only 12 knots on its devices. The way this divergence develops over the next 12 to 24 hours could determine the winner in Cape Town.

The classification is constantly changing, reflecting the position of the teams to the east. As the fleet approaches the latitude of the arrival line in Cape Town, this is logical. Any advance to the east is one mile less than the 2,500 left to the arrival line. Things are like this on Saturday afternoon:

1. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 2,471.9 miles from Cape Town
2. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag + 4.1
3. Dongfeng Race Team + 6.8
4. Team AkzoNobel + 46.0
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing + 58.4
6. Team Brunel + 71.2
7. Mapfre + 71.2

18 / 11 / 2017: Little by little the Volvo fleet is regrouped under the command of "Dongfeng"

We decide in our last information: the favorites are going to last and this will change in the next few hours, with a regrouping in the fleet... and fortunately for the vistosity of the Volvo Ocean Race is what is happening!. "AkzoNobel" has lost the lead at the hands of "Dongfeng" and the three heavy weights "Vestas," "Mapfre" and "Brunel" have greatly shortened the differences and it is seen that they can reach the regatta head in a few hours... they remain among the best placed the former leader, "AkzoNobel," as well as the "Sun Hung Kai" and the "TT Plastic," but this situation is intended to be ephemeral. The fastest ships at 8: 30 in the morning Spanish peninsular hour are the last three... another fact in favour of this theory.

17 / 11 / 2017: "AkzoNobel" continues to command in the Volvo while "Vestas" and "Brunel" distance themselves from the head

The Volvo Ocenas Race fleet is just over 2,600 miles from Cape Town, with a "AkzoNobel" already sailing over 18 knots away from the Brazilian cost in a south-east direction. After him, the one who commanded in the first days of this second stage: the "Dongfeng" that is located half a hundred nautical miles, being third and fourth, in a handkerchief, "Sun Hung Kai" and "Team The Tide on Plastic..." in 0.3 miles!... that is the two ships are seen and are fighting as if it were a coastal race of ORC... They say there is no bad fifth, a position occupied by the Spanish ship, the "Mapfre" more than 70 miles from the "yellow maillot of the Volvo," and already far away "Vestas" 127 miles and "Brunel" almost 140 miles from "AkzoNobel"!. More impossible emotion... because in theory the favorites are those of the tail, and the safe fleet at the crossing of the "southern puddle" will be grouped... and if not time to time.

16 / 11 / 2017: "AkzoNobel" favored by the role is a leading leader of the Volvo

It is not an inoculated one because by December 28 there is a long way to go, but the Volvo Ocean Race has changed its leader and head group: it sends 2,900 miles from Cape Town "AkzoNobel" followed by those who have been colists for several days: "The Tide on Plastic" and "Sunb Hung Kai" to just over 40 miles. The new tail of the race: "Mapfre" in the fourth place about 50 miles, and to something more "Dongfeng" and "Brunel..." and "Vestas" red flask... it is clear that the wind role has favored the last three, which they now send... by the way the fleet is sailing at about 16 knots...

15 / 11 / 2017: Brunel gets first in the Volvo, 3100 miles from Cape Town

Change of leadership at the Volvo Ocean Race on Wednesday evening. "Brunel" who currently sails at 15.7 knots leads the fleet ahead of "Dengfeng" which is 1.6 miles and "Mapfre" almost two. Also in the group the "AkzoNobel" 2.3 miles from the leader alone. In the fifth square the Chuny Bermudez just over 15 miles. Close the Team Sung Hung Kai platoon to just over 40 miles. The fastest is now "AkzoNobel" which does it at almost 20 knots.

14 / 11 / 2017: "Dongfeng" feels the breath of "Mapfre" in the Volvo... only 0.5 miles!

The Volvo Ocean Race continues with the well-known positions, when it sails within walking distance of the coast of Brazil by sailing the fleet in about 14 to 17 knots that is 3,275 miles from Cape Town... but "Dongfeng" feels the breath of "Mapfre" which is only 0.5 miles!, the third being the "Vestas" with Chuny Bermudez de Castro about nine miles away. They are also closely followed by "Brunel" and "AkzoNobel..." and a little away "The Tide On Plastic" 60 miles and "Sun Hung Kai" 67.

13 / 11 / 2017: The Volvo fleet very close to Brazil maintains the positions

The ships participating in the Volvo Ocean Race sail more and more together, when Cape Town is about 3,600 miles, with a speed of 14 knots on average. The fleet, when it is five o'clock in the afternoon, is looking for barlovento so it has come considerably closer to the Brazilian coast, to Cabo San Roque. The lead remains for "Dongfeng" with "Mapfre cerquísima (less than three miles) and" Vestas "to almost ten. In the fourth position, the" Brunel "and already about 18 miles" Brunel, "the other two ships are far further away.

12 / 11 / 2017: Volvo less than 4000 miles from Cape Town and everything remains the same

It has been many hours since the Volvo Ocean Race after the madness of the first part of this second ocean stage between Lisbon and Cape Verde with constant changes in the positions has stagnated in the day-to-day repetition of the results... when it has already come down from the 4,000 miles away with the line of arrival in Cape Town "Dongfeng" sails to some 12 knots and has stuck to its stern to the "Mapfre" and this in turn to "Vestas... between the first three five miles that is very little when they speak of thousands of miles..." the situation of tension between the head of an extreme, "we must not be a minute away from the" in the 13-minute of the "with the" on-a-a-and-a-a-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1-2-2-2-2-2-2-2. "From here on the tail with" Sun Hung Kai "45 miles away and close to it the" The Tide on Plastic "that has come very close to the Chinese.

11 / 11 / 2017: Everything remains the same in the Volvo after Cape Verde: "Dongfeng," "Mapfre" and Vestas "mangan

On Saturday in Spain it is born with the fleet of the Volvo Ocean Race sailing at 18-20 knots, very tight in head and with the archipelelgado of Cape Verde already by the stern, having already passed through the legendary Senegalese port of Dakar. The positions a broth of the 24 hours ago... that's more tight. It therefore sends "Dongfeng" with "Mapfre" only 6 miles and the third square for the ship of Chuny Bermudez de Castro: the "Vestas" to just over seven miles... few differences for a stage to which more than 3,700 nautical miles are left to reach Cape Town.

10 / 11 / 2017: The Volvo to the north of Cape Verde... head "Dongfeng," "Mapfre" and "Vestas"

The fleet of the Cabo Verde archipelago is now very close to noon Friday with the variation that the Spanish ship "Mapfre" has entered the second square, just 7.5 miles from the leader "Dongfeng" and ahead of the American "Vestas" in which the Coruñés Chuny Bermudez de Castro sails, specifically has it by the stern just over two miles. At the moment there are no records of the ship that closes the fleet, the "Turn The Tide on Plastic," while "Brunel" is approaching the head (it's just over 2 miles away) following the "Sun Hung Kai" which is more than 60 miles from the leader. The fleet sails at about 14 knots, highlighting the "Mapfre" that does it at 16.

09 / 11 / 2017: With Cape Verde close in the Volvo all the same, still sending "Dongfeng"

"Dongfeng" remains tied to the leadership when it is almost 7: 00 p.m. in Spain, on the heels of our Chuny Bermudez de Castro, the "Vestas" about five miles away, being the third position for the "AkzoNobel" practically glued with "Mapfre," for among them only 0.1 miles. The speeds around the 10 knots, except the colist that does it at 17.5 knots right now.

09 / 11 / 2017: Apassionante Volvo: to the north of Cape Verde "Dongfeng" leads the fleet

At seven in the morning, peninsular time with the fleet much slower than in the last control, as the head sails at a speed of just over 11 knots, the Volvo Ocean Race has as its lead the "Dongfeng" that jumps from the fourth position and that temporarily debounds "Vestas" of Chuny Bermudez de Castro which is now second to just over 13 miles, the third being the Team AkzoNobel to 16.5. For its part "Mapfre" which was 11 miles in the second square is now fourth to almost 29 of the head. The fleet sails north of the Cape Verde archipelago.

08 / 11 / 2017: "Vestas" is still a leader in the south-west of the Canary Islands with "Mapfre" very close

In the south-west of the Canary Islands, the struggle continues with few distances between the ships, that is, with a little more sluggish and with the command of "Vestas" that is away from "Mapfre" just over 11 miles, being the third in AkzoNobel discord "about 13. The" Dongfeng "is fourth at a distance when it is 11: 00 in Spain, more than 40 miles away. Then the" Brunel "to about 64 and very distant" Sun Hung Kai "and" Tum The Tide on Plastic "to more than 100 miles, which already begin to weigh much when Cape Town is just over 4,500 nautical miles away.

Chuny Bermudez in the "Vestas" that sails at 15.4 miles, which is approximately the speed of all

08 / 11 / 2017: Passing the Canary Islands, the Volvo in a handkerchief with "Vestas" in head and "Sun Hung Kai" unhung

In a handkerchief. The Volvo Ocean Race after more than 72 hours from its departure in Lisbon, is in a handkerchief for the first four: "Vestas," "Dongfeng," "Mapfre" and "Team Akzo Nobel" from the first to the fourth four miles... that is, about five kilometers... of real laughter... as at the beginning. The fleet is sailing at less speed, over 16 knots of average... It should be noted that it is very unhanged "Team Sun Hung Kai," 125 miles from the leader... and half way "Brunel" to more than 50 miles and "Turn The Tide on Plastic" to almost 90.

08 / 11 / 2017: "Vestas" passes to lead the fleet of the Volvo to the height of the Canary Islands

"Vestas" is the new leader after dawn in Spain. The ship of Chuny Bermudez de Castro is 4,719.60 miles from the arrival and has managed to give a spectacular turn to the positions of the fleet. After the American boat, the Spanish is 8.3 miles away and "Dongfeng Race Team" is about 10.8 miles away. The "AkzoNobel" is still in the head group, which is below 20 miles... from here "Brunel" is already far away, as it is more than 50 miles from the head, later "Tum The Tide on Plastic" to more than 60, surprising that "Sun Hun Kai" which has led the beginning of this second stage at many times is far away: 115.1 miles! In the early hours of today the speed of the fleet has decreased, and it is sailed in a band of 18 knots of the "Brunel" to the slightly more than 21 of the "Dongfeng Race Team" which is the fastest.

07 / 11 / 2017: "Mapfre" to the north of the Canary Islands assumes the command outstanding in the Volvo

The Spanish ship has taken responsibility for setting the course for the rest of the fleet. The tactic to follow from Vila is being decisive when the fleet accumulates 48 hours of race between Lisbon and Cabom City and curiously its distance from the line of arrival is above 200 miles of the first lights of today Tuesday... and is that the fleet has had to go on a long board to the west and this causes this strange situation for the most neophytes. The fight is being without barracks, with constant alternatives in the head: "Mapfre" has jumped from third to first, "Dongfeng" from fourth to second and "Vestas" from sixth to third... against terrible varapalo for the former leader, the "Team Sun Hung Kai" which is now sixth to more than 45 miles from the Mapfre!. Close the "Brunel" fleet at a considerable distance: 56.9 from the Spanish. At the moment the fastest boat in the Volvo fleet is the "Team AkzoNobel" that sails at 23.6 knots, followed by "Vestas" that does it at 23.2 and "Mapfre" at 23.1. Spectacular this second stage.

07 / 11 / 2017: The differences are shortened after passing Madeira with "Sun Hung Kai" of leader

The fleet in its entirety sails at about 20 knots and has a tendency to group

The fleet early this morning sails more compact, having taken the command "Team Sun Hung Kai" ahead of the "Turn The Tide on Plastic" and the "Mapfre..." in any case very little separate them theoretically, as the Spanish ship that is the third at this time is about 8 miles from the head. Now close the fleet "Team Brunel" which is at the stern of Chuny Bermudez's "Vestas" within two miles. So are things right now, when in Spain it's nine in the morning:

1. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag (3), 4,631.60 miles from Cape Town
2. Turn the Tide on Plastic (6), 5.6 miles
3. Mapphre (2), 8.2 miles
4. Dongfeng Race Team (1), 12.8 miles
5. Team AkzoNobel (7), 18.6 miles
6. 11th Hour Racing (4), 25.0 miles
7. Team Brunel (5), 26.9 miles

06 / 11 / 2017: Vuelco in the Volvo: "Dongfeng" and "Mapfre" are sent to Madeira

Back in the classification in the last few hours

The changes have been huge since last control in the middle of the afternoon. Now the fleet is in the middle of the Lusitan Madeira archipelago. We offer the classification and in italics the position of mid-afternoon, to check the great turn produced. In Spain the clock is approaching at 11: 00:

1. Dongfeng Race Team (7), 4,667.30 miles from Cape Town
2. Mapphre (6), 2.7 miles
3. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag (1), 16.7 miles
4. 11th Hour Racing (3), 21.5 miles
5. Team Brunel (5), 27.9 miles
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic (4), 38.5 miles
7. Team AkzoNobel (2), 47.6 miles

06 / 11 / 2017: "Team Sun Hung Kai" takes near Madeira the command in the Volvo

The roles have caused dramatic changes in the classification

The changing winds have haunted the classification in these first miles of the second stage of the Volvo Ocean Racing, which began yesterday in Lisbon and is destined for Cape Town. The "Team Sun Hung Kai" is now the leader, with some advantage over the "AkzoNobel" and the leader in which the Coruñés Chuny Bermudez de Castro, the American "Vestas," is sailing. The Spanish ship, the "Mapfre" is about fifty miles away. At five in the afternoon, the fleet situation is as follows:

1. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 4,708 miles from Cape Town
2. Team AkzoNobel, 18.2 miles
3. 11th Hour Racing, 26.9 miles
4. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 27.4 miles
5. Team Brunel, 38.2 miles
6. Mapfre, 49.9 miles
7. Dongfeng Race Team, 58.1 miles

06 / 11 / 2017: In the Volvo "Mapfre" takes advantage in Moroccan waters and "Vestas" is last

"Mapfre" remains unstoppable in the start of the second stage of the Volvo Ocean Race. The Spanish ship has taken command of the fleet and takes the "Dongfeng" for almost 33 miles, which occupies the second square in the early morning. The third is now the "AkzoNobel" 33.4 miles from the leader. It is now surprising that the leader, the American "Vestas" closes the fleet almost 41 miles from the Spanish ship. The ships are sailing at a speed around 23 knots. The battle in the Lisbon - Cape Town has only begun.

05 / 11 / 2017: a fleet of the Volvo to Cape Town more than 25 knots

The beginning of the second stage in the Tagus waters was spectacular.

The conditions were perfect for the start of the stage, with skies as blue as bright, and a north wind of 15-20 knots that allowed the fleet to make a quick tour of the Tajo River before leaving Lisbon. After leaving the river and heading to the coast after the protection of Cascais, the ships went into a window with more than 30 knots, with a wave around 4 meters. The fleet's leaders, Donfeng Race Team, Mapfre and Team Brunel, easily marked more than 25 knots of boat speed, tremendous conditions, both spectacular and dangerous for material resistance.

Last Time: At seven in the afternoon Spanish time, the "Mapfre" is the second place for "Donfeng Race Team" at 2.14 miles and "Team Brunel" at 2.21. The fleet is still very compact, being "Vestas" at 4.58 miles that sails at more than 28 knots of speed.