The Spanish team of MAPFRE wins again in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018 with a victory on the 2nd leg. The crew reached Cape Town (South Africa) on Friday 24th November 2017 at 15:10 UTC after leaving Lisbon. With 8 points collected, the crew also takes the lead of the ranking.
"We haven't finished the job yet, but it smells pretty good, the whole crew is very happy, because the last few days have been difficult" explains Xabi Fernandes, who made no secret of his satisfaction, just a few hours before the finish in Cape Town. The skipper and his team had been leading the fleet in the race for a week, thanks to a perfectly controlled trajectory by the navigator Joan Vila at the end of the rounding of the Saint Helena High.
Credit: Pedro Martinez/Volvo Ocean Race
MAPFRE managed to keep these immediate rivals, Dongfeng Race Team and Vestas 11th Hour Racing, at bay, arriving this Friday at 16:10'33 (French time) in 25-30 knots of wind. "I'm very proud of the team, it's been a very tight stage and we've been lucky enough to make fewer mistakes than our opponents." said skipper Xabi Fernandes, shortly after crossing the finish line. Three years ago, the boat crossed the finish line of this same stage in 7 e and last position
With this latest victory, the Spaniards confirm their status as favourites for the final victory. "The road ahead is still very long, we're moving step by step and we've got a long way to go to Melbourne." added Xabi Fernandez to put this success into perspective on a second stage, where the podium should be completed by Friday evening by Dongfeng Race Team and Vestas 11th Hour Racing.
Credit: Pedro Martinez/Volvo Ocean Race
