MAPFRE loses its leadership status
Arriving in Itajai on Sunday morning (8th April 2018) at 07:59 (UTC, 9:59 in France) after 21 days 06 hours 59 minutes and 09 seconds, MAPFRE finished fifth in this seventh leg, its worst result since the start of the Volvo Ocean Race last October. With points counting double on this leg, the Spanish crew, who have led the fleet up to now, have been snatched first place by the Dongfeng Race Team. The Franco-Chinese team has not yet won a stage, but has been consistent since the start (four second places out of the six stages raced).
"We expected better than this and we didn't end up in a great position... but it's not the end of the world," said Spanish skipper Xabi Fernández. Concerning his crew, he added "I think we faced a lot of compromises during this stage because we had a lot of problems, so it has nothing to do with our teamwork. We've performed very well so far, so I don't think it's a question of turning the crew around, just a matter of sailing a little bit better in the future."
An uncertain lead
Even if Dongfeng Race Team takes the lead, it is only 1 point ahead of MAPFRE.
"To move up to the top of the overall standings is of course good news for Dongfeng Race Team. It's a big psychological boost for the team, it's a great psychological boost for the team, it's a boost for the team and it's a boost for the hopes of a final victory. MAPFRE loses its leading position in special circumstances, but which are also part of the race. We had dismasted on this stage three years ago and lost a lot of ground in the overall standings. Above all, it reminds us all that the race is not over, that things can unravel very quickly, especially on stages with a coefficient of two, so there is still a lot to do"
Four more steps to play
There are still four stages to go before we know the big winner of this Volvo Ocean Race 2017/2018. This 7th leg has already been a great success, with Team Brunel now third on the podium, just behind Dongfeng Race Team and MAPFRE.
The Dutch team scored 16 points (including two bonus points for rounding Cape Horn and arriving in Itajaí) in this stage and took third place, ten points behind the Dongfeng Race Team and three points ahead of AkzoNobel.
The next leg to Newport will start on April 22nd. In the meantime, all the competitors will be able to recover from a particularly tough stage.
The general classification of the Volvo Ocean Race:
- Dongfeng Race Team 46 points
- MAPFRE 45 points
- Team Brunel 36 points
- Team AkzoNobel 33 points
- Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag 26 points
- Vestas 11th Hour Racing 23 points
- Turn the Tide on Plastic 20 points
