Bold Olsson leads Volvo field round Cape Horn
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The combination of veterans and apprentices that makes up the Nordic crew of Ericsson 3 led the way round Cape Horn yesterday on the fifth leg of the Volvo round-the-world race.
Skipper Magnus Olsson, who will be 60 next month, held a lead of more than two hours and 50 miles over his stablemate, the five times Brazilian Olympic medallist, Torben Grael on Ericsson 4 – an achievement of double significance.
Grael leads the race overall and is favourite to lift the trophy at the final stopover in St Petersburg. Olsson had started what, at 12,300 miles, is the longest leg in the history of the race with a deficit of five hours after repairs kept him in Taiwan on the way to Qingdao, China.
Ericsson 4's crew member Guy Salter passed on congratulations to Olsson's team. "The Ericsson 3 boys have managed to hold us off and fair play to them.
"They played a good move early after the last scoring gate – a move which none of the rest of us were as brave to play and go against all that is traditional with the NZ to the Horn leg," he said.
In third place, and also due to round one of the world's most notorious landmarks yesterday, is the American entry Puma, skippered by Ken Read, but the Irish-backed entry, Green Dragon, in fourth place, was in its own race against the clock.
The British skipper and double Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker was hoping to celebrate with some Guinness on St Patrick's Day but, even with the help of southern Chile being a few hours behind British time, he may have to delay any toasts until today.
Struggling to keep up with the Spanish entry Telefonica Blue, Bouwe Bekking – hobbled with a broken forestay – is also nursing a cracked mast through the 50-knot winds of the Southern Ocean.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments