The seven Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 teams are preparing for the very last start after more than eight months and 45,000 nautical miles of ocean racing. Today Saturday 30 June in The Hague the closing Brunel In-Port Race is on the programme. An emotional moment for the sailors, many of whom will race together for the last time after the long and intensive period as teammates.
It will be a bittersweet moment for the sailors, many of whom may be racing together for the last time after spending many miles at sea as close teammates.
Although MAPFRE won the overall In-Port Race Series with their performance in Gothenburg, there is still much at stake on Saturday, including a tie-break scenario on the overall leaderboard.
SHK/Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Plastic are on equal points for sixth place on the overall Volvo Ocean Race leaderboard. David Witt’s Scallywags currently win the tie-break based on their lead in the In-Port Series. But Dee Caffari’s Turn the Tide on Plastic is just three points back. A good performance on Saturday, with some boats in-between, could lift Turn the Tide on Plastic into sixth place for both the In-Port Series and the overall Volvo Ocean Race.
Dutch batlle
There is also a battle going on between the two Dutch skippers Simeon Tienpont of Team AkzoNobel and Bouwe Bekking of Team Brunel. They compete for the last overall podium place of the harbour races. The difference is only two points, with team AkzoNobel currently in third position. In addition, Tienpont and his crew still have a chance of second place overall, although the gap with Dongfeng Race Team is up to five points.
The start is earlier than normal, at 13:30 Dutch time. The Brunel In-Port Race is broadcast live on all the usual channels of the Volvo Ocean Race.
And AkzoNobel has an outside chance at catching Dongfeng Race Team for second place, although the gap is five points.
Racing starts earlier than usual, at 1330 local time (1130 UTC), and will be broadcast live on all of the usual Volvo Ocean Race outlets.
Current Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Points Table
1. MAPFRE – 61 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 50 points
3. team AkzoNobel – 45 points
4. Team Brunel – 43 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 33 points
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 24 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 21 points
How to follow the Brunel In-Port Race The Hague
Racing starts at 1330 local time (1130 UTC), on Saturday, 30th June.
On the website:
Head to www.volvooceanrace.com to catch a live stream of the action from 1315 local time (1115 UTC). A post race story summarising the action and with quotes from the skippers will be posted shortly after racing has finished.