Volvo Ocean Race: Dongfeng were the first-ever Chinese stage winners. (Photo : Reuters)
As the first glimpses of daylight emerged in accordance with the GMT time zone on Friday, the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew was in front of China's Dongfeng Race Team by just four nautical miles (nm) during the fourth leg of the epic Volvo Ocean Race.
The two competitors need to travel approximately 250 more nautical miles to reach their destination of Auckland, New Zealand, which they are expected to do by late Saturday.
With skippers Ian Walker and Charles Caudrelier--of the Abu Dhabi and Chinese crews, respectively--battling it out on the open waters, the close contest becomes a double rivalry. Walker is a Brit, while the Dongfeng skipper hails from his native country of France; of course, the historical and cultural rivalry between the two nations precedes the Volvo Ocean Race.
In addition to any French-British baggage that may or may not exist between the skippers, both men are birthday celebrants this week, as Walker turned 45 on Thursday, while Caudrelier entered his 41st year on the following day.
However, according to the Frenchman, his British rival has been the sole recipient of any good fortune that might be the result of the birthday week.
Caudrelier explained in his daily blog post:
". . . we've been the victims of a cruel squall . . . Without wind for 30 minutes, we went backwards against the swell while Abu Dhabi sped up to 18 knots . . . That was his [Walker] gift. I'm waiting for mine before the end of the leg."
The 5,264-nm leg of the ocean race, which began in Sanya, China, is accurately described as "neck-and-neck," and even though Dongfeng clung to a slight lead on Thursday, the weather tables quickly turned to give their rival the advantage.
The two crews are currently one point apart in the overall standings, with third-leg winners Dongfeng in the upper position.
