Alvimedica makes port as Volvo Ocean Race fleet awaits Team SCA arrival at Abu Dhabi

Moments after Team Alvimedica docked on Sunday night, captain Charlie Enright reflected on his boat’s fluctuating fortunes in the Volvo Ocean Race. “We’ve had moments of brilliance,” the 30-year-old American said. “Now we hope we can link them all together.” Still to come are Team SCA, who were expected to finish around midnight. If they arrive after 12 it would put them into their 25th day at sea.

Charlie Enright, captain of Team Alvimedica, prepares to tie off his vessel, the fifth to arrive to Abu Dhabi after Leg 2 from Cape Town. Francois Nel / Volvo Ocean Race

ABU DHABI // Moments after Team Alvimedica docked on Sunday night, captain Charlie Enright reflected on his boat's fluctuating fortunes in the Volvo Ocean Race.

“We’ve had moments of brilliance,” the 30-year-old American said. “Now we hope we can link them all together.”

Alvimedica, a boat crewed by Americans and backed by a Turkish medical company, came home fifth, 29 hours behind winners Team Brunel, despite leading Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race for a week after the departure from Cape Town.

“It was exhilarating,” Enright said of the early advantage. “But that was a different time.

“Only 20 per cent of the race is done. We still have time. A few tweaks here or there.”

Ten hours earlier yesterday, the Spanish team Mapfre crossed the finish line for a fourth-place finish.

Team Brunel, Dongfeng and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing finished on Saturday, and the trio are tied for first on four points under the new scoring system, in which the team with the fewest points win.

Alvimedica are fourth on 10 points, one ahead of Mapfre.

Team SCA were expected to finish around midnight, and if they came in after 12 it would put them into their 25th day at sea. The leaders finished in 23.

“It’s a bit frustrating to do all this preparation to just follow the other boats and not really race them,” said Elodie-Jane Mettraux, a member of the all-woman crew that trained for nearly two years ahead of the race. I hope we’ll be able to race the other boats next time.”

Added crew member Dee Caffari: “It’s been a tough leg, especially weather-wise, so it’s a good thing it’s coming to an end.”

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