Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam won in her competitive debut against two other Volvo 65 boats, crossing the line first in the Artemis Challenge in light conditions at Cowes Week in England.
The race around the Isle of Wight is another step in the preparation of captain's Ian Walker's boat, one of the five identically prepared Volvo 65s that will contest the 2014/15 edition of the around-the-world Volvo Ocean Race (VOR).
British musician and keen sailor Simon Le Bon, lead singer of the group Duran Duran, joined the crew for what turned out to be a tight contest with China’s Dongfeng Race Team and the Swedish all-female Team SCA also competing.
“It is difficult to deduce much from the race, but it was our first race and we won it,” Walker said. “We were comfortable with our decision making, boat handling and speeds, but in the context of an ocean leg on the Volvo, it wasn’t relevant.”
Azzam led from the start and the Emirati crew member Adil Khalid, a trimmer and helmsman, said the team had performed well.
“We got a great start and after that everything went according to plan,” said the veteran of the 2012/13 Volvo Ocean Race. “It’s very satisfying to get our first win for Abu Dhabi under our belts.”
A much more challenging competition begins tomorrow, the Round Britain and Ireland Race.
Not only is it far longer than the lap around the Isle of Wight, heavy weather is expected.
“The Round Britain and Ireland Race will be a completely difference proposition because there is a lot of weather coming in so it will be a real test,” Walker said. “But we have done a lot of training and are well prepared.”
The VOR begins at Alicante, Spain, on October 11, moving on to Cape Town and then to Abu Dhabi for the new year.
The race continues with stops in China, New Zealand, Brazil, the US, Portugal and France ahead of the finish, at Gothenburg, Sweden, on or about June 17.
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