Dongfeng becomes first Chinese boat to win Volvo Ocean Race; David Witt, of Hong Kong’s Scallywag, just happy to finish
French skipper Charles Caudrelier takes a gamble that paid of handsomely as Dongfeng pips main rivals Mapfre and Team Brunel for overall honours
The Chinese flag was flying high over the justice capital of the world on Sunday after Dongfeng Race Team pulled off a dramatic gamble to pip main rivals Mapfre and Team Brunel for overall honours in the Volvo Ocean Race – the first mainland-owned boat to win the planet’s most prestigious round-the-world yacht race.
Dongfeng, skippered by Frenchman Charles Caudrelier, on Saturday took the coastal route into The Hague in the Netherlands from Gothenburg in Sweden after findinging themselves more than 50 miles off the leaders heading for the finish line.
With their rivals coming in from the east, it seemed like the move would backfire but when it came to the finish, Dongfeng was able to overtake the leaders as they struggled for winds. It was the closest finish in the 45-year history of the race. The boat is sponsored by Dongfeng Motor Corporation, a Chinese state-owned car maker based in Wuhan.
“I can’t believe it,” said Caudrelier. “There was so much attrition in our races, we were always in good positions [in previous races] but in the last part we fade. I said we have to win, I have a fantastic team around me and we won.
“Even today, we were not in such a good position but we trusted our choices and we won and I have to say thank you to Dongfeng for giving me this trust.
“I’m not sure I am the best skipper in the fleet but I’m sure I have the best crew around me. I had a good feeling we would win, I thought we couldn’t lose and we won.”
Dongfeng finished at 10.22pm (Hong Kong time) on Sunday night, almost 16 minutes ahead of Team AkzoNobel with Spain’s Mapfre third and Team Brunel fourth.