Abu Dhabi takes seven-point lead in Volvo Ocean Race after winning leg five
China's Dongfeng struggling in second after failing to complete leg
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing emerged victorious on Sunday after 6,776 nautical miles (nm) of immensely challenging racing in leg five to take a big advantage at the top of the Volvo Ocean Race standings.
Briton Ian Walker’s crew now stand seven points clear of their nearest rivals, Dongfeng Race Team.
The Chinese boat, Dongfeng, suffered a broken mast in the Southern Ocean last Monday and were later forced to pull out of the leg, having started the stage level at the top of the standings with Abu Dhabi.
Dongfeng were not the only team to encounter serious problems with Spanish boat Mapfre and the all-women’s crew of Swedish Team SCA also crashing to their sides in so-called ‘Chinese gybes’ before righting.
Additionally, several of the boats suffered damage to their sails along the way.
Walker, as usual, barely had a wink of sleep over the final 48 hours of a three-week leg as he staved off challenges from Mapfre, Turkish-US boat Team Alvimedica and Team Brunel of the Netherlands, to clinch victory.
An elated but exhausted Walker certainly was not taking overall victory in the race for granted after sailing into a packed Itajam harbour following the 19-day crossing through the South Pacific, Southern Ocean and south Atlantic.