China’s Dongfeng Race Team Clinches Volvo Ocean Race Victory
By Alexander Smith LONDON, June 24 (Reuters)– China’s Dongfeng Race Team won the Volvo Ocean Race on Sunday, the initial triumph for a group consisting of females in the round-the-world marathon.
The Chinese- backed group held back its closest rivals MAPFRE and also Team Brunel to safeguard total triumph, with Dutch seafarer Carolijn Brouwer and also France’s Marie Riou going across the line off the Hague to secure the last leg.
Dongfeng was within view of its competitors as they came close to the surface to assert their initial leg triumph because leaving Alicante in Spain in October in 2015.
“It’s crazy, it’s been an insane race. I can’t describe how I feel. My goal was to win the race and to be the first woman to do it,” Brouwer stated. “We just had to keep our cool, to keep our head together,” she included as she snuggled her young child.
Skippered by race professional Charles Caudrelier, Dongfeng had not formerly won a leg, as they fought hilly seas in the Southern Ocean and also wandered via the Doldrums in the 45,000 maritime mile race, yet had actually been one of the most constant team amongst the 7 rivals. The team displayed the Chinese flag after travelling throughout goal, while Brouwer raised the Dutch colours in accomplishment.
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“I’m not sure I have been the best skipper, but I have had the best team around me,” an in tears Caudrelier stated after approving the mug as soon as onto land.
Dongfeng’s win likewise robs 2 New Zealanders, Peter Burling aboard Brunel and also Blair Tuke on MAPFRE, of cruising’s evasive “Triple Crown” of Olympic gold, the America’s Cup and also the Volvo Ocean Race.
The win by the Chinese group in the race, which started in the 1970s and also is considered among the most difficult in cruising because a lot of it is going across the remote and also dangerous Southern Ocean, is likewise a very first for China, which has actually been eager to create overseas auto racing.
Chinese seafarers Yang Jiru “Wolf”, Chen Jinhao “Horace” and also Xue Liu “Black” were done in the 12-member team for their 2nd Volvo Ocean Race with Dongfeng after protecting a platform surface at their initial effort, together with race professionals from France, the Netherlands, New Zealand and alsoAustralia (Reporting by Alex Smith; Editing by Jon Boyle and also David Evans)
( c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018.
