Abu Dhabi: An enthralling Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race will reach its climax over the weekend, with Team Brunel, Dongfeng Race Team and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing still scrapping to be the first to the finish line at Abu Dhabi.
The 5,200 nautical mile (nm) stage has been filled with drama from the starting gun in Cape Town on November 19, when the boats left the South African port in 40 knots of wind with a possible cyclone warning issued just before departure.
They skirted the icebergs of the Southern Ocean, dodged a tropical depression and have this week kept clear of the Indian Ocean exclusion zone, which has protected them from a possible piracy attack.
One boat has not reached this point, as Team Vestas Wind ran into a reef 430 nautical miles north-east of Mauritius on November 29, abruptly ending their participation in the leg and several to come, if they can return at all.
The leaders have less than 350nm to go and are expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi between 2am and 10am on Saturday.
That gives Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker time for one last throw of the dice to catch Team Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team, 16nm ahead of him. He is hugging the Oman coast to the west in the Arabian Sea and was hoping to make swift gains on Thursday, but will then need to head east to catch the likely north-easterly wind, which will help guide the three leaders to the finish over the final 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi port is preparing for the arrival of the fleet and will officially open the Race Village there on Friday.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Adil Khalid is an Emirati and can’t wait to see his homeland in his second Volvo Ocean Race. He had a special message on Thursday for youngsters from Abu Dhabi who wish to follow in his footsteps: “If you’re always dreaming about something, you need to work for it. I achieved a lot of things because I had a dream. You’re going to get there one day, never give up.”
