IRC BOATS

!N-PORT RACE BLOG: ERICSSON 4 WINS THE DAY

Sunday 9 February 2009 06:40 GMT

So Ericsson 4 extends their lead following the in-port races in Qingdao. In fact. the results on the day matched the overall leaderboard coming into the races, to the gaps between the teams have just been extended, albeit slightly, heading into leg five.

We'll bring you dockside reaction and Mark Chisnell's 'Play of the Day' shortly. And of course, great photographs off the water by Rick Tomlinson and Dave Kneale. Stay tuned

Provisional Results and Points - Qingdao in-port race day

Race 1

1. Ericsson 4
2. Green Dragon
3. PUMA
4. Telefonica Blue

Race Two

1. Telefonica Blue
2. Ericsson 4
3. PUMA
4. Green Dragon

Overall for the day and scoring points

1. Ericsson 4 - 4 points
2. Telefonica Blue - 3.5 points
3. PUMA - 3.0 points
4. Green Dragon - 2.5

ERICSSON 3 ON THE MEND

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

Friday 6 February 2009 10:30 GMT

The pieces of Ericsson 3’s repair programme are slotting into place in Taiwan as the Nordic team races against the clock to make the start line for Leg 5.

There was cause for optimism when a new eight-metre square section of bow arrived from Italy and was fitted in the early hours of this morning.

Media Crew Member Gustav Morin witnessed events in the shipyard at Hualien. Here is his account of a “critical phase” in the mission ...

“Build team leader Andy Lowe and shore manager Ben Wright were the first ones to arrive in the shipyard to receive the big wooden box,” he wrote.

“'Will the shape, size and structure be correct? What if the carbon has delaminated during the flight?'”. All these worrying thoughts are running through my head. Of course everything has been thoroughly checked from the beginning and the process should proceed just as we planned. 'Bulletproof', I keep telling myself.

"Even in Ben’s and Andy’s eyes I can see a bit of relief when they open the box and conclude that everything is in order.

"Now, eight hours later, the piece has been cut, shaped and is ready to go. 'Like a glove', Andy says the first time we try it on. But just a few seconds later he wants to take it down again to make it fit even better. 'Just a few millimetres of sanding and it will fit perfectly'.

"And it does. One more step in the right direction.”

Ericsson 3’s objective is to make good the repair and complete Leg 4 under sail to Qingdao and collect the vital four points in the process.

The long-term aim is to be on the start line for Leg 5 from Qingdao to Rio on 14 February.

MAGNUS OLSSON TO REMAIN AS SKIPPER

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

Ericsson Racing Team today announced that Magnus Olsson will remain skipper of Ericsson 3 for Leg 5 to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Anders Lewander, who skippered the Nordic-crewed yacht for the first three legs of the Volvo Ocean Race, will step down.

Lewander was unable to sail aboard Ericsson 3 during Leg 4 due to a knee injury, but has since made a good recovery.

"Being a skipper in this race is a tough job and one that requires highly tuned leadership, and any skipper takes on the job in the full knowledge of the challenge that it poses. Given the tough times ahead for Ericsson 3, we have made the decision to change the dynamic onboard the boat and asked Magnus Olsson to remain as skipper," said Richard Brisius, the managing director of Ericsson Racing Team.

"In a way this is a bittersweet situation, but I am immensely proud of what we have achieved to date as a team," said Olsson, who is currently in Taiwan, where the boat is undergoing repairs. "I feel humbled by the responsibility and trust that the crew and the rest of Ericsson Racing Team have placed on me. We are now under real pressure to perform."

Riath Al-Samarrai will have full reaction to the announcement shortly.

Corby 29 'Idris' SOLD