The Volvo Winds Up

Author:: Peter Nielsen
Publish date:: Jul 2, 2018

MAPFRE_180624_MMuina_4544 — María Muiña/MAPFRE

After a series of pitched battles that led to some of the closest-ever race finishes in ocean racing history, the grand finale of the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race was a publicist’s dream: three teams started the race’s last leg from Gothenburg, Sweden to The Hague, Netherlands, on equal points. It was between the two red boats–Spanish-flagged Mapfre and China’s Dongfeng—and Dutch team Brunel. Dongfeng took the win—and the overall race—with a masterful display of tactical sailing.

MAPFRE_180624_MMuina_4340 — María Muiña/MAPFRE

Final points were Dongfeng 73, Mapfre 70, Team Brunel 69, AkzoNobel 59, Vestas 39, with Turn the Tide on Plastic and Scallywag/SHKS tied for sixth on 32 points apiece.

It took the final in-port race to break the tie sixth; as Team Brunel eked out a tough win, TTOP beat Scallywag to win sixth place overall on a tiebreak. With that, the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race was over.

Video: Peter Burling and Blair Tuke Opti Match Race

July 2018

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