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Monday, April 30, 2018: Eight days after leaving Itajaí, Brazil on Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race bound for Newport, Rhode Island on the eastern seaboard of the United States, team AkzoNobel today crossed the equator in fifth place in the seven-boat fleet.
The nine-strong international crew of professional sailors – seven men and two women – crossed from the southern to the northern hemisphere shortly before midday – the final equator crossing of this edition of the eight-month, 83,000-kilometer around-the-world race.
The team AkzoNobel sailors have had to show plenty of mettle over the first week at sea on the 10,500-kilometer passage after struggling to find the perfect sail setup early in the leg, and then failing to take advantage of a sequence of opportunities to close down the leaders over the weekend.
Today however the crew is almost within striking range of the four-boat leading group comprising Vestas 11th Hour Racing (DEN/USA), Dongfeng Race Team (CHN), Turn the Tide on Plastic (UN), and Team Brunel (NED).
Now back in the northern hemisphere for the first time since February the team AkzoNobel sailors are looking forward to clocking up some fast miles once they can latch on to the strong and reliable trade winds north of the equatorial band.
“The mood is good on board and everyone is happy,” reported team AkzoNobel helmsman and sail trimmer Luke Molloy (AUS). “We are back in the hunt for the lead and looking forward to getting back on the fast reaching sails and heading for the finish.”
Latest estimates suggest the fleet will take another week to complete the final 5,500 kilometers of Leg 8, with the leading boats currently expected to arrive in Newport on Tuesday May 8.
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