Telefonica Blue wins first in-port race in Alicante

Telefonica Blue won the first race of the day, after dominating it from the start. Unlike what was forecast yesterday, Saturday's conditions were dominated by light and shifty winds, up to 40 degrees at times, that, unfortunately didn't allow the hundreds of spectator boats to truly appreciate the powerful Volvo Open 70 yachts. The race committee had to wait around 15 minutes for the breeze to settle down before firing the starting gun.

The yacht skippered by Bouwe Bekking didn't encounter any problems in establishing and keeping a lead but the true fight was taking place for 2nd and 3rd place, between their sistership Telefonica Black and Green Dragon. The Spanish and Chino-Irish boats were alternating positions until the last weather mark. Telefonica, with a first and a second, couldn't have asked for a better beginning of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The two Ericsson boats were a disappointment, especially Ericsson 4, the boat helmed by Torben Grael. Although it did recover and climbed positions, Grael had a very bad start by being late and getting squeezed on the committee boat end of the line.

Start of the 1st race. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Start of the 1st race. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Telefonica Blue leads at the approach to the 1st weather mark. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Green Dragon rounds the weather mark second. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Telefonica Black starts the 1st run in third place. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Preparing to hoist the spinnaker on Ericsson 4 at the weather mark. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The VOR70 fleet in the second run. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Team Russia at the weather mark. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Telefonica Blue crosses the middle gate comfortably ahead of the fleet in the second beat. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Telefonica Black and Green Dragon approaching the 2nd weather mark. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Ericsson 4 readying to hoist the spinnaker at the 2nd weather mark. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

The leaders of the race in last run. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Puma approaching the 2nd weather mark. Alicante, 4 October 2008. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing