The result means the red and white Volvo Ocean 65 skippered by Charles Caudrelier of France, and sponsored by Dongfeng Motor Corporation, is now the overall leader in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 In-Port Race series after four races.
The In-Port Race Series does not count towards the overall rankings in the main Volvo Ocean Race – in which Dongfeng lies second behind MAPFRE after four legs – but it will be used as a tie-breaker if two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the race.
Dongfeng made a good start on a racecourse dominated by streaky, light winds and surrounded by the impressive downtown skyscrapers of Hong Kong and Kowloon.
The early part of the four-leg contest featured a tight battle at the front between Caudrelier’s crew and Team AkzoNobel, skippered by Simeon Tienpont, which eventually ran out the clear winner after accelerating away on a puff of breeze on the third upwind leg.
With the Hong Kong Round the Island Race to come tomorrow, which also counts towards the In-Port Series totals, Dongfeng Race Team, on 24 points, now leads the In-Port standings by one point from MAPFRE – which finished today’s race in fourth place – with Team AkzoNobel and Team Brunel tied in third place on 18 points.
In-Port Race Overall Leaderboard:
1. Dongfeng Race Team - 24 points
2. MAPFRE - 23 points
3. team AkzoNobel - 18 points
4. Team Brunel - 18 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing - 12 points
6. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag - 9 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic - 7 points
Overall Leaderboard (up to Leg 4)
1. MAPFRE - 33 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team - 29 points
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing - 23 points
4. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag - 19 points
5. Team Brunel - 17 points
6. team Akzo Nobel - 14 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic - 8 points
