MADRID, 22 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Team Malizia signed up for the Newport (United States) ‘in port’ regatta this Sunday to lead the fleet at the start of stage five of The Ocean Race, across the Atlantic Ocean towards Aarhus (Denmark).
Stormy weather on Saturday saw the In-Port race postponed to Sunday and the first lap of the coastal course from the start of Stage 5 was scored as the Newport In Port Race. When the fleet passed the starting gate for the last time Team Malizia was just ahead of the 11th Hour Racing Team, followed by Team Holcim-PRB and Biotherm.
The transatlantic leg to Aarhus (Denmark) scores double, with three teams separated by one point at the top of the standings. Stage 5 is shaping up to be a very important step towards overall victory in the regatta. “Things couldn’t be going better for our team and for the race in general. Anything can happen, we have to stay focused and keep doing a good job. Stage 5 is exciting. It’s an iconic stage in offshore racing and it will be exciting until the end”, said Boris Herrmann, skipper of Team Malizia.
Overall leader Kevin Escoffier’s Team Holcim-PRB is sailing with a new mast. The team barely had time to test it, they were only able to sail for a couple of hours yesterday before the inclement weather hit.