DongfengRaceTeam(CharlesCaudrelier/FRA)edgedoverallVolvoOceanRaceleadersAbuDhabiOceanRacing(IanWalker/GBR)byjustthreeminutesand25secondstowinLeg6toNewportafteranenthrallingdueloverthepast24hours(fullreportbelow).-SkipperCaudrelierpraisesshorecrewafterthrillingwin-AbuDhabiOceanRacingwithinfourminutesofvictors-FollowthefinalboatsinonourAppNEWPORT,RhodeIsland,USA(May7)–DongfengRaceTeam(CharlesCaudrelier/FRA)edgedoverallVolvoOceanRaceleadersAbuDhabiOceanRacing(IanWalker/GBR)byjustthreeminutesand25secondstowinLeg6toNewportafteranenthrallingdueloverthepast24hours.TheresultcutstheEmiratiboat’sleadovertheChinese-backedchallengerstosixpointsandmarksafantasticcomebackforCaudrelierandhiscrewaftertheywereforcedtopulloutofthepreviouslegtoItajaíbecauseofabrokenmast.TheFrenchskipperpaidtributetohisshorecrewwhomanagedtofitanewriginunderaweekinBrazilandpreparetheboatforthe5,010-nauticalmile(nm),ultra-competitivenextstagethroughtheAtlantic.“Forthisleg,thegoalwastobereadyinItajaíandthe(shore)crewdidafantasticjob.I’dliketogivethemthevictory,”saidCaudrelier.“I’mveryproudofthemandveryhappytotakethisfirstplace.Theyworkedveryhardtogetthisboatready.I’mreally,reallyhappy.”AbuDhabiOceanRacingmadeCaudrelierandhismenworkallthewayforthewinafter17daysatseaandeventhreatenedtooverturntheirleadastheypassedBlockIsland30nmfromthefinish.“WewerewithinacoupleoflengthsofgettingoverthematBlockIsland-literallythreeorfourboatlengthsfromrollingthem-buttheyheldonanddugdeep.Verywelldeservedwin,”saidWalker.Caudrelier’shopesofbouncingbackforthetriumphhadlookedinseriousjeopardyjusttwodaysintotheleg,whichstartedonApril19,whentheelectronicwater-maker,whichconvertsseawaterintodrinkingwater,brokedown.Hesaidifhiscrewhadnotbeenabletorepairit,theywouldhavehadtomakea12-hourstop.‘Wewouldn’thavehadtoretire,butwewouldhavehadtostopandfixit.Whenyoustopinthisrace,youseethedifferencebetweentheboats,andthatmeansthelegisoverbecauseitmeansyouloseatleast12hours,”saidCaudrelier,whoseboatfinishedinanelapsedtimeof17days,ninehoursandthreeminutesexactlyafterleavingItajaí.“Thatwouldhavemeantanotherlegwherewewouldhavefinishedlast.”DutchchallengersTeamBrunel(BouweBekking/NED)finishedjustover55minutesafterDongfengtoclaimthefinalpodiumspotfollowingyetanotherclosely-foughtleg.ItwillhavebeenabigrelieftoBekkingwhoseboathasbeenpippedinsimilarclosefinishesinearlierlegs.“It’salwaysgoodtobebackonthepodium.Buttheraceislostforus,wehavetotellthepublicaboutthat,becauseAbuDhabihasaninaccessibleleadnowcomparedtous,hesaid.Dongfengstillhasagoodchance.Theysailedanexcellentleg,congratulationstothem.AndtoAbuDhabitoo–theybothsailedverywell.“We’reaimingforsecondandwestillwanttowintheIn-PortSeriesaswell.We’reintheleadoverthere.We’vegotacoupleofthingstosailfor–andofcoursewewanttowinacoupleoflegs.MAPFRE(XabiFernández/ESP)followedTeamBrunelhomeinfourthspotwithanelapsedtimeof17days10hours34minutesand25secondswithTeamAlvimedica(CharlieEnright/USA)headingforahometownwelcomeinfifthplaceaheadofTeamSCA(SamDavies/GBR),whowereexpectedtofinishlateronThursday.Currentlateststandings(lowpointswins,TeamAlvimedica*andTeamSCA*yettofinishLeg6):1)AbuDhabiOceanRacing11pts,2)DongfengRaceTeam17,3)TeamAlvimedica19*,4)TeamBrunel21,5)MAPFRE24,6)TeamSCA29*,7)TeamVestas(Denmark)44.

via Agloriouscomeback|VolvoOceanRace2014-2015.