At 20:00 on October 22, 2017 BJT, the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018, up to 45,000 sea miles, officially kicked off. The Dongfeng Race Team, taking part in the race in a foreign field, defeated its powerful competitors; finished all the standard actions within the harbor and was the first to pull into the Mediterranean sea and set out towards the Strait of Gibraltar.
After the race was started, MAPFRE at its home field broke in in full fury and was the first to rush out the starting line. Dongfeng Race Team withstood the pressure and unfolded a fierce fight with Team Brunel and MAPFRE. When they were about to round the third landmark, competitive Team Brunel and MAPFRE were not avoiding Dongfeng Race Team who was sailing at the leeward, and forced to surpass. As a result, Team Brunel and MAPFRE were penalized and gradually lagged behind by other teams. Dongfeng Race Team finally maintained its pioneering advantage till the end.
As we all know, off-shore race and short-distance race are short slabs of the Dongfeng Race Team. In the previous Alicante Harbour competition, although Dongfeng Race Team was the second winner, there were still a lot of media thought that it was “luck”. The perfect setting sail of Dongfeng Race Team this time not only responded to the questioning voice of the outside world, but also gave the crew of the fleet a cardiotonic. It turns out that the specialized training on setting sail, off-shore races and short-distance races has achieved certain success.
It is reported that the first stage from Alicante to Lisbon is 1,450 sea miles. Participant fleets are expected to reach the Strait of Gibraltar 24 hours later. The Strait of Gibraltar is always the thoroughfare connecting the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic. Whether the Dongfeng Race Team is able to lead the race again and be the first to arrive at the Strait after 24 hours, let’s wait and see. All fleets are planned to get to Lisbon on October 28.
The battle drum has been beat. Although changes may happen at any moment and the opponents are tough, just like Captain Charles said before the race, “Pressure is always there. But compared with three years ago, I have had a fleet in dreams.” It is time to let the world see the real power of Dongfeng Race Team from the east.
