Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing left its rivals trailing far behind to win a shortened opening in-port stage of the Volvo Ocean Race Saturday as the 11th edition of the tough eight-month event got under way off Alicante, Spain. Skippered by British double Olympic silver medalist Ian Walker, Abu Dhabi took an early lead in their sleek black 70-foot yacht Azzam before storming across the line to claim the six points awarded for victory. Puma Ocean Racing, with Prince Carl Philip of Sweden on board, were second in the six-team race, more than 14 minutes down, and took five points. Camper were third, a further two minutes behind, and were awarded four points. The wind, which had earlier been gusting to around 17 knots, unexpectedly died in the middle stages leaving the huge vessels floundering just off the Spanish coast and prompting officials to shorten the race. “It's a great win and feels fantastic,” Walker, who is leading the first Middle East bid to win the 39,000 nautical mile race, said in a television interview broadcast on the official website. “We rounded the first mark ahead but there was still a lot to do,” added the 41-year-old. “It was very tricky (in the light air) and none of us were expecting it.” Team Sanya, the first sole Chinese entry, were fourth (three points), Groupama, the first French entry since 1993-94, were fifth (two) and Team Telefonica of Spain sixth (one). The first ocean leg, for which 30 points are awarded to the winner, starts in Alicante on Nov. 5 and ends in Cape Town, South Africa 6,500 miles away.
