Volvo Ocean Race

Review

Final results

Position / Team / Finish time / Point

1. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG / 53 minutes, 12 seconds / 6 points

2. CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand / 54 minutes, 31 seconds / 5 points

3. Team Telefónica / 55 minutes, 08 seconds / 4 points

4. Groupama sailing team / 55 minutes, 41 seconds / 3 points

5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / 57 minutes, 12 seconds / 2 points

6. Team Sanya / 57 minutes, 44 seconds / 1 point


PUMA produced a commanding performance in the final battle of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 to win the Discover Ireland In-Port Race and take the honours in the inshore series.

While Groupama sailing team were celebrating overall victory in the eight-month round-the-world race, they were denied what would have been a unique double as PUMA held on for the win they needed to win the inshore series.

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, wearing Ireland rugby shirts, scored six points for the win, taking their in-port total to 45 points and breaking their tie with CAMPER at the top of the inshore rankings.

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand finished second to place second in the 10-race series with 44. Telefónica finished third, followed by Groupama, who finished third in the inshore series.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing finished fifth, Team Sanya sixth.

"Winning anything is fun, whether it's an in-port race or a game of checkers,'' PUMA skipper Ken Read said. "All these guys on this boat did an amazing job, we just finished an around the world race, a Volvo race."

CAMPER were first off the downwind start-line as the fleet split in two, with PUMA, Sanya and Groupama opting for a course on the port side of the Galway Bay.

Their lead was short lived as the north-northeast wind gusted stronger at about 12 knots on the port side of the course, with PUMA leading around the first mark.

Overall race winners Groupama were just 10 seconds behind in second place followed by CAMPER, Sanya, Telefónica and Abu Dhabi, who were forced to make a penalty turn for failing to keep clear of Sanya on the opening leg.

Groupama overshot the second mark to allow CAMPER to gain a position and jump to second place behind PUMA.  Sanya held fourth, just ahead of Telefónica and Abu Dhabi.

Thousands of spectators on board hundreds of boats watched on as the fleet tussled for the final time on the 8.2 nautical mile inshore course. They weren’t disappointed as Groupama clawed back CAMPER to claim second place at the fifth mark.

PUMA continued to power and proved unbeatable, while Groupama and CAMPER fought tooth and nail to the end.

Downloads:

- Discover Ireland In-Port Race course map

- Discover Ireland In-Port Race crew list

Preview

Four teams will go into the final contest of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 today with a shot of winning the in-port series -- but all six teams will be looking to go out with a bang when the last battle commences at 1200 UTC on July 7, 2012.

The Discover Ireland In-Port Race marks the end of the current edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, an epic round-the-world marathon comprising nine offshore legs covering more than 39,000 nautical miles and 10 close-combat inshore races.

French team Groupama secured overall victory at the end of Leg 9 from Lorient, France, to Galway in Ireland, but the fight for the In-Port Series Trophy will go down to the wire today with the top four teams split by just four points.

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand currently top the table with 39 points, tied with PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG.

Groupama sailing team are just one point behind on 38 while Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing are four points behind the leaders, still with an outside chance of victory.

Telefónica helmsman Xabi Fernandez will sit the race out due to an injury. He will be replaced by the team's health co-ordinator and physical trainer Iñigo Losada.

Downloads

- Discover Ireland In-Port Race course map

- Discover Ireland In-Port Race crew list