Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race
Sunday 28 June 2009, 10:30 GMT
The sun was just starting to burn through the clouds when the public prizegiving ceremony for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race started on the beach outside the historic Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.
All eight teams, including the home favourites, Team Russia, were called to the stage to have their accomplishments celebrated. There will be a gala prizegiving dinner this evening as well, for teams, families, friends and sponsors.
The top three teams on the overall ranking, third-placed Telefonica Blue, second-placed PUMA Ocean Racing, and the winner of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, Ericsson 4, remained on stage together for the traditional 'champagne moment' with the sailors enthusiastically showering the media along with the assembled crowd.
Ericsson 4 skipper Torben Grael accepted the 'Fighting Finsh' trophy on behalf of his winning team, who all looked much refreshed having had a chance to recover from the exertions of the final leg, to say nothing of the last nine months. There was a definite playfulness to the proceedings; the tension of the race is slowly easing away.
The teams will celebrate more tonight, but by Monday evening, the race boats will be on the move again, most sailing back to their home ports. The fleet is expected to depart overnight Monday night when the bridges along the Neva River are raised to allow them passage back out to sea.
Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race