Groupama notch first win of the Volvo Ocean Race

Spain’s Telefónica secured overall victory on the second leg of the Volvo round the world race with a strong second place on the sprint finish, but the last word went to France’s Groupama as they notching up its first win of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, snatching top spot ahead of their rivals in the dying moments of the sprint into Abu Dhabi.

Franck Cammas edged Goupama past Iker Martinez on Telefónica just over 10 miles from the Abu Dhabi finish line, claiming victory in the 98-nautical mile sprint from the northern United Arab Emirates by just 52 seconds to take a maximum six points.

Telefónica, the overall race leaders, are the Leg 2 winners with 29 points following their first place in Stage 1 from Cape Town to the undisclosed ‘safe haven’ in the Indian Ocean.

The second Spanish entry Camper, managed by Team New Zealand, was third scoring four points finished 50 seconds ahead of the American-flagged Puma. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker, was fifth.

As a safety measure to deter piracy, race organisers split the second leg into two stages. After racing to the safe haven port, the boats were loaded onto a ship and transported through the worst affected waters to the northern United Arab Emirates.

They were then unloaded with racing resuming with a 98 nautical mile sprint into Abu Dhabi, the first time the race has visited the Middle East in its 38-year history.

Team Sanya, the sixth team in this edition of the race, is currently in Madagascar making repairs to their rig.. Once the rig is repaired the team will race to the safe haven port where they will meet the fleet for the second stage of Leg 3.

Leg 2 Stage 2 results*:

1. Groupama sailing team, 6 pts,

2. Team Telefónica, 5 pts,

3. Camper, 4 pts,

4. Puma, 3 pts,

5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, 2 pts

Overall Leg 2 results*:

1. Team Telefónica 29 pts

2. Camper 24

3. Puma 19

4. Groupama 18

5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 10

Overall leaderboard after Leg 2*:

1. Telefónica 66 pts

2. Camper 58

3. Groupama 42

4. Puma 28

5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 19

6. Team Sanya 4*

* Team Sanya will pick up the following points if they complete Leg 2 Stage 1 under race rules: 4 points for Leg 2 Stage 1; 1 point for Leg 2 Stage 2