As forecast, the south easterly winds were lively, peaking at around 40 knots and leaving the seas in the shadow of Table Bay churned up like a white water track. While uncomfortable for the flotilla of spectator boats, there were no better conditions than these to show the Volvo Open 70s at their smokin' best.

Several boats wiped out in 40 knots of breeze while others ran aground, broke lines and battens but after Brasil 1 won the start, the Dutch boat took the lead early on in the first leg and sailed an impeccable race round the 25 mile track, increasing their lead with each mark rounding to cross the finish line almost seven minutes ahead of second placed movistar.

Such domination was a far cry from ABN AMRO ONE’s performance in the first inshore race in Sanxenxo where light winds left them floundering in sixth place and it was this reversal of fortunes that pleased the Kiwi skipper most, he said afterwards.

“It is nice to get that monkey off our backs from Sanxenxo,” said Sanderson.

“We had the boat at full pace on the first lap then realised we were going OK so it was a matter of just finishing off the job so that we still have plenty of gas left in the tank.

“The wind got up to 40 knots and that is tough work for 11 guys but we wanted to make sure we got in here first so we didn’t push too hard.

“We are pretty happy with our day’s sailing, especially that we didn’t wipe out on that first downwind leg and we didn’t push the boat that hard.

Sanderson put their success down to accurate weather advice, good crew work plus one of the best performing canting keels in the fleet.

“Charging into a gybe is like driving a skiff – if you get stuck in the middle, it can be pretty scary but to come out at full righting moment is pretty good. We came out each of ours with windward heel and nowhere close to wiping out.”

This was in stark contrast to fifth placed Pirates of the Caribbean, which wiped out on every lap costing them several places, to skipper Paul Cayard’s deep frustration.

“We obviously had a lot of trouble gybing and that was very frustrating and cost us second place,” he commented.

“We could not get the main to come in. Whatever our technique was, we couldn’t get the main to come across and as the keel was swinging, the boat became less and less stable so we were definitely doing something wrong. I will have to look at the tapes and figure it out.”

“That was the most wind we have ever gybed in so we have never been able to practice that manoevre in those winds. We didn’t sail leg one and did not have much time to train but even so, we have all sailed in heavy airs so there was something wrong with our technique. Apart from that we were going OK. Losing is never fun, especially when you have been in second place. It was frustrating.”

There were smiles all round on ABN AMRO TWO, who put in yet another superb performance to finish in third place, despite running aground on the first leg.

“The first reach was exciting for us,” said navigator Simon Fisher.

“I managed to find the beach at Blouberg quite well and broke a few battens in the main when we were trying to get out of that situation and the boys had to hang on but after that they did a fantastic job. When we hit the bottom we had a bit of a broach coming out of it but we were OK after that. It was great fun but I’m glad it is over. It was pretty exciting – driving downwind in 38 knots is pretty good.

“It is phenomenal that we have been training together for just six months and we have beaten guys like Torben Grael and Paul Cayard. When we were sneaking up ahead of Brasil 1, I kept thinking ‘that guys got five Olympic medals’. It’s not bad is it?

“We were hoping just to get round the course and hold the boat together but to end with a podium place is awesome.”

Another boat to suffer a dramatic wipe out was Bouwe Beking’s movistar, who crossed the line three minutes ahead of ABN AMRO TWO after a three way tussle in the final straits with Brasil 1.

“It was a bit hairy, going 33 knots downwind. There was a mega puff – we think it was 38 knots on the dial – and the winds were stronger than we were so we couldn’t get the main on and we had to let the runner go otherwise we would have lost the rig. The next time, there was less pressure and we had more space.

“ABN AMRO sailed the perfect race but our performance has given us confidence for the future.”

Not so Ericsson, which despite starting as favourites limped home in sixth place, having broken a reef line.

There was no disguising the disappointment as the crew crossed the line just 50 seconds ahead of underdogs ING Real Estate Brunel.

“It’s a long race, but we are a little disappointed,” said John Kostecki, Ericsson’s tactician.

“It was unfortunate that our race was decided by the breakdown we had. We would have had a closer run if we didn’t have the break, and we were definitely still competitive until that point, but that’s racing.

“It was not much of a tactical race because the right hand side of the course was so favourable. It was more a race of boat speed. I think movistar got the second place because they sailed the boat well, not just because of speed, while ABN seemed like they won it because of boat speed. So my prediction (that boat handling would beat boat speed) was half right!”

Source: Volvo Ocean Race Media Office