Spanish Moment in the Sun

Despite arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, in the dark, the Spanish Volvo Ocean Race team, Desafío MAPFRE is taking their turn in the sun, having just won Leg 4 of the around-the-world odyssey.

Xabi Fernández has been standing in as skipper of the Spanish entry for his sailing partner and best friend, Iker Martínez, for the last two legs while the latter concentrated on his 2016 Rio Olympics preparations in the Nacra 17. Fernández told reporters that he’s looking forward to Martínez’s return for Leg 5 to Itajaí, Brazil, which will start on March 15.

The Spanish team sails for the Real Club Naútico de Sanxenxo in Pontevedra, just north of Portugal. Sponsor MAPFRE is a Spanish insurance company.

Although Leg 4 from Sanya, China, to Auckland was 5,264 miles long, just eight minutes separated the first three finishers. Coming in second, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has taken over the overall lead from Chinese team Dongfeng, which finished third. So far, no one team has dominated the event, which is sailed in 65-ft one-design monohulls, and no boats have been lost to serious equipment failures, two very good points in favor of the switch to one-designs for this edition. Four different teams have won the four legs, and four different teams have won the in-port races. For more on the Volvo Ocean Race, see www.volvooceanrace.com.