Volvo Ocean Race Victory for movistar

As he stepped ashore, winning skipper Bouwe Bekking said:

"This is a really sweet victory. We just managed to hang in there so we are really happy. We have a really fantastic team and a strong after guard in Stuart Bannatyne, Chris Nicholson and myself and it means that we could swap over so we all managed to get some sleep."

Stuart Banatyne (movistar) from Wellington, said:

"That was an epic leg. It was unbelievable to be the first boat into Wellington. I never thought it would come down to a one boat length win, but a win is a win! This is where I grew up, where I learnt to sail, and it is just fantastic to be back here. This is just really awesome and so special to me."

Mike Sanderson, skipper of ABNAMRO ONE, who finished second, commented:

"It was a bit sad for us but great for movistar. We lost a 40 mile lead and that is pretty tough but we have had some awesome racing over the last 24 hours so we are pleased that we managed to hang on. We can't be upset, we have extended our lead by adding six points to our score and that is why we are here."

The dockside in Queen's Wharf, Wellington, was lined with spectators, as the New Zealand Army performed the Haka, in honour of movistar. Helicopters buzzed over head as the climax to leg three, 1,450 miles from Melbourne to Wellington, became more nail-biting by the minute.

It has been a tense 14 hours for these two teams, which began at 1000 GMT yesterday when movistar snatched back ABN AMRO ONE's comfortable margin of 32 nautical miles as the wind died off Cape Farewell on the north western tip of New Zealand's South Island.

As the two boats raced neck and neck, it was movistar who led ABN AMRO ONE through the entrance to Wellington harbour by 10 boat lengths, followed by a small armada of spectator craft. In only 13 knots of wind, three miles to the finish line, ABN AMRO ONE drew level again and it was a race dead to windward to the finish.

Paul Cayard (USA) and his team of Pirates of the Caribbean racing the Black Pearl claimed the third spot on the podium. Brazil 1 was fourth. ABN AMRO TWO finished just ahead of Ericsson but Ericsson didn't cross the line.

Ericsson decided to use the opportunity offered by the racing rules to carry out maintenance and repairs before crossing the finishing line later. During the legs, teams are allowed to suspend racing and receive external assistance in order to carry out repairs. However, during "Pit Stops", no external assistance is allowed without incurring a two hour penalty on the next leg. The Ericsson Racing Team therefore decided to make the best of its unfortunate last place in the leg by allowing its shore crew to step onboard whilst the sailing team has a well deserved rest. Then they crossed the line.

Photo by David Braningan/movistar

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