Spanish yacht MAPFRE crossed the finish line in Cape Town today on Leg 2 of the 2017 Volvo Ocean Race at 15:10:33 UTC (17:10:33 SA Time). Leg 2 is a a 7,000 nautical mile marathon from Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Town, South Africa.
The win marks MAPFRE’s return to the Volvo Ocean Race and the 14 points will put them one step closer to their goal to win the Volvo Ocean Race trophy for the first time in Spain’s history.
Skipper Xabi Fernández has built a mixed and multinational squad brimming with honours – from Olympic gold medallists and America’s Cup winners, to some of the most highly regarded offshore sailors on the planet.
“It’s amazing, we’re super-happy. We came here in one piece and in front of the others, we can’t ask for more,” skipper Xabi Fernández said moments after finishing.
“This is what we will see all the way around the world. Super-tight racing, everyone has good speed and small mistakes are very expensive. This time we were luck to do the least mistakes and that’s why we won.”
After finishing in fourth place last time out, it’s fair to say that MAPFRE look stronger than ever before in 2017-18.
Four times Volvo Ocean Race skipper, Fernandez and navigator, Joan Vila are now looking to be the team to beat as they powered away from the fleet to claim 7 points for the win.
The second placed yacht, Dongfeng is expected to finish two hours after MAPFRE.
On Leg 2, MAPFRE sailed 7,886.5 nautical miles over the ground at an average speed of 17.3 knots.
Leg 2 – Provisional Results – Friday 24 November (Leg 2, Day 20) as at 15:10 UTC
- MAPFRE — FINISHED — 15:10.33 UTC – 19 days, 01 hour, 10 minutes, 33 seconds
- Dongfeng Race Team +37.2 nautical miles
- Vestas 11th Hour Racing +62.1
- Team Brunel +131.6
- team AkzoNobel +447.1
- Turn the Tide on Plastic +449.4
- Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag +451.3
WHY? It is a little known fact that Port Elizabeth has been approached TWICE to bid on becoming a stopover for the Volvo Ocean Race – the first attempt was stopped by our local Port Authorities and we await the outcome of the second. The home of Volvo Cars is Gothenburg – the second-largest city in Sweden which is twinned with Nelson Mandela Bay and which has provided incredible support and promotion for our Metropole.
MyPE is running a series of articles about the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race to: 1. Acknowledge and thank Gothenburg for their support, 2. Showcase a sport that Alan Straton is passionate about, 3. Demonstrate to citizens of Port Elizabeth just how much exposure a city like Cape Town receives from the VOR and 4. As a gentle reminder to the TNPA and our city of the great value that such an event can bring to our city.
The start city of the VOR – Alicante, Spain – estimates the economic value of each leg to be R960 Million. Click here to read very Volvo Ocean Race published on MyPE.
The local Algoa Bay Yacht Club has hosted many international sailing regattas, the most recent being the 60th 5O5 World Championships and, along with requests from the Volvo Ocean Race, have also recently been asked to host the 2019 stopover for the Clipper Around the World Yacht Race.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- SmashDown Lists Its Woodstock Rage Room Packages for Cape Town Friends, Couples and Staff Teams - 29 October 2026
- SmashDown Lists Its Woodstock Rage Room Packages for Cape Town Friends, Couples and Staff Teams - 29 October 2026
- Psycho Bunny Brings Summer Polo Shirts and Swim Shorts to South Africa - 28 October 2026
- Psycho Bunny Brings Summer Polo Shirts and Swim Shorts to South Africa - 28 October 2026
- e-CAR Menlyn Helps Pretoria Drivers Prepare Their Cars for a Hot Festive Season - 28 October 2026
