October 8, 2024
Photo by Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race
Photo by Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race

A tale of two very different races for the UBS In-Port Challenge – the first was led front to back by Ken Read’s PUMA team with barely a place change. The second race was only settled after an immaculate final gybe from Torben Grael and Ericsson 4 got them across the line in the lead, and gave them maximum points for the day – the Move of the Day.

Anyone in the fleet who thought that this team might be a little shaken and off their game, after a week in which they had to fend off a protest from the Rule Management Group, would have been sadly disappointed.

Pre-race expectations of some difficult conditions were fulfilled, with a puffy, shifty, northerly breeze blowing off the Singapore shore, and combining with a strong east-going tide to give everyone plenty to think about. While that did nothing to unsettle the rankings in the first race, in the second it provided plenty of passing lanes.

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