VOR / Iker Martinez :"We will keep fighting until this is over"

5 days, 8 hours, 40 minutes and 26 seconds after setting off from Lisbon, “Telefónica” crossed the finishing line of the eighth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race in Lorient (France) at 22:40 local time (20:40 UTC). “We had a very big problem and we're all here safely so I'm much happier now. I think we did a great leg until the damage, no doubt, our best leg; we competed at a very, very high level,” said Iker Martínez upon arrival at Lorient.

Credit : P.Todd/VOR

Video / Leg 8 Finale in Lorient

ITW / Franck Cammas :"We realized this dream now but It’s not finished"

First words of the sailors in Lorient.

Credit : E.Allaire

VOR / Heroic comeback victory on Leg 8 for Groupama in Lorient

France's Groupama completed a heroic comeback victory on Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Friday, strengthening their grip on the overall standings and realising a dream homecoming to the port of Lorient.

Credit : E.Allaire

Video / Brad Marsh saves day as jammed sail costs Groupama vital places

VOR / The first boats are expected in Lorient at 1000 UTC on Friday

The overall result of the closest ever Volvo Ocean Race could hinge on a risky manoeuvre the teams will try to pull off in heavy weather, fading light and close to the eye of a violent storm later on Thursday.

Credit : Y.Riou/Groupama/VOR

Volvo Ocean Race / Telefonica breaks rudder mid-storm

The team has managed to contain the damage by stabilising speeds with the hope of not dropping back too far from their rivals

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Telefonica/VOR

Volvo Ocean Race / The fleet is sprinting towards Lorient, ETA is Friday

Team Telefónica led a furious charge into the eye of a North Atlantic storm on Wednesday, with just 10 nautical miles separating the top four teams overall and the fastest 24-hour runs of the race a real possibility.

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/VOR

VOR / Telefónica three minutes ahead at São Miguel

There was no let up in the three way scrap for the podium positions overnight as Telefónica, Groupama and PUMA continued to duke it out for the lead on the approach to São Miguel island in the Azores.

It was Telefónica who emerged from the fray marginally ahead to round the Leg 8 waypoint in first place at 0456 UTC -- followed just three minutes later by Groupama.


Third placed PUMA rounded at 0508 UTC with CAMPER another 20 minutes behind in fourth and Abu Dhabi in fifth, rounding at 0553 UTC UTC and sixth placed Team Sanya at 0636 UTC.

VOR / Ken Read (Puma) :"It is certainly close" (video)

The top three teams overall in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 remained locked together in a titanic struggle on Tuesday as the fleet slowed slightly on the way to the only Leg 8 turning mark -- São Miguel island in the Azores archipelago.

Video / Visiting the Volvo Ocean Race in Lisbon, Luis Figo jumps from Abu Dhabi

VOR / Telefonica and Groupama are leading the fleet

Telefónica's bid for redemption and the return of their overall lead was well underway on Monday with the Spanish team leading the Leg 8 race to Lorient, France, though the sight of current race frontrunners Groupama on their shoulder will be a sobering thought.

Credit : A.Ross/Puma/VOR

VOR / Franck Cammas : "We can win, for sure"

It was a case of practice makes perfect Groupama sailing team skipper Franck Cammas said after his team claimed their second in-port victory and extended their overall lead on Saturday.

Credit : P.Todd/VOR

VOR / Ken Read and Puma led the fleet out towards the Atlantic

PUMA led the Volvo Ocean Race fleet out towards the Atlantic as Leg 8, the penultimate offshore stage of the race, got underway from the Portuguese capital Lisbon, bound for Lorient, France.

Credit : I.Roman/VOR

VOR / Groupama stamped their authority today, extending their overall lead

Front-running Groupama stamped their authority on the Volvo Ocean Race today with a crucial win in the Oeiras In-Port Race, extending their overall lead to eight points with just four more scoring opportunities left.

Credit : I.Roman/VOR

VOR / Ken Read :"We’ve just got to keep doing what we do"

A four-way scrap for overall honours and a three-way tie in the inshore series are set to light up Saturday’s Oeiras In-Port Race in Lisbon, starting 1300 local, 1200 UTC, 24 hours before the teams set out on the penultimate offshore leg to Lorient.

Credit : I.Roman/VOR

VOR / Gonzalo Infante :"Raw boat speed is going to be essential"

Avoiding the worst of the Azores High and making the best of a rough ride home will be the keys to Leg 8 for the four teams jostling for honours in the closest ever Volvo Ocean Race.

Credit : P.Todd/VOR