Volvo Ocean Race / Day by Day, Caudrelier : "if I had listened to him more we would have done better"

Dongfeng crossed the finish line in 3rd place at 08:39:32 UTC behind MAPFRE in first and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in 2nd, just 9 minutes separating these three boats which also means there have been four different leg winners so far in this race.

Credit : A Sanchez

Volvo Ocean Race / Dongfeng on the Top !

Ever heard of that phrase? It’s something that your mum might tell you if you’d just fallen off your bike.

Credit : S Greenfield

Comforting words to soften the blow of a bad grade, a bruised ego, or mend a broken heart.

The Dongfeng sailors’ mums aren’t on the boat, but if they were, you can bet that those words would have been ringing around the galley over the last few days.

Volvo Ocean Race / Dongfeng close gap on SCA and Mapfre, despite handicaps

Not much to report today in some ways - still no repair possible to either the mast track or the J1 halyard lock. But better numbers on the water, closing the two boats in front to within 10 miles.

Crédit : S Greenfield

#VolvoOceanRace / The Ultimate decision for Dongfeng

Physically the fleet are separated into two groups. Team SCA and Team Brunel are heading north towards Taiwan whereas the rest of the fleet are sailing east as they round the top of the Philippines. Described by Caudrelier as what could essentially be the single most important decision of the leg.

Credit : S Freenfield

#VolvoOceanRace / “Tomorrow we enter the Pacific Ocean,” says Caudrelier, leader onboard Dongfeng

They don’t call it life at the extreme for nothing. And the first 48 hours of Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race have certainly lived up to that billing, pushing these sailors to their limits - and beyond.

Crédit : A Ross

#VolvoOceanRace / Dongfeng first out of the blocks again

Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) have dominated the Volvo Ocean Race ever since they entered their home waters in Sanya last month, and Sunday marked no change despite four swaps in their crew line-up for Leg 4 to Auckland.

Credit : A Sanchez

#VolvoOceanRace / Time for change on Dongfeng

Leaders Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA) will set off from Sanya on Sunday for Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race with no less than four changes to their crew.

credit : R Tomlinson

French skipper Caudrelier explained in a packed pre-departure press conference on Friday, that they have a firm game plan to give as much experience as possible to the four Chinese rookies in the race crew.

Volvo Ocean Race / Guillermo Jnr Altadill will replace Anthony Marchand on board Mapfre

Guillermo 'Willy' Altadill, son of one of the biggest names in Spanish offshore sailing, has the chance to make his own reputation in the Volvo Ocean Race after being called up for the fourth leg by MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández/ESP).

Credit : M Muina