Yachting: One-design fleet makes for packed finish line

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing sails into Auckland in second place.

The introduction of a one-design class for the Volvo Ocean Race was behind one of the tightest-fought finishes in the race's history in Auckland at the weekend.

After 5264 nautical miles and 20 days at sea, just eight minutes separated the top three boats at the finish line in Auckland on Saturday night, with MAPFRE narrowly edging Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team. The Spanish entry was the fourth winner in as many legs.

In previous editions of the famous race it was not unusual for days to separate the finish of the boats. But with the 2014/15 race being contested in one-design boats as part of new measures to reduce the cost of the event, the playing field has been levelled significantly.

Race director Jack Lloyd said the Volvo Ocean 65 yachts had given the event a "complete makeover".

"Every time you seem to check the updates there has been another lead change or the boats have closed up, so there is far more interest from fans who have gone from seeing boats being 300 miles ahead to 20 miles ahead, and you can see the tactics coming out a lot more now as well," said Lloyd.

"As long as all the boats are the same, then it's the sailors that make the difference."

With the costs of competing in the race becoming a barrier for many teams, Lloyd believes the move to one-design boats was essential to the survival of the race, which started in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race.

Along with the closer racing, Lloyd said one of the biggest spin-offs for the one-design boats was the new boatyard in the race village. Previously the teams were responsible for their own maintenance and repairs, but now it all takes place from one facility. The boatyard also doubles as part of the entertainment of the race village, with visitors able to watch the boats being worked on.

British sailor Ian Walker, skipper of race leaders Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, said with the one-design boats having a heavy emphasis on durability and reliability, they were not as fast as the VOR70 yachts used in the previous editions of the race.

"It's no secret the boats are much stronger, they are more reliable than the old boats, but less powerful," said Walker.

With the fleet of six Volvo Ocean 65s in port, the Boatyard team is now hard at work. It is expected that the boats will return to the water by next Monday.

Volvo Ocean Race

Leg 4 - Sanya to Auckland

1. MAPFRE 20d 02h 31m 20s

2. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 20d 02h 35m 45s

3. Dongfeng Race Team 20d 02h 39m 22s

4. Team Alvimedica 20d 03h 58m 08s

5. Team Brunel 20d 06h 30m 30s

6. Team SCA 20d 09h 32m 25s

7. Team Vestas Wind DID NOT START

Overall standings
1. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing 8 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team 8
3. Team Brunel 14
4. Team Alvimedica 16
5. MAPFRE 16
6. Team SCA 24
7. Team Vestas Wind 28
*Where teams are on equal points, teams are separated by results in the in-port races.