Leaders Ador leave Newport

Crew of Ador in action during Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race

Abu Dhabi — Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ador) — the emirate’s Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) entrant has left Newport, Rhode Island on Leg 7 of the 39,000 nautical mile race around the world.

The team, which is backed by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and leads the field in both the overall standings and in the short course In-Port Race Series (IPRS), passed the Newport leaving mark in sixth place after an hour of intense inshore racing which saw them lead at the start but drop to the back in a bad windshift on the second leg.

Conditions were near perfect for the start of the seventh ocean leg with bright sunshine, clear blue skies and around 10 - 12 knots of breeze whisking the six identical Volvo Ocean 65 yachts around Newport Harbour — chased by an armada of hundreds of spectator craft cheering the fleet away to Europe.

At 2,800 nautical miles, Leg 7 is the shortest so far but sees the crews take on the rigours of the Atlantic Ocean on the way to Portugal where they are expected to make landfall in fewer than 10 days.