Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15: Route, Schedule and Updated Standings

The 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race is nearing the end of its second leg as teams make their way to Abu Dhabi, with Bouwe Bekking leading the chase at the helm of Team Brunel.

It's been two months since the seven teams set off from Alicante, Spain, on their around-the-world trip, scheduled to cross the finishing line in Gothenberg, Sweden, in June 2015.

However, a long and treacherous journey sits between now and that crescendo, replete with hazards which could at any point derail a team's momentum.

		Total Race Distance	38,739 nm
Leg / In-Port Race	From-To	Start	Distance*
In-Port Race	Alicante	October 4, 2014
Leg Start	Alicante-Cape Town	October 11, 2014	6,487 nm
In-Port Race	Cape Town	November 15, 2014
Leg Start	Cape Town-Abu Dhabi	November 19, 2014	6,125 nm
In-Port Race	Abu Dhabi	January 2, 2015
Leg Start	Abu Dhabi-Sanya	January 3, 2015	4,670 nm
In-Port Race	Sanya	February 7, 2015
Leg Start	Sanya-Auckland	February 8, 2015	5,264 nm
In-Port Race	Auckland	March 14, 2015
Leg Start	Auckland-Itajai	March 15, 2015	6,776 nm
In-Port Race	Itajaí	April 18, 2015
Leg Start	Itajai-Newport	April 19, 2015	5,010 nm
In-Port Race	Newport	May 16, 2015
Leg Start	Newport-Lisbon	May 17, 2015	2,800 nm
In-Port Race	Lisbon	June 6, 2015
Leg Start	Lisbon-Lorient	June 7, 2015	647 nm
In-Port Race	Lorient	June 14, 2015
Leg Start	Lorient-Gothenburg	June 16, 2015	960 nm
In-Port Race	Gothenburg	June 27, 2015

Current Standings

The Volvo Ocean Race standings are calculated on a low-point scoring system, where the winner of a leg receives one point, ascending in that fashion with the last-place finisher claiming seven points.

At the end of the race, points are tallied and the team that has managed to amass the fewest points claims the 2014-15 title. Failure to finish a leg is counted as eight points.

Team	Leg 1	Leg 2	Leg 3	Points
Team Brunel	3	1		4
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing	1	3		4
Dongfeng Race Team	2	2		4
Team Alvimedica	5	5		10
MAPFRE	7	4		11
Team SCA	6	6		12
Team Vestas Wind	4	DNF1	DNS	20

Update—Sunday, Dec. 21

The elite of the Volvo Ocean Race have little more than a week to make full use of their Christmas break before reuniting for the third leg of their round-the-world trip, with Team Brunel leading the chase.

Bouwe Bekking's group are level in the rankings alongside Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team after winning the race to Abu Dhabi in Leg 2, each sitting on four points apiece.

Team Brunel's official Twitter account posted a video to show it's not just those sailors onboard who contribute to their success:

Dongfeng have been the most consistent party thus far after taking the runners-up spot in each of the two opening legs, Team Brunel Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing coming third and first in one leg each.

Team Vestas Wind come into the third leg knowing they'll play no part in the 4,760 nautical-mile race to Sanya, China, after running aground off the Indian Ocean Reef in Leg 2.

Neil Cox, shore manager for Chris Nicholson's team, told the competition's official website of his reaction to the tragedy and aspirations moving forward, with the team in the process of attempting to revive their 2014-15 campaign:

"

The ultimate plan, the gold-medal prize we’re reaching for, is to get the boat buoyant enough to float it across the lagoon to get it into more protected water.

That would stop it disintegrating out on the reef, and at the same time, once we get to the other side of the reef, it gives us the chance to set it up in a controlled fashion to either be able to tow the boat back to Mauritius, or there is a Maersk Line ship coming on Monday (Dec. 22) and we’re hoping to use their derrick to get it on the ship.

"

It's been a bitter pill for the team to swallow, but the harsh reality is Vestas Wind may see their involvement crumble before it had barely begun, let alone make a challenge for the top prize in Gothenburg next year.

MAPFRE, currently fifth in the rankings, are also set to undergo change, with skipper Iker Martinez handing the captain's reins over to sailing partner Xabi Fernandez.

Schalk van Zuydam/Associated Press

The former won't play a part in the journey to Sanya—commencing January 2—in order to begin his preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Per the official Volvo Ocean Race website the Spaniard said:

"I have to go and focus on this project now. When we started the Volvo, we knew that I already had another commitment with the Olympic campaign. That’s why I won’t be able to be onboard for the next leg from Abu Dhabi to Sanya, China."

It's a change which logic would dictates is likely to see MAPFRE's result suffer, but Fernandez may yet thrive in his increased responsibilities and mange to pull back the lead of his peers.

Schalk van Zuydam/Associated Press

They, along with fellow strugglers Team Alvimedica, fourth, and Team SCA, sixth, know they must start challenging for quicker finishes from here on if they're to overcome the early deficit.

However, much of that will rest on the conditions on hand, with Leg 3's race from Abu Dhabi to China their next chance at breaking up the monopoly that's seemingly emerged thus far.

After coming into Cape Town fastest, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing currently sit atop the standings and are doing well in their bid to cement that lead with a strong display in the second leg.

As aforementioned, Team Brunel has a healthy lead en route to Abu Dhabi and are coming into the final stretch of the second leg. However, as the official Volvo Ocean Racing Twitter account hints, Abu Dhabi may yet attempt the daring in order to take their home stage:

Sitting at the bottom of the standings is Team Vestas Wind, who were incredibly unfortunate to crash in the second leg and are an uncertainty for the third.

Per the Volvo Ocean Race's official YouTube channel, Chris Nicholson's team was shown hitting a reef in the Indian Ocean, wrecking their vessel and sending the entire 2014-15 race into disarray:

Team CEO Morten Albaek was quoted by the event's official website as assuring the team are giving it their all to enter a new boat and make a swift return, despite the setback: 

"

It is Vestas’ clear ambition to get Team Vestas Wind out sailing again. We’ll do everything within our means to make that happen. That said, the assessment from all parties is that the boat can’t be repaired, and therefore one of the options we’re looking into is building a new boat.

Whether that can be done, and done in a time which is meaningful for Team Vestas Wind to re-enter the race, is still to be concluded. We’re working closely together with Volvo Ocean Race on exploring that opportunity.

"

It would require an almighty revival, and a speedy one at that, for the team to re-enter with any sense of competition still alive. It's especially damaging after Vestas Wind managed to record an admirable fourth-place finish in Cape Town.

Schalk van Zuydam/Associated Press

Team SCA, the only all-women outfit competing, lie sixth in the standings and are at serious risk of slipping further down the table as they chase from the back en route to Abu Dhabi.

They and MAPFRE have looked among the weaker parties in these early legs, but all it takes is a drastic change in conditions for a team to benefit greatly and storm to the head of the pack.