Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120256731800.htm

Sport - Sailing

Ericsson3 finishes third

KOCHI: As the Ericsson3 neared Kochi, hundreds of tiny fishing boats cheered the yacht on its way to the third place in the Volvo Ocean Race’s second leg here on Monday evening.

“That was a wonderful welcome to India,” said Anders Lewander, the skipper, after bringing the boat home nearly 33 hours after his sister ship Ericsson4 touched in to take the honours.

It also pushed away the disappointment of the Sweden-based team which was running second for a good part of the second leg which began in Cape Town, 4,450 nautical miles away.

The Ericsson twins were very close to each other at one stage after leaving Cape Town.

“But the race is not over yet,” said captain Lewander who heads an all-Nordic crew. “We know how we can go forward. I have great confidence in the team.”