Racing

Volvo Ocean Race: Leg 8

Although the shortest leg yet, Leg 8 was arguably the most intense. Groupama made their homecoming to Lorient, France, a comeback victory. CAMPER set a record 24-hour run of 565 miles and placed second. PUMA took third, while Telefonica dropped back in the standings due to rudder damage. Photos by: Ian Roman, Paul Todd, VOR media crewmembers Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica, Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team, Hamish Hooper/CAMPER ETNZ, Nick Dana/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. [Click here to follow the r

By Sailing World Staff

Updated: June 15, 2012

Groupama victorious in Lorient, France. Paul Todd/ Volvo Ocean Race

Groupama Sailing Team, back on track after a stuck mainsail had to be freed, during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, in rough weather, on the approach to the finish of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) PAUL TODD/OUTSIMAGES.COM

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, skippered by Ken Read from the USA, in tough seas, on the approach to the finish of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) PAUL TODD/OUTSIMAGES.COM

Race leaders Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, lead the fleet at full speed, on the approach to the finish of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) PAUL TODD/OUTSIMAGES.COM

Team Telefonica, skippered by Iker Martinez from Spain, sailing down the Tagus River, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Maria Muina) María Muiña

Bernard Bocquet, Pr�sident Directoire Lorient Grand Large repr�sentera Lorient Agglom�ration and Vice Mayor of the Municipality of Lisbon, Mr Manuel Salgado swap flags, with the help of Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Knut Frostad, at the start of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Marc Bow/Volvo Ocean Race) Marc Bow/Volvo Ocean Race

Footballing legend Luis Figo jumps from Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, at the start of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: Laura Martinez) Laura Martinez

Wade Morgan with a big morning stretch, onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Nick Dana/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Nick Dana

Casey Smith trims the main while Kelvin Harrap provides the muscle, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Windy upwind conditions on the morning of day 1, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Volvo Ocean Race veterans Tony Mutter and Brad Jackson share duties on the grinder, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Sailing west towards the sunset before going northeast to France, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Kelvin Harrap and Ryan Godfrey “letting it rip,” onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Neal McDonald and crew looking out on the rail, onboard Team Telefonica during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race) Diego Fructuoso

Footballing legend Luis Figo and the crew of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, get ready for the start of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race) IAN ROMAN

Footballing legend Luis Figo and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker from the UK, get ready for the start of leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race) IAN ROMAN

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, leaving the Tagus River, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker from the UK, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skipper Chris Nicholson from Australia, looks round at the fleet, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

Team Telefonica, skippered by Iker Martinez from Spain, stacking up to the rail, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, picks up speed, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

Team Sanya, skippered by Mike Sanderson from New Zealand, moving sail bags, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

Team Sanya, skippered by Mike Sanderson from New Zealand, changing sails, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

The fleet and fans are ready for action as the departure ceremony commences, at the start of leg 8 from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. (Credit: PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race) WWW.OUTSIDEIMAGES.COM PAUL TODD

Groupama Sailing Team passing under the 25 de Abril Bridge, at the start of leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Groupama Sailing Team reaching towards The Azores, during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Groupama Sailing Team reaching in fast sailing conditions towards The Azores, during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race) Yann Riou

Skipper Iker Martinez charges over to the wheel, onboard Team Telefonica during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Diego Fructuoso/Team Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race) Diego Fructuoso

Ryan Houston grinding onboard Team Sanya during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Andres Soriano/Team Sanya/Volvo Ocean Race) Andres Soriano

Ken Read mulls over latest forecasts for the Azores high pressure system, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Now in the Azores High, Kelvin Harrap and Casey Smith spend some light air off-time keeping their weight on the bow, onboard PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race) Amory Ross

Stuart Bannatyne looks across to the other boats as he drives CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Hamish Hooper/CAMPER ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race) Hamish Hooper

Nick Burridge and Rob Salthouse sorting out the reefing lines as a wave hits onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lisbon, Portugal to Lorient, France. (Credit: Hamish Hooper/CAMPER ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race) Hamish Hooper