China-backed Green Dragon first to reach scoring gate in Volvo Race

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2008

MADRID (AFP) — Chinese-Irish entry Green Dragon on Thursday became the first team to cross the first scoring gate at Ilha de Fernando de Noronha, off the Brazilian coast, in the Volvo Ocean Race around the world.

The yacht, sponsored by China and crewed mainly by British and Irish sailors, rounded at 12:24 GMT, followed by Ericsson 4 of Sweden and Puma Racing of the United States which came in third, organizers said.

The four points which Green Dragon earned at the scoring gate place it in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with Ericsson 4 and Puma with six points each. Eight yachts in total are taking part in the race.

"I don't think anybody was expecting us to do as well as this at the start of the race," said Green Dragon's British skipper Ian...