Abu Dhabi entry out of Volvo stage

IAN WALKER’S Abu Dhabi team announced yesterday it would retire completely from the 6,500-mile Volvo Ocean Race stage to Cape Town and ship its boat from Lisbon instead.

The former skipper of Ireland’s Green Dragon team from the last race said it was the hardest decision of his life but was necessary given the rough conditions. Walker’s boat was dismasted on the first night at sea last Saturday. A replacement mast to resume racing was not fully tested.

France’s Groupama 4 skippered by Franck Cammas with Kerry sailor Damian Foxall sailing as watch-captain leads in the reduced fleet of just four boats.