All-female Team SCA take surprise early lead in Volvo Ocean Race

Team SCA, the first all-female crew to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race for more than a decade, have taken a surprise lead turning into the Atlantic on Day 3 of the first leg, from Spain to South Africa.

The offshore global event, which takes nine months to complete and covers nearly 39,000 nautical miles, is reckoned to be the toughest professional challenge in the sport and since the 2001/02 event no women’s team has taken part.

A switch to a one-design boat for this 12th edition has allowed women to return since it is lighter and easier to sail and so far Team SCA are proving themselves more than a match for the other 55 male sailors in the seven-strong fleet.

Overnight on Sunday, their British navigator Libby Greenhalgh took a brave tactical decision to split from the fleet as they approached the Straits of Gibraltar that lead from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.

“Everyone except us were going the southerly route through the Straits and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why,” said the Briton.

“We wanted to stay with the fleet but we also wanted to stick with our plan - and our plan has us sailing north.”

The Swedish-backed boat’s crew had to wait four hours after their tactical decision to go north for their next position report – and found that they were sitting pretty, some 21 nautical miles clear of their rivals.

“The team collectively hooted and hollered for joy as Libby told us we were ahead,” related their onboard reporter, Corinne Halloran. “Our risk paid off big time and we are now officially sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.”

The Danish entrants, Team Vestas Wind, were in second place early on Monday with the youngest crew in the fleet, Team Alvimedica (USA/Turkey) in third.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam was sitting fourth at that juncture, but as of an updated position report on Monday afternoon (2.10pm UAE) had snaked their way into second, 2.3 nautical miles behind new leaders Vestas.

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