Telefonica Blue First to Fernando Gate in Volvo Ocean Race

11:47 AM Fri 17 Apr 2009 GMT

'Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe Bekking (NED) are first through the scoring gate of Fernando de Noronha' Gabriele Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race &copy Click Here to view large photo

Telefonica Blue was first to the scoring gate at Fernando de Noronha tonight. The Spanish boat crossed the landmark at the South Atlantic archipelago at 19:58 GMT.

Bouwe Bekking and his men pick up four points for their efforts. Ericsson 4 won a three-way battle to round in second place at 22:55 and collect 3.5 points.

Delta Lloyd passed the gate at 23:28 and pocketed 3 points for third place, one minute ahead of PUMA (2.5 points).

Telefonica Black (23:42) was relegated to fifth place and claimed two points. Ericsson 3 will be sixth and Green Dragon, labouring in the light airs, seventh.

Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe Bekking (NED) are first through the scoring gate of Fernando de Noronha - Gabriele Olivo-Telefonica Blue-Volvo Ocean Race &copy Click Here to view large photo

It was the second time Bekking had been first to reach Noronha after a similar feat on Leg 5 in the 2005-06 race. On that occasion, he pipped ABN AMRO ONE (re-invented as Delta Lloyd in 2008-09) for the points.

'The rounding didn't come easy,' Bekking said. 'Heavy squalls accompanied us, and 10 miles before the gate, the breeze dropped from 23 knots to 3 knots.

Telefonica Blue, skippered by Bouwe Bekking (NED) are first through the scoring gate of Fernando de Noronha - Gabriele Olivo-Telefonica Blue-Volvo Ocean Race &copy Click Here to view large photo

'But we made the right call on the sail choice and soon we were off again. We rounded just before it became dark, in a huge rain squall, so visibility was reduced, but we had a glimpse of the island.

'We are all happy to have beaten Ericsson 4. Let's see if we can keep going like this until the finish ... which is still a long way away.'