Groupama
and Telefonica were scrapping it out at the head of the fleet in what promises
to be a dramatic transatlantic crossing Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Just 14
points separate the top four boats in what could be the most closely-fought
contest in the race’s history.

 

HEADING OUT: 
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet leave Miami to start the trans-Atlantic
crossing to Lisbon.

TRAFFIC PROBLEMS: 
Telefonica has a close brush with Puma as the pair round a buoy.

Telefonica’s
overall lead was cut to just three points before the fleet headed out into the
Atlantic, no thanks to a poor showing in the Miami in-port race.

The Iker
Martinez skippered Telefonica finished last in the inshore event, with Groupama
finishing second behind Abu Dhabi to trouser five precious points for a total
of 158 points, just seven behind Telefonica.

Video one
here: RIDERS ON THE STORM: 
Tropical Storm Alberto provides a tough start to Leg 7 of the Volvo
Ocean Race.

MAN OVERBOARD: Spanish actor Eduardo Noriega plunges into the sea off Camper’s
stern at the start of the leg.

 

GREEN ROOM: Brad Marsh changes sails on the bow of
Groupama.

As the
fleet heads to Lisbon, Camper have 152 points, and Puma 151. The Ken
Read-skippered Puma will be keen to maintain the momentum they brought into
Florida.

The first
Atlantic tropical storm of the season, Alberto, had his say not long after the
fleet left Miami, but having come through, the teams are looking to connect up
with the Gulf Stream for the escalator ride northwards across the ocean to
Portugal.

Groupama
came majestically throught the storm as skipper Cammas reaped the reward from a
more conservative approach.

 

GIVE US A CLEW: Groupama transfer sheets in lively seas.

Rather
than head for the stronger winds at the centre of the tropical storm, Cammas
opted to turn east and ahead of the fleet- a move that proved to be a
masterstroke.

Elsewhere,
Puma felt the full force of the dreaded ‘scheds’ that Mother Nature has to
offer, and the other teams managed to avoid the dangers after seeing the second
placed team make the mistakes.

Current
overall race leaders Telefonica were clearly rattled by Alberto, as media crew
member Diego Fructuoso explained.

TEAM SHOWER: Kevin Harrap at the helm, takes cover
with the rest of his crew mates as a wave breaks over Puma.

 

BROODING PRESENCE: Skipper Ken Read drives Puma while navigator
Tom Addis eyes some ominous weather.

“I
won’t forget yesterday easily. I have a lot of friends who are called Alberto -
Alberto Vadell, Alberto Cano, etc – but I wouldn’t count Tropical Storm Alberto
among them.”

After
winning their third in-port race win, confidence on Abu Dhabi was high going
into the seventh leg. But that took a knock with their tough encounter with
Alberto.

WHITE WATER: Waves crash over Sanya’s decks as the
Chinese team plough on towards a rare complete leg finish.

Skipper
Ian Walker said: “We came off some terrible
waves but most worrying of all was the lightning.

ARABIAN KNIGHTS: Abu Dhabi show
their worth by capturing the Miami in-port race.

“It was crashing all around right down to the
water and it didn’t seem possible our carbon mast could avoid a direct strike”

 

CHINESE TAKEAWAY:
Media Crew Member Andres Soriano prepares dinner for the
crew of Chinese entry Sanya.

Team Sanya are currently at the bottom of the
pack but team skipper Mike Sanderson and his men will be relishing the
opportunity to simply complete a leg, having been unable to complete both legs
five and six.