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Working Capital

As Volvo Ocean Race leaders Ericsson 4 sailed into their home city of Stockholm, to put the destiny of the Fighting Finish Trophy beyond any doubt, it signalled the start of a sensational stopover in the Swedish capital.

It is hard to imagine a more evocative setting than Stockholm’s city centre Volvo Ocean Race village, iconic buildings, water and an unbelievable atmosphere as hundreds of thousands of sailing fans and visitors alike ensured there were capital gains for Sweden’s largest city.

With a waterfront teeming with temporary structures, teams, title sponsor Volvo, port sponsors, the largest PUMA merchandise sales store of the race, a real party atmosphere prevailed.

And why not?

Ericsson 4 had avoided the catastrophe that befell the hapless Telefónica Blue, which rammed into rocks whilst racing at speed, realistically the only hazard that could have halted the Swedish team’s inexorable march on a victory they had craved not just during this race but the previous one too.

Ericsson 4’s six points for third place in the penultimate leg from Marstrand to Sandhamn close to the Swedish capital took them to 108 points and a 13-point lead with only 12 to play for, sparking celebrations that lasted the entire Stockholm stopover.

Not only had Ericsson won the Blue Riband race of ocean racing, the de facto round the world-world championship, but sister boat Ericsson 3 took second place behind PUMA before going on to claim the not-for-points showpiece that was Stockholm’s ‘City Sprint’ with iconic Swedish skipper Magnus Olsson savouring victory in home waters.

Then there was a Royal Appointment, the teams whisked away within minutes of docking to the Royal Palace and a reception hosted by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who said, “These sailors are role models for all of us.”

An estimated one-million-plus passed through the Stockholm Race village and Ericsson Racing Team managing director Richard Brisius, who had set his sights on winning the Volvo Ocean Race ever since a disappointing fifth-place finish last time around.

“It has been a fantastic victory and we could not have scripted things better than by clinching the Fighting Finish title in Stockholm, Ericsson’s home city where we received the most amazing reception,” he said, adding, “The Ericsson staff, the people of Stockholm, visitors too have made this a memorable occasions and rich reward for the team which has worked so hard to earn this victory.”

The 10^th and final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008 – 2009 starts in Stockholm at 14.00hrs local time on Thursday 25^th June for the 400nm blast up the Baltic and the finish line in St Petersburg, Russia where the fleet is expected to arrive on Saturday 27^th June.

www.volvooceanrace.org / www.oceanracestockholm.se / www.petersburg2009.ru