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Avoiding pirates, Groupama wins ocean race leg

In this photograph supplied by Volvo Ocean Race, Adam Minoprio from New Zealand on the bowsprit of CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, near the finish of leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Cape Town, South Africa, to Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. (Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race photo via AP Images) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Commercial Photo - In this photograph supplied by Volvo Ocean Race, Groupama Sailing Team is skippered by Franck Cammas from France during stage 2 of leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Cape Town, South Africa, to Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday, Jan 04, 2012. (Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race photo via AP Images) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Commercial Photo - In this photograph supplied by Volvo Ocean Race, Team Telefonica, skippered by Iker Martinez from Spain, celebrate their first place at the finish of leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Cape Town, South Africa, to Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. (Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race photo via AP Images) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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The Associated Press Updated 1:36 PM Wednesday, January 4, 2012

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — French team Groupama earned its first stage victory in the Volvo Ocean Race on Wednesday, defeating overall leader Telefonica in a sprint to Abu Dhabi to complete the second leg.

The five-boat fleet set off on a 98-nautical-mile sprint from nearby Sharjah to finish a leg that began last month in Cape Town, South Africa. The boats initially sailed to a secret "safe haven" port in the Indian Ocean to avoid pirates before being shipped to the United Arab Emirates.

Groupama overtook Telefonica shortly before the finishing line to clinch the victory.

"We had one last opportunity downwind but we didn't really believe in it," said Groupama skipper Franck Cammas. "Then, with a gust, we managed to overtake them."

Groupama's crew had to patch up the $10-million boat with plastic tape to repair hull damage shortly before the sprint because normal repairs aren't allowed during the race.

"This morning we were a little worried about the repair," Cammas said. "Now, I think we were so fast we will leave it the way it is."

Telefonica extended its overall lead over Camper, which finished third in the stage. American team Puma was fourth, ahead of Abu Dhabi in fifth.

Telefonica has 66 points in the overall standings, with Camper second on 58 and Groupama third on 42.

The next event will be an in-port race in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 13. Then its seven offshore legs and seven more in-port races before the round-the-world race finishes in July in Galway, Ireland.

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January 04, 2012 06:32 PM EST

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