Volvo Ocean Race, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Volvo Ocean Race – the greatest round-the-world sailing race had finished this Saturday in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This is the most prestigious and extreme competition of the present which experts name «The Everest of sailing». The regatta started in November, 2008 in the Spanish city of Alicante. For 9 months the yachts have overcome 37 thousand miles, crossed four oceans, visited 11 ports and 10 states of the world.
In the second capital of Russia eight yachts of the regatta have moored at moorings of the Racing village constructed on the beach of the Peter and Paul Fortress. This is one of the main symbols of Petersburg, and a historical heart of the city.
All of yachts have taken part in a final stage of race Stockholm — Petersburg. The Russian boat Team Russia was among them. The Russian yacht has been compelled to leave competitions after three stages because of the absence of sponsors. And as a result has taken last, eighth place.
Even the torrential rain has not prevented a holiday. A city have raised bridges specially that yachts could enter into Neva-river. On city quays several thousand spectators have gathered. Yachts have passed along them. At this time on the big screens it was possible to look a film about race stages. On a mooring the sportsmen were met by the characters in suits of an epoch of Peter the Great, the Russian tsar-founder of Petersburg.
Right after the ceremony of the rewarding of the winners of the last race stage has taken place. The third place on a route Stockholm-Petersburg command Telefonica Blue has occupied, the second — Puma, the first — Telefonica Black.
The governor of Petersburg Valentina Matvienko has handed the prize— the canvas with a sea plot — to the command which has won on this stage of the race.
Petersburg has presented to all participants of a regatta the memorable cups and a symbol of Russia – a nested doll “matrioshka”. With a great pleasure all the sportsmen have opened traditional ten-litre champagne bottles.
As to the general results of race, here they are:
1. Ericsson 4 (skipper Torben Grael/Brazil): 114.5 points
2. PUMA (skipper Ken Rid/USA): 105.5 points
3. Telefónica Blue (skipper Bowie Bekking/Netherlands): 98.0 points
4. Ericsson 3 (skipper Magnus Olsson/Sweden): 78.5 points
5. Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker/Great Britain): 67.0 points
6. Telefónica Black (skipper Fernando Echavarri/Spain): 58.0 points
7. Delta Lloyd (skipper Roberto Bermudez/Spain): 41.5 point
8. Team Russia (skipper Andreas Hanakamp/Austria): 10.5 points.