Dutch skipper leads Volvo Ocean Race

Published Nov. 23, 2014 10:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

ALICANTE, Spain (AP) Dutch skipper Bouwe Bekking, who has been trying to win the Volvo Ocean Race for nearly 30 years, has taken the second-leg lead.

The 51-year-old skipper is the oldest in the seven-boat fleet and is competing in offshore sailing's most prestigious race for a record-equaling seventh time. He first took part in 1985-86 when the event was called the Whitbread Round the World Race.

His Team Brunel crew finished third behind Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing on Leg 1 from Alicante, Spain, to Cape Town, South Africa. On Sunday, they had a three-mile lead over the Chinese boat Dongfeng Race Team in the next stage.

The route from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi is expected to take three weeks. Before the teams left South Africa on Wednesday, there were warnings of cyclones, tropical storms and icebergs.