Volvo Round the World race 2014: Ian Walker skippers Abu Dhabi team to victory in first leg from Alicante to Cape Town

Walker's crew held off the challenge from Charles Caudrelier skippering the Chinese entry Dongfeng and Bouwe Bekking’s Brunel

In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race, Skipper Ian Walker, Adil Khalid and Luke Parkinson on stage for the prize giving (Getty Images)

British Olympic medallist Ian Walker has skippered the Abu Dhabi team to victory in the first leg of the Volvo round the world race from Alicante to Cape Town. Second was Charles Caudrelier, the Frenchman skippering the Chinese entry Dongfeng and safely in third place was Bouwe Bekking’s Brunel.

The trailing four should finish on Thursday and Friday. The second leg is to Abu Dhabi.

The first venue for the two series of regattas in the America’s Cup World Series to be announced is Bermuda but it is expected that later this month – probably the 25 – Britain’s BAR challenge for 2017 will announce that Portsmouth will host the first regatta, expected to be contested by all five challengers, Britain, France, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden, plus the holder, the San Francisco-based Oracle.

“We’re delighted to be able to announce Bermuda will host the America’s Cup teams from October 16-18, 2015,” said Premier, the Honourable Michael Dunkley, JP, MP.
“The waters of Bermuda are ideal for racing, as anyone who has sailed here can attest. We’re very excited to have our island be a part of the next America’s Cup and to have an opportunity to showcase our maritime heritage and first class hospitality to the America’s Cup teams.”

Racing in the America’s Cup World Series will be on The Great Sound, while the team bases and public race village will be located on the waterfront in the heart of the capital, Hamilton.