Team Alvimedica have been bumped up to equal fourth place in the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race after winning a claim for redress after diverting course to help a stricken opponent.
Navigated by Queenslander Will Oxley, Team Alvimedica quit racing the Cape Town to Abu Dhabi leg on November 29 and sped to within rescuing distance of Team Vestas Wind, which had run aground on an Indian Ocean reef.
The offer of help was not needed and Team Alvimedica placed fifth of six finishers.
International Sailing Federation jury chairman Bernard Bonneau said they awarded one extra point to bump Oxley's team up a place without affecting the finishing positions of the other boats.
"Obviously, we're very pleased with the ruling," skipper Charlie Enright said.
"But we're only 20 per cent through this race and we've got a lot of racing left to do.
"It's nice to have the point but it's a small step in a big journey. It doesn't change the overall standings currently, it doesn't affect the positions of the other boats in the last leg, but later a point could be fairly big."
The decision means that Team Alvimedica now stand five points behind the leading trio of Team Brunel, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team.
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