Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam turned bat-mobile after picking up an unexpected passenger close to the shore of Malaysia.

Deciding the Volvo Open 70 looked like a comfortable place to spend a few hours of downtime, a bat chose to rest its weary wings on Azzam’s big black mainsail.

“He joined us this morning, I think he got blown offshore,” skipper Ian Walker told “He basically attached himself to the mainsail and has survived a few tacks up there. He fell asleep on the reef point, and has been there for five or six hours.”

Despite being locked in a duel with CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand just a mile ahead, Walker said his team would take care of their visitor.

“I think he likes our black sails and Azzam’s falcon,” Walker added. “We will try and deliver him back towards shore tonight.”
volvooceanrace.com