Swashbuckling returns to Volvo Ocean Race

Newport, RI (May 15, 2018) – As the Volvo Ocean Race teams prepare for the In-Port Race on May 19 and Leg 9 to start May 20, which will take the fleet across the Atlantic Ocean to Cardiff, UK, a bit of mischief has made the headlines during their USA stopover.

In contrast to the 2017-18 edition, in which the highly commercialized race has occasionally lacked transparency at times of trouble, the Providence Journal reports how seven people apparently connected to the race were arrested early this morning after an incident outside the Clarke Cooke House.

Police said they were called to the restaurant and bar on Banister’s Wharf for a fire alarm sounding just after 1 a.m. They found about 100 people at the scene. According to police, several people refused orders to get out of the building and move away from fire trucks so firefighters could go inside to reset the alarm.

Then, police said, Andrew J. Cape, 55, of Lymington, England, pushed Patrol Officer Bradford Coyle in the chest and swore at him, saying he wasn’t going anywhere. Cape is the navigator for Team Brunel.

Police said Coyle tripped while trying to get control of Cape’s arm and fell on top of him onto a curb. According to police, Stefan Coppers, 36, of Amsterdam, Netherlands, then jumped on the officer’s back.

When Patrol Officer Brittany Foster stepped in to help Coyle, Coppers turned and came at her in a threatening manner, police said.

Cape was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct. Coppers was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer, obstructing police, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Both appeared later in the day in District Court before Judge Colleen Hastings and pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charges. The charges were filed, meaning they could be removed from court records in a year provided they face no new charges.

The charge against Cape of assaulting a police officer was dismissed. The charges against Coppers of assaulting a police officer, obstructing police and resisting arrest were dismissed. Cape was ordered to make a $200 contribution and Coppers a $400 contribution to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County.

Police said the full watch of Newport police — nine officers — was called to get control of the situation. Middletown and Naval Station Newport police provided mutual-aid assistance to cover any other calls.

Police said the following people were also arrested after an investigation:

-Simon M. Botes, 33, of Palma De Mallorca, Spain, on a disorderly conduct charge. He was taken to Newport Hospital and later treated and released. Botes pleaded no contest to the charge, which was filed.

-Isabel Hall, 30, of London on a disorderly conduct charge. Hall pleaded no contest to the charge, which was filed. She was also ordered to make a $100 contribution to the Boys & Girls Club.

-Timothy F. Newton, 55, of Apthorpe, England, on charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assaulting Patrol Officer Matthew Sardinha. He pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charge, which was filed. He was also ordered to make a $300 contribution to the Boys & Girls Club. The resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer charges against Newton were dismissed.

-Martin Ostrowski, 33, of Olsztyn, Poland, on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Police said Ostrowski was taken to Newport Hospital and later treated and released. He pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charge, which was filed. He was also ordered to make a $200 contribution to the Boys & Girls Club. The resisting arrest charge against Ostrowski was dismissed.

-Deirdre Waters, 31, of Queensland, Australia, on a disorderly conduct charge. She pleaded no contest to the charge, which was filed. She was also ordered to make a $100 contribution to the Boys & Girls Club.

Attorney Craig Hein of Newport, the attorney for all seven who were arrested, told The Daily News today he had no comment.

Newport police Lt. Frank Rosa said it was his understanding all the people involved in the incident were connected to the Volvo Ocean Race. He also said no police officers were injured in connection with the incident. Otherwise, Rosa referred questions to Sail Newport, the host organization for the race stopover here.

“At this point, we’re going to refrain from any comment,” Rosa said.

A call from The Daily News to a Sail Newport spokeswoman this afternoon was not immediately returned.

Race details – Tracker – Scoreboard – Race route – Facebook – YouTube

Overall Results (after 8 of 11 legs)
1. MAPFRE (ESP), Xabi Fernández (ESP), 53 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team (CHN), Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 50
3. Team Brunel (NED), Bouwe Bekking (NED), 42
4. Team AkzoNobel (NED), Simeon Tienpont (NED), 36
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing (DEN/USA), Charlie Enright (USA), 28
6. Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (HKG), David Witt (AUS), 27
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic (POR), Dee Caffari (GBR), 22

2017-18 Edition: Entered Teams – Skippers
• Team AkzoNobel (NED), Simeon Tienpont (NED)
• Dongfeng Race Team (CHN), Charles Caudrelier (FRA)
• MAPFRE (ESP), Xabi Fernández (ESP)
• Vestas 11th Hour Racing (DEN/USA), Charlie Enright (USA)
• Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag (HKG), David Witt (AUS)
• Turn the Tide on Plastic (POR), Dee Caffari (GBR)
• Team Brunel (NED), Bouwe Bekking (NED)

Background: Racing the one design Volvo Ocean 65, the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race begins in Alicante, Spain on October 22 2017 with the final finish in The Hague, Netherlands on June 30 2018. In total, the 11-leg race will visit 12 cities in six continents: Alicante, Lisbon, Cape Town, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport, Cardiff, Gothenburg, and The Hague. A maximum of eight teams will compete.