Sport-heute: Sailing

23. Februar 2009, 18:54

Würfeln

Es war ein sehr schöner, anstrengender Tag - wo wir sehr vorwärt gekommen sind. Auf der Puma lief alles rund. Wir segelten nicht allzu schnell, dafür stundenlang gleich. Dann Wups! - und wir hatten 30 Minuten keinen Wind. Wir sind mitten in den Doldrums!*** - Kenny Read Puma

VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2009, 23.2.09 (mk) ***Doldrums = Die Doldrums, korrekter wissenschaftlicher Name "Intertropical Convergence Zone", abgekürzt "ITCZ", sind ein Kalmengürtel, anders ausgedrückt: Ein Gebiet schwacher, veränderlicher Winde und häufiger Windstillen am Äquator, mitunter auch die Rossbreiten zwischen 25 bis 35Â° nördlicher beziehungsweise südlicher Breite. Dabei sind sie nicht etwa stationär, sondern pendeln etwa um 5 Grad nördlich und südlich um ihre mittlere Lage und folgen mit ein- bis zweimonatiger Verspätung der Sonne. Auch die Breite ist variabel: Sie beträgt 300-400 Meilen und ist abhängig von der Jahreszeit und geografischen Faktoren.

Das Wetter in dieser Zone ist geprägt hoher Luftfeuchtigkeit, ausgedehnten Flautengebieten, drehenden Winden, aber auch plötzlich auftretenden Böen, Schauern und tropischen Gewittern .
Hier ist übrigens die Geburtsstätte der Hurricanes
Nicht verwechselt werden dürfen die Doldrums mit den Rossbreiten die entweder weiter nördlich (Nordhalbkugel) oder weiter südlich (Südhalbkugel) liegen.

Die "nördlichen" Doldrums im Atlantik liegen etwa zwischen der Ostspitze Südamerikas und dem westlichsten Teil Afrikas, wobei der Kalmengürtel auf der afrikanischen Seite seine grösste Breite aufweist. Demzufolge halten sich Segler auf dem Weg zum Kap der Guten Hoffnung stets mehr nach Westen, obwohl das der längere Weg ist. Das Bild links zeigt den Weg des Katamarans "Cheyenne" von Steve Fossett bei seiner Weltumsegelung 2004.

Die Doldrums sind eine Art Pufferzone zwischen den nordatlantischen "Tradewinds" (Passatwinde), welche von von Ost nach West wehen und ihrem Gegenstück im Süden, wo es von West nach Ost bläst (.

Der Urprung des Wortes ist unklar, aber das Oxford English Dictionary meint, es wäre eine Verbindung der Begriffe 'dull' (langweilig; trüb, düster; dumm) und 'tantrums' (Koller; Trotzanfall; Wutanfall). Sicher ist aber, dass englische Segler den Begriff geprägt haben.

Heute haben die Segler schnellere Schiffe und präzise Wetterinfos, so dass sie dieser Flautenzone schneller als früher entkommen können. Früher hatten die Kapitäne keine andere Möglichkeit, als aufmerksam zu beobachten und jeden Winddreher, jede noch so kleine Bö auszunutzen um einige Meter mehr gut zu machen. Bernard Moitessier hat vor 20 Jahren noch genau so gehandelt. Diese Methode erfordert viel Geduld und Optimismus...

Die Originalberichte direkt von den Yachten

ERICSSON 3 LEG FIVE DAY 10 QFB: received 23.02.09 1019 GMT

Rolling the dice

It has been a very nice and at the same time an enormously exciting day in the
Volvo Ocean Race. During the night we made huge gains on the front fleet and in the morning we could see Puma in bearing 90 degrees. And by then we were still gaining.

They were sailing much lower than us but pretty much at same pace and for a while it seemed like we were going the come really close to each other. But, suddenly, they got some breeze that we didn't and just took off. Fortunately for us, that only lasted for about 30 minutes, and we were back in the game.

We have reached the Doldrums and the game of rolling dice can begin. Even though the convergence zone is not as big as it has been at the last crossings (leg one and leg two), it is still impossible to predict what's going to happen with the wind the next coming days.

We have had very calm conditions today, but it is still a lot of action since we have to keep 100 per cent watch for the clouds and try to find the best way around them. Otherwise you can easily get stuck, like Puma did earlier.

'This is just like fleet racing in light air, when it is all about finding the wind', commented bowman Anders Dahlsjö as he stood by the daggerboard keeping watch on the wind and the monster at the horizon. This race is a lot about endurance and until now it has been pretty tough.

'Everyone has been fighting so hard to keep the boat going at 100 per cent and it's fantastic that we are doing so well and staying in good shape even though we haven't had any time to rest since Singapore, because of the crack in the hull. It has just been a full on marathon for us on Ericsson 3', says skipper Magnus Olsson.
New crew member Magnus Woxén agreed:

'Endurance is definitely a big part of this race. Since I got onboard in China it has been full on fire housing and everyone is really happy to get a calm day like this when we can dry out and step out of the wet weather gear'.

Some of the guys took the opportunity to get a freshwater wash. It is important to try and stay as clean as possible in the heat. Everyone is struggling with rashes from the heat and from always being wet. A good wash should help some.

It has been warm the last couple of days but since it still has been wet sailing we haven't been able to open up the hatches. Today we could open both hatches over the galley and aft and make the air flow all the way through the boat, and for the first time in a long while, the smell is actually acceptable down here. At least someone from the outside would no longer faint from just sticking his nose under deck.

On the last sched Puma was three miles ahead and our sistership 25 miles. No big gains or losses during the day between us. Interesting is that Green Dragons decision to go east seems to start paying off. The next coming days will be very interesting.

Gustav Morin - MCM

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PUMA LEG FIVE DAY 9 QFB: received 22.02.09 2226 GMT

We had a phenomenal day on the 22nd. Our PUMA family welcomed a new member.
Michi Mueller and his partner Meike brought a new healthy baby girl into this world. Mia Carlotta.

One small problem. Michi is out here with us!!!!

Ok Ok, I can hear the wheels turning in your heads. Did he know? Yes of course he did.

It is a bit of a theme on this craft though. Our media guru Ricky Deppe did a similar deed when he was aboard Chessie Racing in the 1997-98 Whitbread Race. September 25, 1997 is a day that his daughter Isabelle good naturedly ribs him about all the time, he claims. The day she was born and he was sailing to Cape Town on the first leg of this race.

I have said many times that the day my daughter Tory was born was the greatest in my life. I thought I was going to be one of those people passing out in the corner (not a huge fan of even a paper cut to be honest, never mind the birthing process). It was anything but that. It was simply incredible.

With all this said, I know Michi is a proud, but sad Dad today. His commitment to this programme is nothing short of spectacular. I asked him if he wanted out of this leg and he told me he had committed to this a long time ago and would fulfil his commitment. In not quite as many words as that. He did stash a bottle of champagne on board that came out around the middle of the night last night in a frenzy of peeling bubble wrap off of a warm bottle of bubbly. Michi said it was the best he ever tasted. And we have a slightly grander party planned for him today.

Michi, like any true professional, is back at work, on his watch, doing what Michi does best. Which is a little of everything on this boat. But there is no doubt that his eyes can be seen wandering from time to time, back to Kiel Germany where Meike and Mia are together no doubt missing the man of the family. At least that is what we guys hope happens...

Welcome Mia. Congratulations Meike. And Michi, you now have the first reason for your daughter to give you grief. And believe me (and I only say this lovingly) daughters don't need much of an excuse to give their fathers grief from time to time. Like Ricky and his daughter, my guess is that you get a good natured ribbing from Mia for the rest of your life. One thing is for certain though; the other 10 guys on board il Mostro are selfishly very pleased that you decided to come with us. Maybe your words, that you had 'committed', will be her first life lesson as well.

Kenny Read - skipper
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GREEN DRAGON LEG FIVE DAY 10 QFB: received 23.02.09 0329 GMT

There has been plenty of excitement on the Green Dragon in the last couple of days, not least a close call with a huge whale first thing this morning. The whale breached the surface about three boat lengths to windward of us when we were charging along at 17 knots. It does make you wonder what the impact would be like if you hit one of these fantastic creatures flat out - it's probably best not to think about it too much.

There has been plenty of good news too. First of all Damian (Damian Foxall/IRL) heard the news via a phone call that he has been awarded the prestigious Irish Sailor of the Year Award and then overnight came news that Neal (Neal McDonald/GBR) had became an uncle. Congratulations all round!

Spirits are also high as it seems our easterly route seems to be paying some dividends. We have had a very easy doldrums passage so far, with only one cloud bringing us even close to stopping. The leaders' margin has been more than halved although some of this is natural compression as the fleet slows. We have done well recently against Telefónica Blue to the west and we are still over 100 miles east of where the leaders passed. This could mean more big gains or possibly losses if things go against us. Wouter (Wouter Verbraak/NED) and I are still comfortable with our position for now, but only time will tell.

The Equator is now only 140 miles away and our new crew member Chris Main is right to be concerned about his first crossing. He has had a baptism of fire and is doing a great job, but King Neptune and Queen Codfish do not take kindly to lone crew members seeking to cross the Equator for the first time - Chris will be very outnumbered!

The only bad news to report is the increasing hold the lurgy has on our crew. Freddie Shanks is the last one to go down and he has commandeered Guo's (Guo Chuan MCM) bunk as a sick bay for now. Over half the crew have suffered so far with a queue for the head (toilet) not uncommon.

Today we spent an hour sterilising all the cups, bowls and spoons as best we can but the reality of life on these boats is that if one person gets ill, it is a fair assumption that everyone will. This means I am probably next in line and funnily enough I can feel a sore throat coming on. I'm off to find the vitamin pills.

Ian Walker - skipper

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ERICSSON 3 LEG FIVE DAY 10 QFB: received 23.02.09 1019 GMT

Rolling the dice

It has been a very nice and at the same time an enormously exciting day in the
Volvo Ocean Race. During the night we made huge gains on the front fleet and in the morning we could see Puma in bearing 90 degrees. And by then we were still gaining.

They were sailing much lower than us but pretty much at same pace and for a while it seemed like we were going the come really close to each other. But, suddenly, they got some breeze that we didn't and just took off. Fortunately for us, that only lasted for about 30 minutes, and we were back in the game.

We have reached the Doldrums and the game of rolling dice can begin. Even though the convergence zone is not as big as it has been at the last crossings (leg one and leg two), it is still impossible to predict what's going to happen with the wind the next coming days.

We have had very calm conditions today, but it is still a lot of action since we have to keep 100 per cent watch for the clouds and try to find the best way around them. Otherwise you can easily get stuck, like Puma did earlier.

'This is just like fleet racing in light air, when it is all about finding the wind', commented bowman Anders Dahlsjö as he stood by the daggerboard keeping watch on the wind and the monster at the horizon. This race is a lot about endurance and until now it has been pretty tough.

'Everyone has been fighting so hard to keep the boat going at 100 per cent and it's fantastic that we are doing so well and staying in good shape even though we haven't had any time to rest since Singapore, because of the crack in the hull. It has just been a full on marathon for us on Ericsson 3', says skipper Magnus Olsson.
New crew member Magnus Woxén agreed:

'Endurance is definitely a big part of this race. Since I got onboard in China it has been full on fire housing and everyone is really happy to get a calm day like this when we can dry out and step out of the wet weather gear'.

Some of the guys took the opportunity to get a freshwater wash. It is important to try and stay as clean as possible in the heat. Everyone is struggling with rashes from the heat and from always being wet. A good wash should help some.

It has been warm the last couple of days but since it still has been wet sailing we haven't been able to open up the hatches. Today we could open both hatches over the galley and aft and make the air flow all the way through the boat, and for the first time in a long while, the smell is actually acceptable down here. At least someone from the outside would no longer faint from just sticking his nose under deck.

On the last sched Puma was three miles ahead and our sistership 25 miles. No big gains or losses during the day between us. Interesting is that Green Dragons decision to go east seems to start paying off. The next coming days will be very interesting.

Gustav Morin - MCM

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TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG FIVE DAY 10 QFB: received 23.02.09 1025 GMT

The following came through a couple of hours ago on our navigation warning system:
"NORTH PACIFIC, NANPO SHOTO.DISCOLOURED WATER WITH SUBMARINE VOLCANIC ACTIVITIES OBSERVED. IN VICINITY OF 24-17.1N 141-29.0E"

Yes, indeed a volcanic 'eruption' very close where we crossed this position a couple of days ago. Good it didn't happen when we were there, as not sure how we would have reacted..........and rather don't want to know the consequences.

So what other 'dangers' are out here? Radioactivity is one of them, a big thanks to the countries who have been playing here with atomic bombs about 30-40 years ago. Some of the atolls are still highly radio active, and the Pacific pilot recommends a wide berth around these atolls. The Pacific pilot has provided us some nice reading material, and it is a shame that we are racing through this area. Wouldn't it have been nice to make several stops here and to explore some of the atolls? The pictures say it all, it is paradise.

Last but not least: we had small electrical fire in the media box!! Some quick action, by ripping all kind of connectors apart, prevented worse. Gabry (Gabriele Olivo/MCM) has been trying to fix it, but no luck yet. If he can't fix it, it means he can't edit video and pictures, so he is determined to get it going again.

Besides that he had a quiet day today. As it was sunny and no water over the deck it was drying out time. The only shots he could take where restricted to face shots, as we were we all running around half naked, all desperate trying to dry out underwear and our bodies. Body rashes have appeared, so the suda cream was heavily used and made downstairs smell like a hospital.

David Vera and Xabier Fernandez repaired the prop door properly, without having to drop the propeller outside. They found some stainless steels self tappers, which they stripped off from somewhere else on the boat. This will give us re-assurance when we sail fast through the southern ocean.

Jono (Jonathan Swain/RSA) replaced some small strops, which have shown some usage in this last week, so everything is fixed, we are all tikitiboo again!!

Bouwe Bekking - skipper

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ERICSSON 4 LEG FIVE DAY 10 QFB: received 23.02.09 1136 GMT

It's another beautiful evening on Ericsson 4 with very pleasant conditions. The sky is clear and the full display of stars is on view - with the Southern Cross directly on the bow.

The sea was very flat today and the wind has topped out at about 12 knots but been in the 8 - 10 knot range for most of the afternoon. We have been cruising along at around 10knots with the code zero up and have been sailing on the wind. It has been glorious.

We managed to get ourselves
out of the terrible cloudy doldrums area, managing to hold off the rapid advances of Puma and Ericsson 3 - for now - who knows what will happen over the next week or more.

We also passed back into the southern hemisphere today - not quite as much fun as when we last did but more to the relief of Ryan Godfrey and Phil Jameson who said it took a while to rid themselves of the smell provided by Neptune and his bride a couple of months ago.

The majority of the crew did however make their point felt that we were returning to the 'proper' side of the planet - but then these same nine originate from this side (three of whom seem more interested in carnivals and homecomings to be honest) - however the minority once again know themselves to be right and let the antipodeans and pals celebrate their misguided beliefs in peace!

There has been a distinct lack of wildlife - yet again - on this trip, at present we have seen a dolphin and a whale (both singular!) and quite a few birds - we were hoping for a better turn out, but
then, if you were a sea creature you would also probably stay well away from a VO70.

One thing which would be great to have right now would be a trivial pursuit question pack - we do try and have a few questions floating about but we seem to be drying up a little. Already we have exhausted sport, yachting and a fair few general knowledge questions. Pop music has also been featured, but there seems to be a huge gap in taste. Stu Bannatyne, who is normally the quiz master, is definitely stuck in the '70s with his tastes - and often bands which only he, and the south end of the NZ north island, has ever heard of.

Never mind only about 30 or so days to go

Guy Salter - MCM

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RACING THROUGH PARADISE TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

It's day 10 of the 12,300 nm leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Qingdao to Rio, and Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) has fought off her opponents and still leads the race south as the team crossed into the southern hemisphere. However, there has been plenty of excitement on the race track and also some narrow escapes with wildlife in the last 24 hours.

Ian Walker/GBR and his Green Dragons are reaping the reward of their easterly course as they reel in the leaders, gaining 147 nm from 1300 on Saturday to 1300 GMT today. The team is still well over 100 nm to the east of where the leaders passed and this could mean big gains or huge losses if things go against the team. They have overtaken Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) who is sailing in the wake of the leading trio, but not without a very close incident with a huge whale first thing this morning.

'The whale breached the surface about three boat lengths to windward of us when we were charging along at 17 knots. It does make you wonder what the impact would be like if you hit one of these fantastic creatures flat out. It's probably better not to think about it too much,' wrote Ian Walker. Spirits are high and the team is reporting a very easy doldrums passage so far, with only one cloud bringing the team even close to stationary.

Controlling the pack, Ericsson 4's crew are describing the sailing conditions as glorious. 'The sea was very flat today and wind has topped out at about 12 knots, but been in the 8 - 10 knot range for most of the afternoon. We have been cruising along at around 10 knots with the code zero up and have been sailing on the wind. It's been glorious,' wrote Guy Salter MCM, whose brother Jules is the navigator onboard.

The team passed back into the southern hemisphere today, which invoked some discussion among the Antipodean members of the crew who feel that the boat has returned to the 'proper' side of the world. Sightings of wildlife on this boat have been limited to one lone dolphin, a whale and a few birds. 'We were hoping for a better turn out, but then, if you were a sea creature, you would also probably stay well away from a Volvo Open 70,' says Guy.

The crew of third placed Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) is fully back in the game. 'During the night, we made huge gains on the front of the fleet and, in the morning, we could see PUMA. And by then, we were still gaining,' explains an excited Gustav Morin MCM. 'They were sailing much lower than us, but pretty much at the same pace, and for a while, it seemed like we were going to come really close to each other. But, suddenly, they got some breeze that we didn't, and just took off. Fortunately for us, that only lasted for about 30 minutes and we were back in the game,' he said.

Although life onboard has been universally improved across the fleet by the opening of hatches in the galley and further aft to create airflow downstairs, onboard Green Dragon the team has a bug, which is working its way through the crew. The team has taken the precaution of sterilising all the cups, bowls and spoons as best they can, but, according to Ian Walker, the reality of life on these boats is that if one person gets ill, it is a fair assumption that everyone will. Freddie Shanks is the latest victim and he has commandeered MCM Guo Chuan's bunk as a sick bay. Over half the crew have suffered with the bug so far.

As the fleet races on through the endless atolls and islands, the crew of Telefónica Blue was rather shocked to receive a message on their navigational warning system, which indicated volcanic activity very close to a position the team crossed two days ago.

'Good it didn't happen when we were there as I am not sure how we would have reacted, and rather don't want to know the consequences,' exclaimed skipper Bouwe Bekking. This incident led him to consider what other dangers lurk in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. 'Radio-activity is one of them. Some of the atolls are still high radio active and the Pacific pilot recommends a wide berth around them,' he said. That said, Bekking says that the Pilot has provided some nice reading material and says it is a shame that they are racing through this area. 'Wouldn't have been nice to make several stops here and to explore some of the atolls? The pictures say it all, it is paradise.'

At 1300 GMT today, Ericsson 3 was just one mile astern of PUMA, who in turn was only 21 miles behind the leaders, Ericsson 4. Green Dragon was nine miles ahead of Telefónica Blue and both these two boats continue to make small gains on the leaders at every position report. Boat speeds hover around 10 knots, although, for the past three hours, Telefónica Blue has averaged 11.8. Green Dragon gets the prize for the best 24- hour run, sailing 330 since 1300 GMT yesterday. It is likely to be a week before the fleet rids itself of the light airs and arrives in the Southern Ocean proper.

Leg Five Day 10: 1300 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(boat name/country/skipper/nationality/distance to finish)

Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) DTF 9,303 nm
PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +21
Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson/SWE) +24
Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) +126
Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +135

Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermudez/ESP) DNS
Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando EchÃ¡varri/ESP) DNS
Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) DNS

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Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 Green Dragon Leg 5 (Guo Chuan/Green Dragon/Volvo Ocean Race) For EDITORIAL USE only, please credit: Guo Chuan/Green Dragon/Volvo Ocean Race

Phil Harmer at the helm of Green Dragon in full foul weather gear and helmet during Leg 5 from Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro.

Guy Salter/Ericsson 4/Volvo Ocean Race The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain, on 4 October 2008, it will, for the first time, take in Cochin, India, Singapore and Qingdao, China before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia for the first time in the history of the race. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports over nine months, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean yacht race for professional racing crews.

Rick Deppe - PUMA helmsman Casey Smith gets the wheel back on at the helm during Leg 5 from Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro.