Sport-heute: Sailing - Endlich segeln wir wieder in die richtige Richtung!

20. März 2009, 15:59

Endlich segeln wir wieder in die richtige Richtung!

Es ist erstaunlich, was Land ausmacht. Da ändern sich plötzlich die Winde und alles sieht wieder anders aus. 60 Meilen neben uns, tobt ein fürchterlicher Sturm. Wir fahren östlich von Staten Island. Mit unserem J4 Ausleger hätten wir sonst überhaupt keine Chance den schwachen Win einfangen zu können. Gabry (Gabriel Olivo - MCM)hatte einen strengen Tag. Bis er alles ausgewertet hatte, die Bilder geshnitten hatte. Bei uns geht nichts raus, bevor es perfekt ist. Nun schläft er. Wir haben ihn heute morgen nicht aufgeweckt. Er hat viel bis spät in die Nacht gearbeitet. Telefonica Blue. (Grosses Segel ist gerissen und so können sie nur mit den beiden kleinen segeln arbeiten.)

Volvo Ocean Race, 20.3.09 (mk) TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG FIVE DAY 35 QFB: received 20.03.09 1026 GMT

Finally yesterday late afternoon we got moving again in the right direction, as it took a long time before the breeze started filling in. It is amazing so much influence a landmass has on the wind. Sixty miles further south of us it was blowing a full gale, a tough one to answer when asked what I would have preferred.

We ended up going east of Staten Island, as we otherwise wouldn’t have made good progress with our J4 jib. Now we are going west of the Falkland Islands as we don’t want to get trapped by the building high pressure in front of us. These highs are moving from west to east, and since we can’t make it in front of it, this is the only choice we have. This means as well sailing very tight angles and later during the day we will be going upwind again. But tonight is just beautiful, a clear night, not a single cloud to spot: still a bit nippy, but who cares? We are going north.

We had, though, a slow down period, after a so-called checkstay had stripped completely off the mast. This is a stay which roughly attaches in the middle of the mast, and with that we can control the bend of the mast. We were fully aware that this could happen, as we had damaged it when we broke the forestay. It was a good thing that we had set up a temporary stay already from day one, just in case this would happen.

David (David Vera) had to go up in the rig, remember night time and waves of around 2-3 meters high, to take the checkstay down and of course to check if there was any further damage. It all looks good, but we are going to do another one as soon the sun comes up. We are taking these kinds of setbacks with a ‘smile’ on our face, nothing what we can’t face and we will tackle it and move on.

Gabry (Gabriel Olivo – MCM) had a full-on day, from 0230 yesterday until late this evening, not only taking all the footage when we rounded the Horn, but making sure as well to get all the videos and pictures off the boat. He has been sitting for hours behind his laptop
editing every single item to make sure it was perfect before sending it off. He got his well deserved bonus, even that he will only realize tomorrow morning.. We didn’t wake him up for covering the mast ascent. The boy needed some well deserved sleep!!

Bouwe Bekking - skipper

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GREEN DRAGON LEG FIVE DAY 34 QFB: received 19.03.09 1652 GMT

Before my grandfather passed away he gave my mother some handwritten letters written by her grandfather when he was shipwrecked on the Falkland Islands as a boy, probably around 100 years ago.

I keep copies of these letters and from time to time I read about how he had to swim ashore as the ship went down close to shore. Well this morning at first light we had to tack to pass around the northern edge of the Falklands and I found myself dodging the unmarked reefs.

Every mile we had to sail on starboard tack to clear the island was a mile lost to the opposition as we needed to head east. Wouter (Wouter Verbraak) and I checked the chart and found a very tenuous passage inside some islands and through some reefs that would cut 10 miles off our course. Wouter was very confident in the accuracy of the charts ('the British Navy would have surveyed every inch of these islands') and after consulting with Damian (Damian Foxall) and Neal (Neal McDonald) we decided to take it on.

I have to admit the thought of explaining how a second member of the family had become shipwrecked on the Falklands had crossed my mind but, with some short tacks and some weaving, we safely found our way through. Well done Wouter - I never doubted you!

The Falkland Islands look to be a wild and inhospitable place with drizzle, strong winds and grey skies (and this is summer here) but there is a wild attraction to the place, not unlike the west coast of Scotland.

On the race course still we lose miles to the opposition as they sail in a more lifted breeze ahead of us, but I am confident our time will come if we can keep some pressure on. As I write this blog the breeze is finally starting to lift and we should see our speeds rise.. Speed now is crucial to get around the high pressure before it spreads across our path and forces us further off course. Onboard conditions slowly improve and everyone is catching up on sleep. It won't be too long now before the first pair of shorts and T shirts come out.

Ian Walker - skipper
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ERICSSON 3 LEG FIVE DAY 34 QFB: received 19.03.09 1955 GMT

Not over until it's over

On deck it is a wonderful day with sunshine, calm seas and around 16 knots of wind. The boat is dry and nice and the temperature is steadily increasing. We are still going upwind and the four guys on deck are trimming and trimming to keep the boat up to speed. But even down below there is a lot going on.

We are in somewhat of a peak, with people beside me and Aksel (Aksel Magdahl) using the computers. It is not for writing emails to beloved family members or anything else private. No, it's about preparing the boat for the in-port race and to get it ready for the next leg. We are sending work-lists to the shore team.

‘Hey guys, it is a bit early for that isn't it?’", Arve Roaas commented. Well, yeah, in one way. We still have to concentrate 100 per cent to keep our position and make it to Rio, preferably in the first position that we are in. And I can assure you, everyone is working their thumbs and nails off for that. It would be a huge win for us to win this leg after all we been through with fixing the boat in Taiwan, sailing it shorthanded to China, starting seven hours after the others, and first around the Horn.

But the race is not over in Rio and the work-list-writing for sure needs to be done.
This race is not like it used to be with several weeks to rest and prepare the boat for the next leg. The time spent on land has really become a race and we have no time to lose. We need to know exactly what to focus on when we hit the shore, so our shore team can get going.

The boat is really bruised and battered after this wrecker of a leg and it needs to be taken care of, quickly. With the routing we are going for now, we expect to land in Rio on the 24th, which gives us nine days until the in port-race. It is a bit crazy.
The boats are not the only part being exhausted. The crew are, if possible, in even bigger need of some rest.

I believe all the crews are crying for some time to relax. Not the least us on Ericsson 3 who haven't had any time of since Singapore. But you just have to keep focused and realise that this race is not over until it's over. In St: Petersburg.

Gustav Morin - MCM
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Telefónica Blue Leg Five Day 34 GMT: received 19.03.09 1926 GMT

Hi there,

At last we have made it around Cape Horn! Early this morning we finally made it to the most famous of Cap's and took a little time to celebrate and relax as we left the Pacific and once more returned to the Atlantic Ocean.

We were lucky enough to have a good view of the Horn, having rounded close in, so it was in clear view as we rolled passed and the camera came out! However, the view came at something of a price, as we made the mistake of many a sailor keen to get to fairer weather and a good view - we promptly ran out of wind and have spent much of the morning battling with the lee trough that is just downwind of the cape.

However, a little light airs were not going to dampen our spirits after so many days waiting to round and out came the treats to celebrate our achievement. We all drank some Grappa, prepared by Gabri's father and enjoyed some Cuban Cigars. Lots of photos were taken and, for a brief while, we enjoyed the moment with everyone on deck together.

The celebration all got a bit too much for Tom (Tom Addis – navigator) though. Upon completing his cigar, which he admitted to enjoying immensely, he went a sickly pale colour, then white, then green! After some time of feeling sick his face slowly came back to a yellow colour and his stomach settled down. For a while downstairs was off limits for him as he was worried about throwing up, which made checking the computer something of a challenge. Sadly he didn't receive much sympathy as his entertainment brought much amusement to the rest of the crew! Poor guy!

The crew of Telefónica Black will probably also be pleased to know that David (David Vera) and Mike (Michael Pammenter) got a picture in front of Cape Horn in their Speedos - the only time on this leg that they were allowed to wear them!

We are now back on the road again, we have finally escaped the light airs, or at least I hope so and everyone’s focus is first getting to warmer weather and then finally to Rio. Hopefully not too long to go now...

Cheers,

Simon Fisher - helmsman
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