Sport-heute: Sailing - Halbzeit auf der Tour nach Boston

20. April 2009, 12:09

Halbzeit auf der Tour nach Boston

Telefonica Blue ist souveräner Leader!

Telefonica Blue ist in der konfortablen Lage auf ihrem Kurs die besten Verhältnisse anzutreffen, während die Gegner weiter hinten mit allerlei Turbulenzen zu kämpfen haben. Telefonica Blue befindet sich im Moment auf dem gleichen Breitengrad wie die Insel Trinidad, 1000nm, aber im Osten und 1100nm von der Karibik-Insel Antigua entfernt. Ihr Vorsprung auf die nächsten Verfolger beträgt über 100 Meilen. Dahinter findet aber ein erbitterter Kampf zwischen Ericsson 3 und Ericsson 4 statt. Aber auch Puma ist absolut auf Tuchfühlung und Sichtweite. Gar die Delta Lloyd und Green Dragon sind bei weitem nicht abgeschlagen. Die Verfolger segeln im Moment durchschnittlich 1-3 Knoten schneller als Telefonica Blue und Puma hat in den letzten 24 Stunden 486 Meil zurückgelegt und in dieser 6.Etappe einen Rekord aufgestellt.

Brüttisellen, 20.4.09 (mk) FAST MILES TO BOSTON

The halfway point on leg six of the Volvo Ocean Race has been reached and long-term leader, Telefónica Blue is in the enviable position of being able to watch the battle unfold over 100 miles behind them.

“We have been keeping pace with the guys behind which gives us some comfort, although we are still pushing hard to maintain our position,” noted helmsman Simon Fisher.

Telefónica Blue is at the same latitude as the island of Trinidad, but 1000 nm to the east and 1100 nm from the Caribbean island of Antigua. Behind them, the closest racing is between Ericsson 3, now in third place, just holding off Ericsson 4 who is a mile behind, and PUMA who is three miles behind. Thirty-three miles back, Telefónica Black and Delta Lloyd are also engaged in combat with just eight miles separating the two, while Green Dragon is threatening, just two miles behind.

During the last three hours, the chasing pack has been averaging approximately a knot faster than Telefónica Blue has and it is PUMA who has covered the furthest distance since 1300 GMT yesterday, sailing 486 nm.

PUMA’s skipper, Kenny Read, describes the sailing as beautiful but wet, reaching in 18 – 20 knots of wind in the northeast trades, a band of wind about as predictable as any in the world. According to Kenny, it leads to a different style of sailing. “Not the ‘sail-changing world championships’ we have bad over the past week, this is more the ‘throw up all the rag you can and hold on’ style of sailing,” he says.

Ericsson 3 has made some gains on the fleet in the last 24 hours, moving up to second place. “We even gained on Ericsson 4, something almost unheard of,” explained navigator Aksel Magdahl. “We know what sails to use and have set the boat up nicely. We also have very strong helmsmen and trimmers, who can tweak a few tenths of a knot extra out of the boat,” he explained.

Scoring Gate Results Fernando de Noronha
1. Telefónica Blue 19:58:56 GMT 16.04.09 4 Points
2. Ericsson 4 22:55:36 GMT 16.04.09 3.5 Points
3. Delta Lloyd 23:28:32 GMT 16.04.09 3 Points
4. Puma 23:29:31 GMT 16.04.09 2.5 Points
5. Telefónica Black 23:42:20 GMT 16.04.09 2 Points
6. Ericsson 3 00:14:28 GMT 17.04.09 1.5 Points
7. Green Dragon 01:27:26 GMT 17.04.09 1 Point

Leg Six Day 9: 1300 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(boat name/country/skipper/nationality/distance to finish)

1. Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) DTF 2,449 nm
2. Ericsson 3 SWE (Magnus Olsson/SWE) +104 nm
3. Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +105 nm
4. PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +107 nm
5. Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) +140 nm
6. Delta Lloyd IRL (Roberto Bermúdez/ESP) +148 nm
7. Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +150 nm
8. Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) DNS

***********************************************************

PUMA LEG 6 DAY 9 QFB: received 19.04.09 2345 GMT

Approaching a 500 mile day on the fine yacht, gains on all the last position reports – the boat is going well and the crew is happy. What's there not to like! Well, I will tell you one thing.

The race is essentially starting over again and the two Ericsson boats are right next to us - essentially tied with us in distance to the finish. We can't ever shake these boats. Magnus Olsson said at the pre-leg press conference that he was going to shadow us because he thought we knew how to get to Boston fastest. Well I'm not so sure if that is true because the Telefónica Blue guys seem to be doing a pretty good job thus far, but I didn't think he meant his comment so literally.

We’re kind of tired of looking at a mirror image of Ericsson boats. It feels like we are getting teamed up on sometimes. Between you and me, we gauge if they are close or not by the fact we can see the orange head on their mainsails. We call it their pregnancy test. You know, you wait for the stick or whatever it is to turn the special colour…something like that…well, their colour turned orange. Orange pregnancy lines mean they are positively close. No visual on the orange mainsail head means negative, they aren't that close. There have been a lot of positive tests for far this race.

The fire hose is still on full force on deck. I can say that this is some of the easiest 500 miles per day sailing that I have ever done. Warm, not sweltering, warm water, beautiful 20 knot trade winds, open ocean planing across the waves. Just fast, fun sailing that might be some of the more pleasurable miles ticked off this entire race. It has been a long time coming waiting for days like this. Hopefully it lasts for a bit longer.

Kenny Read - skipper

*****************************************************

DELTA LLOYD LEG SIX DAY 10 QFB: received 20.04.09 0758 GMT

It's got that Monday morning feeling to it.

Well, it looks like our weekend fun is coming to an end. We had an absolute blast with the speedo doing overtime clocking 23, 24, 25 knots under loud cheers from us on deck. From today that is all going to change. It really got that Monday morning feeling to it.

We are speed junkies without speed, drag racers with their perfect race track turned into a sandy road. I am sorry, but 17 knots of boatspeed just doesn't have that same adrenaline kick to it.

The weather ahead looks complicated too, which means I am stuck downstairs in the office. Forget the fun blast reaching; bring in lighter winds, confused weather models and nervous navigators and skippers. The weather models look so horrible that I am contemplating making lots of coffees for the guys, going on deck to help the guys out, check the clouds etc. Anything to get me away from the computer and the horrible stuff it is spitting out at me. Hey, stop that!

Hang on. Actually the difficult weather is perfect for us! It means opportunities to get some miles back on the big guys that have been making gain after gain in the high speed drag race. Difficult choices will have to be made, and not everybody is going to have it right. Also, Lady Fortuna is likely to through her dice and give us some unexpected curve balls.

Light winds first to the east, than in the west. High pressure bubbles with no wind and fronts with squalls and big wind changes. I am sure it is going to be an exciting game to watch over the next five days. Better go back to work and find a good way through.

Wouter Verbraak - navigator

******************************************************

ERICSSON 3 LEG SIX DAY 10 QFB: received 20.04.09 0004 GMT

Happy birthday

It’s my birthday today and I am in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. A different way to celebrate, but still it is nice here now so I am happy.

I am turning 29 – again. Usually one would like to celebrate with a nice dinner with the family or a party with friends at home, but here I am and it is not bad at all. I got an email from my wife today saying how much she loves me and that they will still have the party in my honour. You might think I have a tough job, but I think she does a fantastic job there at home. She’s the best - I love her. I even got a present with candy and an FHM magazine followed by a card signed by my 20 month old daughter. I opened it today and treated the boys with Laban Jelly Men.

Spending time out here right now is great. Our skipper, the legendary Mange (Magnus Olsson) with a broken rib, got a smile on his face when he got a handful of jelly men. He is getting better and has started his quiz sports again. Nice to see he’s recovering and will be back in business soon.

The sailing right now is really fun. The team is doing a great job. Everybody is enjoying themselves and pushing all the time. Ericsson 3 is a happy ship and goes fast as well. I could not ask for more – except being with my family, but then again these boys are close enough to be family now after what we have been through together. We have a party on every watch.

Eivind Melleby - helmsman

*******************************************************

ERICSSON 4 LEG SIX DAY 9 QFB: received 19.04.09 1854 GMT

‘Wet wet wet’. Three words that best describe life onboard at the moment!

We're sailing along in absolutely beautiful conditions, across the top of South America toward our next stop in Boston. Unfortunately, to get such lovely sailing, we pay for it by getting completely soaked! What is nice is the fact that not many clothes are required at the moment.

Most of us are just wearing very light shorts and a short sleeve shirt under our wet weather gear. Not matter what you wear on the foredeck in these conditions; you are going to get drenched to the bone. What is nice is coming off watch and just hanging up your foulies and t-shirt, and jumping into your bunk with just wet shorts on. It's too hot for sleeping bags at this stage so you’re not getting anything else wet. By the time you have to come on deck again, your clothes are pretty dry again, and it's not too bad putting them on again for the 20th time.

At this wind angle, sleeping is very easy and because of the lack of clothing required. It’s pretty easy to get three hours and 20 minutes sleep during your four hour off watch. I know that doesn't sound like much, but in the Southern Ocean, you were thrilled when you only got two! Everyone seems to have iPods onboard for this leg and everyone is using them. I managed to steal my wife Kylie's iPod Touch with lots of movies on it. One movie in particular has been a huge hit with entire crew. ‘Stepbrothers’. I have seen guys wiping tears out of their eyes in their bunks, because of laughing so hard!

Thanks for bringing that little bit more happiness onboard our boat Kylie! I'm only sorry that I'm going to destroy the iPod in a few days when we end up in heinous conditions again. Basically, not matter how hard I try to protect it from damage, it will die. Everything down below will be airborne and wet again when we start getting close to the Eastern Seaboard. Lucky the USA has lots of Apple stores, so I can get a new one if need be.

Speaking of movies, we're all very excited about the Ericsson 4 movie that Hollywood is going to make on us. It sounds like all the actors have signed up to play the different crew members. Luckily for me, the serial killing doll 'Chucky' from the 'Childs Play' movies has agreed to play my part as the red headed bowman. Nicole Kidman didn't sound that interested as it turned out. Maybe she just isn't to happy around boats after her movie 'Dead Calm'

We know where we are going to be shooting the movie now. Exactly in the stretch of water we are in now. It really is pretty cool sailing. I highly recommend it.

Well I'd better stop rambling on and go and try to get a solid three hours in the 'rack'. Need to make the most of it before the yucky stuff hits us again.

Otherwise all is well and everyone is doing fine aboard the good ship
Ericsson 4.

Blood out

Phil 'Blood' Jameson - bowman

**********************************************************

TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG SIX DAY 9 QFB: received 19.04.09 1549 GMT

There is very little to complain about if you are sailing on Telefónica Blue right now! The weather is fantastic, the boat is going well and we are eating up the miles. We are well established into the daily routine now - sleep... eat.. grind... trim.. drive... grind a bit more then more eating and back to sleep again. A simple life really and really quite enjoyable if you don't mind being a little wet at times and are happy to deal with unusual hours!

This looks set to continue for at least another day before the winds start to ease on us as we approach the first of a couple of ridges we have to negotiate on our way up the Atlantic. No doubt these will make life a little more stressful as the chasing pack will start to close in on us but we will just have to take that in our stride and keep pushing onwards.

With everything going smoothly and going to plan there is little else to report on in fact. Boring maybe, but personally I'm happy for it to stay this way a little longer!

Cheers

Simon Fisher - helmsman
*******************************************************

Leserkommentare (0) »

Guo Chuan/Green Dragon Racing/Volvo Ocean Race Green Dragon making the most of the strong wind, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston

Gabriele Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race A great day for sailing on Telefonica Blue, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston

Anton Paz/Telefonica Black/Volvo Ocean Race Telefonica Black reaching in the morning, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston

Anton Paz/Telefonica Black/Volvo Ocean Race Racing crew asleep onboard Telefonica Black, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston

Sander Pluijm/Team Delta Lloyd/Volvo Ocean Race The crew of Delta Lloyd protect themselves from spray, with ski masks, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston

Gabriele Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race Lots of spray hit the crew of Telefonica Blue, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston

Anton Paz/Telefonica Black/Volvo Ocean Race Navigator Roger Nilson talking to Skipper Fernando Echavarri, onboard Telefonica Black, Anton Paz/Telefonica Black/Volvo Ocean Race