Sport-heute: Sailing - TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: RECEIVED 24.10.08 0044 GMT

25. Oktober 2008, 02:38

TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: RECEIVED 24.10.08 0044 GMT

TRADE WIND SAILING SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE STYLE -GREEN DRAGON LEG ONE DAY 14: received 24.10.08 1241GMT

Finally we passed the island, 2 points collected that is more than we hoped for when we were in Gibraltar, but as well it could have been better. Too late to worry about that, we have to play catch-up once again. But we seem to go just fine in these conditions; we just have to make sure to keep working hard.

International Ocean Race (mk) So, no visit of Neptune onboard Telefónica Blue? Had a chat with him to leave it to a later date, as we are racing and not partying right now, the good news is that he will become angrier, so harder torture for the first timers. It is the first time for Patan (Pablo Arrarte) crossing into the southern part of this planet, and he is very worried.

Sifi (Simon Fisher) is half asleep, and waiting for the new weather download, which is coming in oh, so slowly. The next couple of days we have to set ourselves up in such a way, that we can make gains. Having good boat speed is one, but making a smart move is way more efficient to make gains. We talked today as well how it is going with Tony Mutter; it would be nice if somebody can give us an update. He might be sailing with the opposition, but he is nice guy, so we are hoping for the best.

Cheers,

Bouwe Bekking - skipper

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TRADE WIND SAILING SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE STYLE

At 1300 GMT today, Telefónica Black (Fernando EchÃ¡varri/ESP) snatched the lead to head the field by just two miles, with Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) and PUMA (Ken Read/USA), breathing down their necks, just two and three nautical miles behind them.

The last 24 hours have been full of action for the crews as the fleet crossed the Equator, were visited by King Neptune who gave his blessing as the fleet crossed into the Southern Hemisphere, and the first points were scored on this leg to Cape Town.

But it's back to business now as the fleet charges down the coast of Brazil, trade wind sailing, Southern Hemisphere style. There is still over 3,000 nautical miles to the finish and before the fleet can head for the 'tavern of the seas', they have to skirt the South Atlantic High which means at least 1000 nm of sailing in what almost feels the wrong direction.

'It's quite depressing to be sailing and getting no nearer to the finish line,' wrote the skipper of Green Dragon, Ian Walker/GBR, who's fragile lead has just evaporated. 'Today feels a bit like the morning after a big night out - only without the hangover. Personally I feel a bit tired right now and I am sure it is down to not eating and drinking enough. Green Dragon is not sailing as fast as, Ericsson 4, PUMA and Telefónica Black. 'It is clear that the boats behind are a little quicker than us in stability conditions, but we are going to fight tooth and nail,' Walker said.

The fleet is jib top sailing approximately 55 nm off Sao Luis do Quitunde on the Brazilian coast, with masses of water over the deck as the teams sail almost upwind on port tack. 'Man, are these boats wet,' exclaimed Andreas Hanakamp/AUT (Team Russia). 'Every hour we bail 10 buckets out of the boat.'

As the boats head south, Stu Bannatyne/NZL from Ericsson 4 reports that subtle changes to living conditions are now occurring. 'With each passing day, the temperature is slowly decreasing and with it we can use the bunk fans a bit less, and even some extra items of clothing are now appearing,' he says. He added that he is now wearing sea boots after a period of days when just barefoot was preferable.

As this leg reaches its half way point, the food menus onboard have now rotated several times and meal times are less of a focal point. For some, like Ian Walker, they are an evil necessity.

'I hate freeze-dried food. I have perfected the art of getting the food (that's what they call it), from my spoon to my throat with minimal contact with my mouth, lips or tongue - the teeth play a key role in getting it off the spoon - there is certainly no chewing required,' he described today.

For now the teams can only look forward to the anticipated freeing breeze which will make conditions for sleep easier than the back-breaking jolts the crews currently have to put up with.

During the last three hours (1000 position report), the fleet has been making steady inroads into the lead. The top four boats are within eight miles of each other after 14 days of racing and the spread of the fleet, from first to eighth is 87 nm.

Delta Lloyd (Ger O'Rourke/IRL) and Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander/SWE) who enjoyed a spell at the head of the fleet, are toughing it out together, just two miles apart, while Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED) is only 24 nm off the lead. There was no visit from King Neptune to this boat, but Bekking had had a personal chat with the King who agreed to visit the boat at a later date. 'We are racing and not partying right now,' says Bekking explaining that King Neptune will now become angrier. 'Harder torture for the first-timers,' he says. 'It is the first time for Pablo Arrarte and he is very worried.'

The fastest 24-hour run has been Telefónica Black (378nm) but the whole fleet has averaged over 325 nm. Telefónica Black had the highest average boat speed of 17 knots over the last three hours, two and a half knots faster than Green Dragon.

Leg One Day 14: 1300 GMT Volvo Ocean Race Positions
(boat name/country/skipper/nationality/distance to leader)

Telefónica Black ESP (Fernando EchÃ¡varri/ESP) DTF 3242
Green Dragon IRL/CHN (Ian Walker/GBR) +2
PUMA Racing Team USA (Ken Read/USA) +3
Ericsson 4 SWE (Torben Grael/BRA) +8
Telefónica Blue ESP (Bouwe Bekking/NED) +24
Delta Lloyd IRL (Ger O'Rourke/IRL) +40
Ericsson 3 SWE (Anders Lewander/SWE) +42

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Today feels a bit like the morning after a big night out - only without the hangover. In recent days we have had the excitement of passing through the doldrums, King Neptune's visit and then claiming full points at the scoring gate. Now we are facing over 3000 miles direct line (more like 4200 miles actual sailing to re-cross the Atlantic to Cape Town.

Right now we are reaching in 18 knots of wind about 65 miles off the Brazilian coast. It is quite depressing to be sailing and getting no nearer the finish line but that's how it is going to be for at least a thousand miles.

Personally I feel a bit tired right now and I am sure it is down to not eating or drinking enough. Today is day 13 and I hate the freeze dried food. The breakfast (Muesli) is OK so I have to get through a lunch and dinner if I can. I have perfected the art of getting the food (that's what they call it) from my spoon to throat with minimal contact with my mouth lips or tongue - the teeth play a key role in getting it off the spoon. There is certainly no chewing required. I am using the film Papillon as my inspiration where the prisoner (Steve McQueen) has to eat cockroaches to survive.

On deck it is good fun with perfect jib top sailing conditions. It is clear that the boats behind are a little quicker than us in stability conditions but we are going to fight tooth and nail to hang on to this lead. Tactically it is a little boring right now which is no bad thing as Ian still has lots of electronics to fix. I'm going to get some sleep now as later we will be hoisting spinnakers again and the fun will really start.

Ian Walker - skipper

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ERICSSON 4 LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: received 24.10.08 1226 GMT

Trade wind sailing southern hemisphere style. We are sailing almost upwind on port tack gaining some southing in anticipation for freer and stronger winds in our future.

Some subtle changes to living conditions are now occurring. With each passing day the temperature is slowly decreasing and with it we can use the bunk fans a bit less and even some extra items of clothing are now appearing.

I have had boots on again for the last few watches after a period of days running just bare feet on deck. Looking forward to the freeing breeze so we can get some decent sleep in, probably the hardest part about upwind and close reaching is the lack of rest while in the bunk. Back to the bunk again now after a quick spag bol to try and catch up on much needed rest.

Stu Bannatyne - watch captain

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TELEFÓNICA BLACK LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: received 2052 GMT

It has been a hard day's night. Fighting upwind with a nice uncomfortable wave and some 25 knots of breeze at night is something you sailors know very well. So imagine in these boats conceived to fly downwind. But we still push hard, as we were so close to the Puma! In fact, when dawn came, we still could see her a few miles to leeward. We are in a bunch!

We passed the scoring gate of Noronha yesterday at 1448 UTC in the fourth position, but with the Puma to the sight, so close we are after 3500 miles! We had a Brazilian army ship following us for a couple of miles as we passed by Noronha, is was great fun to see more human beings apart from us! I think they took some great shots of us sailing the TELEFÓNICA NEGRO.

We manage pretty well under these conditions, apart from the fight which is to climb "the Everest" to go to the galley to prepare food, as every move inside the boat is a goal! We call "the Everest" the step which covers the rams which move the keel inside the boat, as we have to jump over every time we have to do something fore, and under certain conditions, with which even walking is hazardous, imagine ducking and jumping over anything!

As conditions are improving right now, we will take advantage of them and start bailing and taking care of the inside, you can imagine how it is!

More tomorrow
Mikel Pasabant - MCM

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TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: Received 24.10.08 1931GMT

I cannot help feeling every time a cloud parks itself over our boat 'why us?' The wind drops, starts shifting in funny directions and then sometimes dies altogether leaving you feeling nervous that you are losing miles to all your competitors. I am sure that everyone one in the race so far has had the fair share of clouds and squalls to deal with, but it still doesn't help at the time.

At the time you usually feel like you have been singled out by some sort of higher power who has decided you've gained quite enough miles on your competitors today already so they'll throw another little test in your path. This has pretty much been the case since the doldrums with something to test us every few hundred miles. However, in spite of these little upsets, we remain relatively up beat as we have managed to close in on the leaders just a little bit more today.

That said they are still a fair chunk ahead of us but we have vowed to be patient, conservative and now, being relatively happy with our speed, are willing to just try and reel them back in small chunks. So far, so good.

Despite the rivalry between our two Telefónica boats it gives us encouragement to see the boys on the black boat going so well. Right now they are doing a nice job of closing in on the lead, helping us to believe that we too will be up there soon... good work lads but I hope to see you soon!!!

With that I'd better run. the position report has just come in which will let us know how well the last three hours of our life has gone and hopefully will show us which direction the next three will take...

Cheers, for now,

Si Fi.

Simon Fisher - navigator
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ERICSSON 4 LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: received 24.10.08 1817GMT

It's already 13 days since the start and this is the only time available to write some words. It has been an intense race since the start and really demanding.

Lot's of stuff has happened on E4 since the start and more action than I've remembered in a yacht race, from dropping our mate Tony in a survival suit to get his knee infection sorted, to fighting for every metre to beat the Black Cat into Noronha.

Passing the equator during our fight was also a good distraction to level up our mood. I was given the mission to organise the ceremony for the baptism of our crew mates Phil (Blood) Jameson and Rhino and, as a Brazilian I couldn't disappoint them. It is something Brazil could feel proud of: the costumes and special parties. I used a bit of imagination thanks to silver foiled paper from dried food bags. I spent over half my off watch working on it and there we were, as Neptune with the help of his queen (Joca - Joao Signorini) with our mates firmly taped to the port pedestal .

We passed Noronha, and it is always good to see some part of our land, especially this island that brings back good memories.

Inside is humid, noisy and not so easy to live, but it is what it is and that's what we are here for.

Rgds and more to come (when time available)!!

Horacio Carabelli - trimmer

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ERICSSON 3 LEG ONE DAY 14 QFB: received 24.10.08 1730 GMT

This is a hard time for us. We are fighting in the bottom end of the league and it doesn't feel like our hard work is paying off.

Magnus Olsson says that it's a known dilemma among ocean-race veterans. After 1.5 to 2 weeks of sailing and you're not doing too well, it doesn't take much for the guys to get grumpy. At least not now when it's starting to get a bit rough, the boats are going fast and rocking in every wave. To make food or even to visit the toilet takes quite an effort.

Our situation didn't improve when we had to stop to pick up a new satellite station at the island Fernando, that we rounded during last night.
Until now it's been mostly champagne sailing. Now we need to show some endurance and never give up. The weather systems can change and we still have a shot if we're not making any mistakes.

"We just need to focus on what we can do better all the time and think positive, see the good stuff that we do. I like to talk about what has gone wrong and then just leave that behind", says Mange Olsson.

Gustav Morin - MCM

Team Russia RUS (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT) +87

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