Sport-heute: Sailing - ERICSSON 3 LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.12.08 0940 GMT

22. Dezember 2008, 14:33

ERICSSON 3 LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.12.08 0940 GMT

Christmas cramps

For the first time this year, I have some Christmas feelings. It was this morning and it was all about excitement. Actually, the feeling is still there.

cochin-singapore (mk) We, Telefónica Blue, Puma and Ericsson 4, parked up and some even had to anchor to avoid being pushed back by the current. It was almost impossible to predict from where and when the wind was going to come.

We had been in second place for 24 hours and we had no intention to loose it. But, it was hard to do anything about the situation and it was nerve-wracking. That's where the Christmas feeling comes in place.

I remember when I was a kid and I had been hoping for months that I was going to get something special. The last hours before the 'present-opening-ceremony', I had just the same feeling as I had this morning. But, this present could be worth more than any present ever - a podium position.

We never used our anchor and we were the first to get some breeze and start moving. It felt fantastic, even though we knew the game was far from over. The conditions here are just a bit too fluky to take anything for granted.

Telefónica got the wind just after us and together we left Ericsson 4 and Puma behind us. They were still lying still, close to shore. But, as I said, do not trust the winds.

A couple of hours later they had made big gains on us from their inshore route and when we gybed we were equal with them, just a few metres apart.

We were in the lead for quite a long time, but in one gybe Telefónica Blue managed to pass us and unfortunately, Puma slipped in front of us as well after a while. We are currently in third place with Ericsson 4 chasing us closely, just like we are chasing Puma and the Spanish.

It' s about 65 miles left to finish and still a lot can happen, even though we have a more steady gradient wind now.

But, just as when I was a little boy standing by the Christmas tree crossing my fingers so hard I got cramp, I will not stop wishing until it's over.

I want a podium position for Christmas.

Gustav Morin - MCM

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

KOSATKA TEAM RUSSIA LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.12.08 0846 GMT

Light six knots breeze, calm water, there is no cloud in the sky. December 21st. The Volvo Ocean Race fleet is sailing the Malacca Strait somewhere between Sumatra and Indonesia. Christmas is approaching and as to our Russian cold New Year with its New Year tree, it is simply impossible to imagine it here 250 miles off the equator.

Everywhere around you see a huge amount of ocean water and the sky and the scorching sun, and the white A1, which covers half of the horizon and small fishing boats of Indonesian fishermen in the distance.

Yesterday, December 20th, we were the seventh to cross the scoring gate and entered the Malacca Strait. About 30 miles behind us Delta Lloyd was slowly moving in the direction of the third finish in Singapore. Sumatra's coastline was dimly seen in the distance to the starboard.

There was good wind in the Strait and we were sailing at a pretty nice pace of 12-15 knots. As usual, the boat was sailing forward, jumping up and down the waves with spray loudly beating against the spray rails. At night, our speed luckily did not slow down, though the sea became quiet and we sailed under Cassiopeia and Southern Cross while the ocean was sparkling with the myriads of strange tropical stars.

As we were moving forward at a good speed yesterday, we planned to reach Singapore on December 22nd. Today our speed is not as good as we had hoped and the finish is expected to be on the 23rd. But, the good news is that we are catching up with the rest of the fleet because the sea is calm and the boats are practically not moving and we pray that our wind should not stop.

Our everyday schedule is as usual: keeping watch, sail changing, going to bed, meals, stacking parties above and below decks, no matter whether the sea is calm or rough. But, neither the stormy sea nor the calm tropical waters can stop us or change our forward movement to the finish. And let luck be WITH US!

Sergey Bogdanov MCM

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

TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.10.08 0717 GMT

As bad the day before was, so good was yesterday. In the early afternoon, we wiggled ourselves in the lead. A big call had to be made to go either inside or outside a group of islands, and since the sky was clear, we opted to stay inshore, as most likely we would keep more pressure.

A very good call as Ericsson 4 opted to go outside and they paid heavily for that decision. They went from a comfortable first place to fourth, that must have hurt. From then on, we more or less stayed all the same until dawn was breaking.

Ericsson 3 was always within half a mile of us, and the other two a couple more behind. Then, at dawn, we had a huge park up again for a couple of hours, and our lead vanished, as a northerly breeze brought the other boats close to us. We were sailing under spinnaker and we were neck and neck with Ericsson 3. They passed us once, but then we passed them again. We had navigate through an area of shoals, so tricky for the navigators, not to let us run aground.

Then we got involved in an incident with Ericsson 3. We were both on opposite tacks, and we had the right of way. It resulted in us protesting Ericsson 3. I won't go into detail what exactly happened, so that I don't influence the international jury. The good news is that we got the entire incident on video tape.

From then on, we led until the early hours, all four boats within 1.5 miles, as if we were attached with a string, but then we parked up again. It was touch and go, if we had to anchor, as there was a strong current against us. It resulted in Puma and Ericsson 4 anchoring. We kept a whisker of breeze 2-3 knots and since we were still making slow progress, we separated together with Ericsson 3 from the other two.

I wasn't very happy with what happened, as we ended up going offshore, without actually making distance to the finish. And yes, the other two started moving again, and made huge gains. I didn't want to put all the eggs in one basket, and said to the guys, we have to bite the bullet and take their sterns, as we have seen a lot of things can happen in no time. Then we picked up a couple of nice shifts and all of sudden, we find ourselves again in the lead. Happy we didn't stay offshore!

So, hopefully, by tomorrow we are finished. Prediction on the result? What about this suggestion: we could as well decide with the other three skippers to throw the dice on who is going to win. So much for my prediction who is going to win.

Cheers,

Bouwe Bekking - skipper

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

Leserkommentare (0) »

Sergey Bogdanov/Team Russia/Volvo Ocean Race Scott Gray trimming, onboard Team Russia, on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from India to Singapore

Gabriele Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race Navigator Simon Fisher and skipper Bouwe Bekking discuss their route after the scoring gate, onboard Telefonica Blue, on leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race from India to Singapore

Sander Pluijm/Team Delta Lloyd/Volvo Ocean Race The day after the keel structure broke. Ed van Lierde is steering the boat with 11 knots upwind to sumatra, still in the race. sailing J4 and reef in the main. Steering Gerd-Jan Poortman, next in the sun Ed van Lierde, Martin Watts, Ryan Houston and Matt Gregory

ERICSSON 3 LEG THREE DAY 10 QFB: received 22.12.08 0940 GMT

Christmas cramps For the first time this year, I have some Christmas feelings. It was this morning and it was all about excitement. Actually, the feeling is still there.

Christmas cramps

For the first time this year, I have some Christmas feelings. It was this morning and it was all about excitement. Actually, the feeling is still there.