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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

The Ocean Race

Massive Contribution to the City of Cape Town Economy

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The Volvo Ocean Race Cape Town Race Village is officially open – after an unforgettable ceremony on Friday. A host of dignitaries from the city joined local performers, dance groups (and Volvo Ocean Race mascot Wisdom the Albatross) to mark the special occasion – with the ribbon cutting performed by the City of Cape Town’s Cllr Eddie Andrews. It is the 11th time in 13 editions that the Race has visited the South African city, known as the ‘Gateway to the Southern Ocean’, and crowds flooded … [Read more...] about Massive Contribution to the City of Cape Town Economy

The Race to Cape Town as Yachts EAT up the Miles

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The Spanish crew of Leg 2 leaders MAPFRE were cautiously keeping one eye on their rivals and the other on Cape Town on Wednesday as they came within just over 800 miles of the finish line. Confounding predictions the yachts are almost two full days ahead of schedule on their way to Cape Town. And, in a strange twist of fate, the leading yacht has 822 nautical miles to Cape Town whilst Alan has the same number of kilometres to travel to Cape Town on Thursday for the expected arrival early on … [Read more...] about The Race to Cape Town as Yachts EAT up the Miles

Cold, Wet, and no Escape

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"Cold, wet, and no escape..." An apt description of conditions in the South Atlantic as the competition heats up, even as temperatures plummet. The second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race might be entering its final few days but the final positions are far from decided. MAPFRE continued to lead the seven-strong fleet on Tuesday, but their 35 nautical mile advantage yesterday had been whittled down to 26 miles as the chasing pack close in. “We’ve managed to get ourselves into the lead, but … [Read more...] about Cold, Wet, and no Escape

Temperature Down, Velocity Up

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Dutch crew Team Brunel opted to go into stealth mode on Monday, cloaking their position from their rivals for up to 24 hours – as Spanish team MAPFRE led the Volvo Ocean Race fleet towards Cape Town. Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking and navigator Andrew Cape made the call to 'disappear' from the rankings following the 0700 UTC report in an attempt to advance on MAPFRE, some 35 miles ahead. Before going into stealth mode Brunel were in second place, and the most southerly boat in the fleet, but … [Read more...] about Temperature Down, Velocity Up

Neck and Neck as Pressure Mounts

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While it may be a relaxed Sunday for many around the world, that is surely not the case for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet battling for position in the South Atlantic. In particular, the navigators and skippers are faced with choices that may largely determine their fate on Leg 2 as they race towards Cape Town. On Sunday morning, with most of the leading group having finally gybed and sailing an easterly track towards Cape Town, Team Brunel defied expectations and turned back to the southwest … [Read more...] about Neck and Neck as Pressure Mounts

Sometimes going the wrong way pays

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The Volvo Ocean Race leaderboard is constantly undergoing a shake-up, reflective at the moment almost entirely by how far east a team is positioned. As the fleet approaches the latitude of the finish line in Cape Town, this is hardly surprising. Any progress to the east is a direct mile off the 2,500 or so miles left to the finishing line. But tactically, it’s hardly that simple, and teams that many experts are touting as in the strongest position on this leg are still charging to the … [Read more...] about Sometimes going the wrong way pays

Wind vs Distance in Sprint for Cape Town

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A 130 nautical mile lateral split has opened up in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet on Friday as the teams trade off better wind with shorter distance in a bid to get to Cape Town first. Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel were today the most westerly boat having gybed onto starboard at 0900 UTC, with Vestas 11th Hour Racing following suit shortly after. For several hours Bekking's Dutch-flagged boat was actually pointing in the opposite direction to Cape Town, much to the amazement of some race fans … [Read more...] about Wind vs Distance in Sprint for Cape Town

Will Cutting the Corner Pay?

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At the 1300 UTC ranking Simeon Tienpont's AkzoNobel was in the Leg 2 top spot because their trajectory, around 70 nautical miles to the east of the fleet, puts them closer to Cape Town than any of their rivals. But while they are technically in pole position in terms of distance to finish, the move is a tactical roll of the dice from Tienpont and his navigator Jules Salter. By positioning themselves to the east they have reduced the amount of miles they need to sail, but the compromise … [Read more...] about Will Cutting the Corner Pay?

Advice from one sailor to another – Urine works

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Editor: Many years ago I was part of the Summerstrand Life Saving Club Reel Alarm team - when the surf was light we used nylon rope attached to a swimmer to retrieve swimmers in distress. The nylon line was particularly heavy on the hands and cut them to smithereens. Many on our crew resorted to using Methylated spirits to toughen up their hands, but that made the skin dry and crack. Then, one day, a hoary old lifesaver instructed us to pee on our hands whilst in the shower, let it dry and then … [Read more...] about Advice from one sailor to another – Urine works

Back to Business and the charge South

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With Monday's Equator crossings already a fading memory for the Volvo Ocean Race crews, gone too is any respite, however brief, from the relentless action that's characterising the second leg. Many sailors awoke on Tuesday sporting new haircuts or with the faint whiff of days-old food about them, or both. These were the only reminders of the momentary reprieve that came in the form of the traditional ceremonies to induct first timers into the court of King Neptune. However … [Read more...] about Back to Business and the charge South

Hunters Celebrate with Raw Liver, Sailors do it Differently

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The Volvo Ocean Race frontrunners are into the Southern Hemisphere on Monday after crossing the Equator, the latest milestone in the drag race to Cape Town. Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team led the fleet over the famous line of latitude at 0941 UTC with the slimmest of leads over MAPFRE, Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Team Brunel and team Akzonobel. By 1126 UTC all five boats in the tight leading pack had crossed the Equator, the delta between them just shy of 18 nautical miles going into … [Read more...] about Hunters Celebrate with Raw Liver, Sailors do it Differently

The Slow Dance in the Doldrums

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Dongfeng Race Team retains the lead in Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race, but only just, as the leaders slow in Doldrums conditions. Just 10 miles separate first from fourth, and the difference between first and worst is scarcely 45 miles, good news for the backmarkers, who are back in the game. These are agonising conditions for the sailors, who normally live and die by each of the six-hourly position reports. But with the positions closing up, the other boats are either in sight from on deck, … [Read more...] about The Slow Dance in the Doldrums

Doldrum Dodging

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With the fleet approaching the latitudes of the Doldrums, speeds are expected to drop and indeed the leading boat, Dongfeng, was down to 12 knots of speed on the 13:00 UTC position report. Boats just 10 miles further back were making closer to 20 knots. So a compression in the fleet is expected. But it may not be as severe as it often is. This Doldrums crossing is forecast to be relatively quick. Good news for the leading pack with the boats grouped so close together. “There is still so … [Read more...] about Doldrum Dodging

Not ANOTHER Sunset!

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Eventually one becomes just a bit blase over the magnificent sunrises and sunsets that mother Nature dishes up in the middle of the ocean. Actually no, scrap that, I would give a small appendage to experience these every day for the rest of my life! Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team were putting on a display of straight-line speed sailing on Friday as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet bore down on the Doldrums. The Chinese-flagged team had eked out a narrow five-mile lead over rivals … [Read more...] about Not ANOTHER Sunset!