The best thing you'll see all day - a sunset onboard Dongfeng somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean (Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race). Photo: Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race. As a sailor myself I can attest to the most magnificent sunrises and sunsets, incredibly clean and ultra violet water that one can see into for what seems miles and miles and the most magnificent view of the Milky Way imaginable from the middle of the ocean. The absence of any ambient light at night is incredible and … [Read more...] about The best thing you’ll see all day
The Ocean Race
Tip Toe Through the Cloud Banks
As temperatures rise and strong winds give way to localised storm activity on the approach to the Doldrums, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is picking its way through the cloud systems, attempting to connect the dots, joining the wind pressure cells. It’s exhausting work for navigators and skippers in terms of decision-making, and for the crew moving the stack of sails on each gybe. At least some if not all of the teams have elected to ‘split the stack’, piling half the weight on each side of the … [Read more...] about Tip Toe Through the Cloud Banks
The cloud giveth and the cloud taketh
Leg 1 winners Vestas 11th Hour Racing jumped to the head of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet three days into Leg 2 as the big dive south began in earnest on Wednesday. Clever sailing from Charlie Enright's Danish/American outfit saw them dart past their rivals with a well-timed gybe yesterday evening that put them into their own windshift. When they emerged they had a welcome 10-mile buffer over closest rivals MAPFRE, Dongfeng Race Team and Akzonobel. But it hasn't all gone Vestas' way – … [Read more...] about The cloud giveth and the cloud taketh
30 Knot Sleigh Ride to Cape Town gets interesting
As the Volvo Ocean Race fleet continued to charge west at breakneck speeds on Tuesday, a crucial decision that could ultimately affect the overall outcome of Leg 2 was looming. The seven teams have been treated to a wet and wild opening 48 hours to the 7,000 nautical mile stage from Lisbon to Cape Town, their biggest challenge to date. Boat speeds have been soaring close to 30 knots as the VO65s charge downwind on a tradewind-powered sleigh ride that has lasted since leaving Lisbon on … [Read more...] about 30 Knot Sleigh Ride to Cape Town gets interesting
Is West Best?
After a fast and furious opening to Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race, the fleet is settling into a groove on Monday, with navigators and skippers already facing the first of many critical decisions on this race from Lisbon to Cape Town. Watch highlights from the windy start of Leg 2 Today will give us the first indication as to how far west the teams want to set up for their approach to the doldrums. “We’re planning another gybe to the west to take advantage of the shifts,” explained Juan … [Read more...] about Is West Best?
The ONLY way open to a VIP Guest to leave a speeding yacht – JUMP!
It is tradition to put VIP Guests and Sponsors on yachts at the start of races such as the Volvo Ocean Race. These incredibly lucky people get to experience first hand the adrenalin associated with a high intensity start and that initial first dash for the next port of call. The 'problem' comes in when that VIP has to disembark as the speed and aspect of these racing machines does not lend itself well to gently stepping off and onto a chase boat. HENCE - we now have the JUMPER who has to take a … [Read more...] about The ONLY way open to a VIP Guest to leave a speeding yacht – JUMP!
We Gonna Give You 21 Days to get to Cape Town
Dongfeng Race Team converted a strong start into an early lead as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet embarked on Leg 2, a 7,000 nautical mile race from Lisbon to Cape Town wich is estimated to take three weeks to sail down the West Coast of Africa and finish in Cape Town around 26 and 27 November 2017, But, at 01h00 UTC on 6 November, it looked like MAPFRE were going like a rocket with their Speed Over Ground at 21.1 knots - a full 13 knots faster than second placed Donfeng. MAPFRE were then ahead of … [Read more...] about We Gonna Give You 21 Days to get to Cape Town
Marathon Leg to Cape Town Starts Sunday
The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 shifts into a new phase on Sunday with the start of Leg 2, a 7,000 nautical mile, three-week, marathon leg to Cape Town, South Africa. It’s one of the iconic legs of this offshore classic, as the teams transition from the North Atlantic, through the Doldrums, into the trade winds and may even dip a toe into the Southern Ocean before the finish in Cape Town, which has already been a stopover host 10 times. The tactical options on the leg have been opened up this … [Read more...] about Marathon Leg to Cape Town Starts Sunday
Liz Wardley’s leg caught in sheet and dragged across yacht [video]
In Port Win for Team Brunel
Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel fended off a late charge by MAPFRE to win the Mirpuri Foundation In-Port Race Lisbon on Friday afternoon. Conditions were challenging, to say the least, with squalls bringing rain and gusty, shifting winds. Not only that, but the confines of the mouth of the Tagus River meant a short leg length, with four laps of the race course – plenty of manoeuvres and boat handling for the teams. “I think we did well, we’ve made huge steps as a team,” Bekking said following … [Read more...] about In Port Win for Team Brunel
The Winner of Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race
Vestas 11th Hour Racing have won Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race, crossing the finish line in the River Tagus in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday afternoon. It's a tremendous victory for American skipper Charlie Enright and his team, who earn 8 points for their efforts (including a one point 'bonus' for winning the leg). It wasn't easy. The wind shut down on the final approach, and an early morning lead of 34-nautical miles over second-placed MAPFRE was whittled down to 10-miles, with the finish … [Read more...] about The Winner of Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race
6.3 nm Lead for 11th Hour
After 24 hours of tricky sailing through light, fickle breeze the Volvo Ocean Race fleet were today locked in an all-out drag race towards Porto Santo, the first major turning mark in Leg 1. Leaders Vestas 11th Hour Racing are now within 200 nautical miles of the waypoint, a tiny island that forms part of Portugal's Madeira archipelago. At the 1300 UTC position update they had a six-mile jump on second placed MAPFRE, with team Akzonobel a further nine miles back. The three frontrunners … [Read more...] about 6.3 nm Lead for 11th Hour
Light winds block the way
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet was punching into the Atlantic on Tuesday after surviving their first test from the weather gods through the Gibraltar Strait overnight. Vestas 11th Hour Racing still occupy the top spot after a challenging first 50 hours of the opening leg from Alicante, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal, that has seen them dominate the leaderboard over their six rivals. At one point skipper Charlie Enright's crew stretched out their advantage to more than 27 miles as they were … [Read more...] about Light winds block the way
11th Hour Racing grabs the lead
An eventful opening 24 hours in the Volvo Ocean Race has seen skipper Charlie Enright’s Vestas 11th Hour Racing grab the lead as the fleet converge on the Strait of Gibraltar. The Vestas boat, along with team AkzoNobel, were the first to make a break for the Spanish coast as night fell on Sunday evening, where they benefited from favourable conditions and emerged in front of the fleet. “We took the inshore route with good angle and we know we crossed ahead of the fleet when we converged … [Read more...] about 11th Hour Racing grabs the lead
Stunning Start to Volvo Ocean Race
Conditions couldn’t have been better for the start in Alicante, Spain on Sunday afternoon. The fleet of seven of the best sailing teams in the world started Leg 1, a 1,450 nautical mile sprint to Lisbon, Portugal in bright sunshine and a 15-20 knot Easterly breeze. The bay off the Alicante sea front was crowded with hundreds of spectator boats, ringing a short inshore race course, before the fleet was free to fly off, downwind, towards Gibraltar. They were treated to some of the most … [Read more...] about Stunning Start to Volvo Ocean Race
