Some of the many trophies we won at the Squadron

Under fine skies and a fresh North Easterley breeze, “Thelma” led for the whole of the 1907 Auckland Anniversary Regatta First Division Race, narrowly beating “Ariki” over the line. They were closely followed by “Rainbow” in third place.

The great transatlantic race of 1866 began on December 11th, 1866 on a cool clear day with a fresh westerly breeze.

The wind is gusting up to 20 knots as “New Zealand”, with Dean Barker at the helm, leads “Prada” around the last windward mark with only the run to the finish remaining. “Prada” has just hoisted her spinnaker with a few of the top stops yet to ‘break out’.

Race 3 of the America’s Cup on Octber 19th, 1899, between the defender “Columbia” and challenger “Shamrock I” , was described by the press of the day as the most exciting race for many years. In a 20 knot wind the yachts raced over a 30 mile course off Sandy Hook, New York, consisting of a 15 mile run to the leeward mark, followed by a 15 mile beat back to the finish.

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The artist and his brother enjoy a fish and mucking around in their Frostply, Japeto that their father buit for them.

As I said in an earlier thread, if you would like to share a story or 2 about this very special Kiwi yachtie, flick me a message.

Photo credit: Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi

Alinghi, will be ready to race their 90x90ft boat in 2010

Valencia Sailing

BMW Oracle test new 3Di mainsail in Valencia

On the eve of their all important meeting with Alinghi in Geneva and with Russell Coutts and the monohull sailing crew in Italy for the RC44 circuit, James Spithill, John Kostecki and the rest of the BMW Oracle multihull crew keep training in Valencia.

This is the third week the American team trains here in Valencia but unlike the first two, we only saw two yachts today. The first one was Groupama, with Franck Cammas on the helm, and the second one was a BMW Oracle Extreme 40 with James Spithill driving.

What caught our attention was the brand new 3Di mainsail from Northsails. It was the first time we observed it, although it might have been used since Monday. Are we going to see this technology on the BOR 90ft trimaran? Our understanding is that the America’s Cup challenger of record will move back to San Diego in 3 weeks for a 2-month training and testing session aboard their monster trimaran, before returning to Valencia for further testing.

BMW Oracle test new 3Di sails on their Extreme 40 catamaran. Valencia, 22 April 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

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click the photo to hear interview with Hilary-you might need to join facebook for it to work.

Record Breaking Quadriplegic Woman One Month Away From Start of Solo Sail Around Britain.

Final preparations are being made by Hilary Lister, 37, who will re-start her “Round Britain Dream”, in which she aims to become the first disabled woman to sail solo around Britain. Hilary will set sail from Plymouth between 18th-22nd May (weather dependent). During the “Round Britain Dream” Hilary also aims to become the first disabled sailor to make a solo crossing of the Irish Sea. Hilary first came to prominence when, in 2005, she became the first disabled sailor to cross the English Channel, single-handed. In 2007 she became the first disabled woman to sail solo around the Isle of Wight.
Hilary’s Boat “Me Too” will be launched in Dover on the 22nd April, the Safety Boat and Land Support crew are all in place and will begin training in Dover on May 1st. Hilary said about her “Round Britain Dream”:  “I’m incredibly privileged to get a second chance to fulfil my dream. We have a fantastic team and I can’t wait to get started. We will be raising money and awareness of disabled sailing right around the UK.”
Hilary’s “Round Britain Dream” is still looking to attract sponsors for the completion of this record breaking attempt. In addition to becoming part of a truly inspirational project, sponsors will achieve sustained international, national and regional media coverage during and after the sail.  In 2008 the “Round Britain Dream” generated publicity and continues to do so to this day from across the world, including that listed at the end of this release.

About Hilary

An extremely active youngster, Hilary suddenly found herself wheelchair-bound at the age of 15, due to a progressive neurological disorder.  This would gradually lead to the loss of the use of her body from the neck down, whilst leaving her in constant pain.  Despite everything, she continued her education, earning a 2.1 in Biochemistry from Oxford University in 1995 and went on to study for her PhD.  She finally lost the use of her arms and hands in 1998, aged 27.  In late September 2003 Hilary was taken sailing on a local lake by a friend.  She credits sailing with saving her life. “Sailing came along when life didn’t seem worth living any more.  Within seconds of being on the water a light switched back on inside me.  I knew that I had found what I was going to do with the rest of my life”.

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Francois Morvan wins the Seaview Mermaid Match Racing

Francois Morvan from France was the winner of the Seaview Mermaid Match Racing, sponsored by Wight Vodka over the weekend of April 18-19, 2009.

The international fleet raced in light and testing conditions, but it was the three-man team from France who saw off the competition. And it was a vital regatta this year – as the only ISAF Grade 3 event on the UK’s calendar – the event offered aspiring sailors the chance to take those all-important steps up the world match racing rankings.

The Seaview race officials managed to complete a full Round Robin, just in time, before the breeze died out on the second day.

Out on the racecourse, it was a fight for the other podium places, Ali Hall secured second place overall by seeing off Robbie Allam in the semi finals. Mark Lees just missed out, finishing the regatta in fourth.

This is the sixth edition of the event – run by the Sea View Yacht Club which has established itself as a leading club for staging match-racing events as well as corporate regattas throughout the summer.

The Sea View Yacht Club’s fleet of identical 26ft racing yachts makes it ideal for match racing, plus there’s a grandstand view of the racing from the shore. Match racing is also about to gain international prominence as the chosen format for the women’s three-man Olympic event at the 2012 Games.

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Gilmour and Longley Help Mirsky Get His 2009

WMRT Show on The Road

April 23, 2009 by admin

Mirsky Racing Team might not yet have a sponsorship deal going into the 2009 World Match Racing Tour, but they certainly have some of sailing’s biggest names as friends. The team has officially launched their 2009 campaign at their own Royal Perth Yacht Club where the VIPs included Peter Gilmour and John Longley.

Longley will be inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame at a ceremony on April 30, while Gilmour will become one of the team’s rivals at Match Race Germany at the end of May.

As well as announcing the Mirsky Team’s plans for the season, the event also promoted the future of sailing in Western Australia. Each of the speakers outlined the importance the Perth team is going to play in the future of Australian sailing, and reiterated the need for the community of Western Australia to back the team and help them achieve their goals.

The team’s campaign funds were boosted by a surprise auction of some of the team’s action shots which were on display. Standing amongst a crowd filled with Olympic medallists, America’s Cup champions, World, National and State champions, a few high rollers bid up to $2,000 for the photos signed by the team.

The evening is part of the Mirsky Racing Team’s intent to be one of the most successful and professional teams on and off the water.

“The evening showed the strong support and professionalism of MRT. They will certainly have great success in the future and they are well worth supporting for the Western Australian community.” – Bryan Bourke

“Hopefully the endorsement of some of WA’s greatest sailing talent will assist MRT in finding the funding that they need for the remainder of the years events. Good Luck to the MRT in Europe this year!” – Colin Spence

The team sent special thanks to Shacks Holden Perth, Elizabeth’s Bookshops, the Royal Perth Yacht Club as well as the team’s sponsors Harken and Line7.

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Ecover Switch To iShares Cup with Mike Golding

April 23, 2009 by admin

Ecover, ecological cleaning and washing products manufacturer, and long time sponsor of Mike Golding is backing a new campaign for the sailor, on an eXtreme 40 in the iShares Cup. The move is significant for sailing and event organisers – sending a clear message that value for money and return on investment are key drivers. Team Gitana have also swapped their Open 60 for the cheaper, more entertainment based package offered by OC Events.

Mike Bremans, Managing Director of Ecover was quoted by Cowes Online as saying:

“The partnership with Mike Golding Yacht Racing over the last eight years has delivered consistent results and it has been a strong business and marketing investment for Ecover. Success on the water through the IMOCA campaigns has related to equal success off the water. However after eight years supporting the IMOCA Open 60 we decided to look at what other properties in the sport of sailing were available to further develop the Ecover brand. The iShares Cup works really well for us in terms of exposure, accessibility, and venues throughout Europe.”

Everyone at Ecover continues to be very proud of Mike’s achievements and we are looking forward to an exciting season ahead with the Extreme 40

It’s not surprising to us, that sponsors are taking the eXtreme 40 option. Tornado Sport have provided a turn-key product that compared to an OPEN 60 is cheap. A competitive campaign can be run for a season for the same price as  the mast, boom and rigging of an Open 60. Compared to a relatively ‘light’ calandar for the big offshore boats in 2009, the iShares Cup will visit six key European markets.

Mike Golding at least wants to keep the offshore dream alive, so while he will be the face of the Ecover eXtreme 40 program, he now has find someone to fund his Vendee Globe 2012 aspirations.

It has been a great partnership over the past eight years and I am very pleased to be sailing once again under the banner of Ecover, this time in an Extreme 40. With the IMOCA calendar being very light this year, it was a good opportunity to step into a new arena and provide Ecover with a great sailing platform for them to promote their brand across Europe.

“I am however still fully committed to compete in IMOCA circuit events and aim to find sponsors to take the Open 60 forwards towards the Vendée Globe in 2012. To me this remains unfinished business and we have already begun talking to potential new sponsors for our IMOCA 60 yacht.”
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The iShares Cup will begin in Venice on the weekend of 15-17 May.

Young kiwi lying 4th at ISAF World Cup Regatta

Date: 23 April 2009
By: Jodie Bakewell-White

19 year old Josh Junior is lying 4th in the 140 strong Laser fleet at the Semaine Olympique Francaise Regatta being sailed in Hyeres, France. Two days of racing remain at the event which is the fourth of seven in the inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup series.

Two races were sailed overnight in light tricky breezes in Hyeres with eight now completed. Two more races tonight will determine the top ten placed sailors who will then sail in the double points medal race.
Junior who represents the Worser Bay Boating Club in Wellington, sits amongst a tightly bunched group on the leaderboard. The kiwi has continued to climb through the standings as the six day regatta has progressed improving from 6th overall up to 4th after day four. A string of top six finishes in races two through seven including a win and a 2nd have secured Junior his current place towards the top of the large Laser fleet.
The kiwi has a total of 48 points just two points adrift of both Maxim Semerkhanov (RUS) and Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) sharing second place with 46 points apiece. Paul Goodison of Great Britain has a strong lead at this stage in the regatta with a 21 point margin.
Junior, from Wellington represented New Zealand at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in 2007 when he returned home with a silver medal. The young up and comer has also proved his talent in keelboat and match racing events.
Another New Zealander, James Sandall from Wairoa Yacht Club, is also in with a shot at making the medal race if he can round out the finals series with two more good races. He recorded his best day on the water on last night in France with a 6th in race seven and 2nd in race eight. Currently he sits in 11th place with a four point margin to make up to hit the top ten.
“Josh and James have had a consistent series so far and that is the key to success in this regatta,” says Jez Fanstone, Yachting New Zealand’s Olympic Programme Director. “With two races to go there is a great chance for them to be able to get within striking distance of medals here.”
“The last two regattas in Europe have shown the depth of talent that we have here in New Zealand and the hard work that the squad has done in New Zealand over last spring and summer.”
New Zealand’s only representative in the 54 boat Laser Radial fleet at Semaine Olympique Francaise, Sara Winther of Takapuna Boating Club is currently in 15th place.
Racing resumes in Hyeres tonight with two more races for all fleets to conclude the finals series and decide the top ten to compete in the medal race. The medal races are scheduled for Friday 24th. (Overnight Friday New Zealand time)

Links…
Latest ISAF report
Regatta Website
Josh Junior’s Website

New Zealand’s Current Standings after eight races
Laser (140 boats)
Josh Junior 4th
James Sandall 11th
Andy Maloney 29th
Mike Bullot 37th
Matt Coutts 44th
Sam Meech 49th
Blair McLay 75th
Laser Radial (54 boats)
Sara Winther 15th
Women’s RS:X (32 boards)
Justina Sellers 26th

PRESS RELEASE – RC44 Championship Tour – Cagliari RC 44 Cup

Photo: Copyright Roberto Marci / RC 44 Class: Dean Barker and Artemis, unbeatable and unbeaten today.

Dean Baker and Artemis undefeated in the Cagliari RC 44 match race contest

Team Artemis scores an impressive 9 / 0 and wins the match race event ahead of No Way Back, Ceeref and BMW ORACLE Racing; all three on a tie with five points each.

April 23, 2009 – Showing great mastery of the tricky air conditions, and superb boat handling, Dean Barker and his crew on board Artemis have exploded out of the blocks, winning all of their matches and the overall ranking ahead of Philippe Presti and Sébastien Col.
Today will be remembered as the longest, and certainly one of the hardest match-racing days in the RC 44 Championship Tour history. The racing started on schedule, under a blue sunshine and with a very light breeze. It finished eight hours later under a stunning red sky and with a lovely 10-12 knots breeze. Race Officer Peter Reggio had to postpone racing on several occasions, re-establishing the course according to the wind variations. Luckily it all finished well, with fantastic sailing conditions and great matches.
On great form, Dean Barker managed to win the first start – and match – of the day despite being dominated by Cameron Appleton’s Team Aqua in the pre-start. Reacting one second too late at the crucial moment, Appleton let his fellow citizen escape and win the race.
All other teams opposed to Barker and his “fab-seven” were to suffer the same fate later on in the day, succumbing to Barker’s aggressiveness, perfect positioning and great tactics. The best example was the match between Artemis and Ceeref. The Slovenian team, with Seb Col at the helm, was in the lead but Barker and his team kept pushing harder and harder until Ceeref made a first mistake, touching the windward mark, before getting a second “killing” penalty a few minutes later.
Also well inspired however unable to beat Artemis, Team Puerto Calero bravely tempted everything against Artemis during the fifth flight but could only humbly congratulate their opponent past the arrival line: there was nothing to do against this team today.
The racing became really interesting in the middle of the afternoon, once the breeze had established itself. At this stage, four teams were in a position to grab the second overall spot: Ceeref (Sébastien Col), No Way Back (Philippe Presti), Team Aqua (Cameron Appleton) and BMW ORACLE Racing (Larry Ellison). As the day went by, the sailors’ muscles started to hurt and concentration and focus became the deciding factors for victory. Team Aqua, who was struggling to adapt to the new Class rule regarding bowsprit management – and its consequences on crew work – struggled in the end of the day and let the three others fight for the podium. Both No Way Back and Ceeref had the best run, winning one more match then BMW ORACLE Racing; they were however both penalised for a light touch against one of their opponents. As a consequence, they finished on a tie with the American team. Ceeref had beaten Oracle, who had beaten No Way Back, who had beaten Ceeref whilst the three teams had been beaten by Aqua… It took the Jury a while to listen to – and reject – Ceeref’s request for redress, and announce that No Way Back was second overall, ahead of Ceeref and BMW ORACLE Racing.
Many other extraordinary matches took place today. Team Austria won its first ever match race, against Puerto Calero. This is with no doubt only the start for this promising team. Team Sea Dubai also had its moment of glory, beating BMW ORACLE Racing and Team Austria. As for the craziest match of the day, it was with no doubt the one between No Way Back and Organika; a fabulous fight that looked more like a boxing match than a regatta.
Organika, team Sea Dubai and Puerto Calero also finished the day on a tie, illustrating how close racing is in the RC 44 Class.
The fleet regatta starts tomorrow morning. It promises to be another fantastic event.

They said:

Dean Barker, helmsman, Artemis: “I am really pleased. We worked really hard on our speed and crew work. It takes time, but it has paid off and it is great for the team. We had some really close races today, but we tried to always keep the pressure. It was a long day, with bits of waiting in the middle which made it hard to keep the focus.”

Philippe Presti, helmsman, No Way Back: “This was a very long day and very hard mentally, but I am extremely pleased with the way it went. The team was great, and everyone remained focus all along, showing a great desire to win. We have made enormous progress as a team. We sailed in many different configurations today, sometimes at the contact and sometimes just trying to make our best out of the conditions. The team showed a great capacity to adapt to those different situations.”

Daniel Fong, jib trimmer, BMW ORACLE Racing: “The wind was changing a lot today, which made it sometimes hard to find the right sail for the right race. We also had to constantly adapt our trimming, which was tough; we had to constantly keep an eye out of the boat. But we did pretty well. There is just one match, against Team Sea Dubai, which we should have won. Other than this, we are quite happy with our day.”

Ben Graham, grinder, Team Aqua: “Today was tough physically. It wasn’t too windy but the boats were fully powered, and finesse in trimming was essential. We needed to adapt constantly.”

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El blog de Jaume Soler

‘Deal Breaker’ es el nombre del barco de Larry Ellison, en la foto relajado en la popa de su BMW-Oracle entre regata y regata de RC 44. Foto: Nico Martínez

Hoy puede ser un día importante para la Copa América. Digo que puede ser, pero me temo que no lo será.

Vamos por partes, la Société Nautique de Genève por orden de Ernesto Bertarelli ha organizado este jueves una reunión en Suiza con el Golden Gate Yacht Club de San Francisco, para hablar de la 33 Copa América.

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Tricky conditions on day one of the

Cagliari RC 44 match race contest

Photos: Copyright Mario Lastretti / RC 44 Class association:

Team Puerto calero Islas Canarias controls the situation against Team Sea Dubai.
PRESS RELEASE – RC44 Championship Tour – Cagliari RC 44 Cup

Two flights could be completed on day one of the Cagliari Cup match race event. The winners of the day are Team Puerto Calero Islas Canarias, undefeated, and No Way Back, who managed to beat the match race champion Ceeref. Team Aqua, Artemis and BMW ORACLE Racing are also unbeaten.

April 22, 2009 – The first day of the Cagliari RC 44 Cup proved to be tricky for the navigators as well as the race organiser’s nerves. Indeed, big black clouds started building up over Cagliari early in the afternoon, forcing Race Officer Peter Reggio to send everyone home after the two first flights. The nine RC 44’s then sailed back out once the shower and thunder were gone, but only for a short time as the next threatening weather system was arriving fast.

The first flight saw fairly easy victories from Team Aqua, BMW ORACLE Racing and Puerto Calero against respectively Team Sea Dubai, Team Austria and Team Organika. The most interesting match was the one opposing Team No Way Back and Artemis. The two teams kept in contact all along, showing how much the Dutch have improved since the last regatta. Both boats arrived together at the last windward mark, and went into a spectacular dial up that turned out to Dean Barker’s advantage. Despite loosing the race, Philippe Presti and his crew onboard No Way Back got the proof that their long training session in Lanzarote had paid off. They would soon have another confirmation of their progress.

Indeed, sailing in the second flight against the favourite of the match race contest, Ceeref, with Sébastien Col at the helm, No Way Back managed to control most of the regatta, loosing the lead shortly during the second beat but regaining it in the last downwind leg to win the race. Not many RC 44 teams can say that they have beaten Ceeref in a match; No Way Back’s owner Pieter Heerema can tick this one in his list of achievements.

Team Puerto Calero, Artemis and Aqua are unbeaten after two races. BMW ORACLE Racing is also unbeaten; however after sailing only one match, against Team Austria.

Seven flights remain for the 9 teams assembled for this second event of the RC 44 Championship Tour. Peter Reggio will certainly impose an intense rhythm tomorrow. The racing is due to start at 11:30.

They said:

Pieter Heerema, owner, No Way Back: “I am happy because we seem to be more in the race than before. We trained very hard after the last regatta and it has paid off. We had a good session in Lanzarote with Team Puerto Calero; we tuned up together and progressed a lot. We will do the same n16ext month with the Austrians. It is an apprenticeship for all of us. We are learning a lot. At this stage, I am convinced that it is more important for us to spend a week sailing than to buy new sails.”

José Maria Ponce, helmsman, Team Puerto Calero Islas Canarias: “We took very good starts and managed to control the rest of the two races against Organika and Sea Dubai. We had a good speed, which is partly the result of our training session with No Way Back. We tested some trimmings, sails, configurations etc. It was extremely useful.”

Christian Binder, helmsman, Team Austria: “I have been trying to play it too safely today. We took good starts, but just a little bit behind our opponents; then we tried to hunt but our speed wasn’t very good in this light wind. We also had problems with our drop line. We will make a big debriefing tonight to see what we can improve.”

Match-race, provisional results after 2 flights (out of 9):

(Name of team, helmsman, No of victories / defeats, points)

1) Puerto Calero Islas Canarias, José Juan Calero, 2/0, 2 points
1) Team Aqua, Cameron Appleton 2/0, 2 points
1) Artemis, Dean Barker, 2/0, 2 points
4) BMW ORACLE Racing, Larry Ellison, 1/0, 1 point
5) No Way Back, Philippe Presti, 1/1, 1 point
6) Ceeref, Sébastien Col, 0/1, 0 point
7) Team Organika, Karol Jablonski 0/2, 0 point
7) Team Sea Dubai, Markus Wieser, 0/2, 0 point
9) Team Austria, Christian Binder, 0/2, 0 point
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The International Kiteboarding Association has introduced Team Rankings for each individual discipline as well as for the Overall Ranking for the 2009 season.

This shall encourage sponsors from outside the industry to support teams – on a local, national and international base. Of course the kiteboarding industry itself is also more than welcome to nominate their teams.

With immediate effect, riders can register their teams by sending an email to the IKA office, including the name of the team and the teamleader. For additional team members, the teamleaders must give their approval.

The rankings will be based on the results of the best three men and the best woman in each discipline and the overall.

Sponsors from outside the kiteboarding industry thus get the possibility to better promote themselves and their riders, while all current sponsors are still listed as the riders personal supporters.

Team names are expected to be named after their sponsors – e.g. “Team XYZ” for the main team, but also “Team XYZ Europe” or “Team XYZ Germany” are possible – depending on the sponsors possibilities and goals.

Do not hesitate to contact us for further information !

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More job cuts at Volvo

By IBI Magazine

Sweden’s Volvo Group has announced a further 1,543 job cuts within its Volvo Trucks, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Penta and Volvo Powertrain divisions.

The downsizing at Volvo Penta, the company’s marine division, affects 108 employees at facilities in Gothenburg and Vara, of which 56 are unionised and 52 administrative. In October last year, the division laid off 90 of its 245 employees in Vara.

“We are conducting ongoing discussions with the unions regarding shortening of the work week and view being able to implement parts of these notices with such a solution as positive,” says Stefan Johnsson, senior VP for human resources. “These agreements are then made locally and are aligned with the needs of the operations.”

Volvo Trucks is laying off 655 employees at the company’s facilities in Göteborg and Umeå, Volvo Construction Equipment is laying off 125 at plants in Eskilstuna, Hallsberg and Braås, and Volvo Powertrain is laying off 655 in Skövde and Köping.

(22 April 2009)

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The teams discuss tactics for Leg 4

Following the Leg 4 weather analysis by meteo expert Chris Tibbs, the Portimão Global Ocean Race teams shared their thoughts about the forthcoming 4,800 mile section of the circumnavigation from Ilhabela, Brazil, to Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Asked for his overall strategy for Leg 4, Boris Herrmann, co-skipper of Beluga Racer, answered in typical style: “To win.” Wearing a deadpan expression that flickers somewhere between irony and intent, Herrmann outlined his plan: “If we don’t eat or sleep or carry any books, we can do this.” Herrmann and his co-skipper, Felix Oehme, took first place in Legs 1 & 2 and took highest points at each of the scoring gates in the first three legs, but were denied Leg 3 victory in a last minute finish line scramble with the Chilean duo of Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz on Desafio Cabo de Hornos. “We have just two legs to finish the story,” continues Herrmann. “The Chileans are getting to know their boat and they are really strong in close reaching at a 90° True Wind Angle.”

On a beam reach, the German’s Marc Lombard-designed Akilaria is at a disadvantage when compared to the beamy, Guillaume Verdier Design Chilean Class 40. “It’s their sweet spot and a weak spot for us,” admits Herrmann. “When it’s light, there’s no major difference and upwind we are slightly better maybe,” he adds cautiously. “So, I hope we have light winds as much as possible, then build up a substantial lead in the Doldrums. Around 100 miles or so would be enough, then match their speed when we hit the Trade Winds.” Co-skipper, Felix Oehme is in total agreement: “We’re expecting calm winds until the Doldrums. Then afterwards, the winds will be for the Chilean team, so we want to gain the maximum before the ITCZ [Intertropical Convergence Zone], then keep ahead.”

Having been nailed heavily by the southerly flowing Brazil Current flowing offshore the Latin American coast in Leg 3, Jeremy Salvesen and David Thomson of Team Mowgli are determined not to be caught again. “Most of the tactical opportunities are going to be playing the currents as much as the weather,” says Salvesen. “A lot of those currents are much stronger closer to the coast and that’s going to be a very different style of sailing for us than the big, long, Southern Ocean legs.” There is also the likelihood of commercial traffic as the Portimão fleet pass oil platforms north of Ilhabela and fishing fleets with shipping lanes feeding the Caribbean and Eastern American Seaboard. “We haven’t sailed in areas where there will be heavy traffic, so we will have to be on deck much more.” For co-skipper David Thomson, the early section of the race north towards Cape Frio is vital if the Chilean team are to be prevented from reaching away from the fleet. “Traditionally, it’s usually light winds up to the knuckle of Brazil,” says Thomson, well aware that their Akilaria may suffer like the German Class 40 in the Trade Winds. “That’s where we have to make the gains.”

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Felix Oehme at the chart table on board Beluga Racer

TENSE TIME FOR TELEFÓNICA BLUE

The bleeding should have stopped by now.  Telefónica Blue should be in good breeze and her margin increased to a safer distance from the hounds that are on her tail.  She should have been looking ahead to a clear win in Boston.

However, nothing has gone according to plan.  The Weather Gods are not playing fairly and Ericsson 4 is continuing to close. She has the bit between her teeth with Ericsson 3 equally focussed, but four miles behind.  The gap is now a worrying 22 miles and there is only 1273 nm of runway left for Telefónica Blue to the finish in Boston.

In a radio interview today, the skipper of Ericsson 4, overall race leader, Torben Grael, said, “Slowly but surely, we are eating into Telefónica Blue’s lead, and the race is now much more open. At the same time, we are having a good fight with Ericsson 3 and PUMA for second place.  We are always within five to 10 miles of each other.  We are all giving it our utmost to try to get that second spot.  The position we have in the fleet obviously influences the mood on board, but it’s part of ocean sailing to concentrate at all times to do a good job and to have patience when things don’t go so well. “

Ahead, the weather is due to change.  According to race meteorologist Jennifer Lilly, low pressure has been moving slowly over the east coat this week, leaving wet and cool conditions for the shore teams in Boston.  This same low will move off the coast tomorrow and will pass over the fleet sometime on Friday giving gusty winds and squalls.  If the fleet is near the Gulf Stream, it will cause rapidly building seas.

According to Grael, this will mean a tack onto port, the first time since the fleet passed Cabo Frio at the start of the leg near Rio de Janeiro.  “The poor boat has been on starboard tack the whole time! We will then have different wind, which will bring us some new opportunities.”

Speeds are high across the whole fleet, which routing software is predicting will finish in Boston on Sunday afternoon.  Although the two Ericsson boats are still sailing a knot faster and recorded a 24-hour run of 419 against Telefónica Blue’s 410nm, the blue boat is still holding her own against the rest of the fleet.

“This race is hard. The boats are so similar in speed, between 5-10 miles of separation since Fernando de Noronha with two other boats, and that is very hard work,” concluded Grael.

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Trimmer Ben Costello and Watch Leader Stuart Wilson enjoying the sailing onboard Delta Lloyd

Photo: Sander Pluijm/Team Delta Lloyd/Volvo Ocean Race

Photo: Gustav Morin/Ericsson 3/Volvo Ocean Race

Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

Glowfast Luminous Draft Stripes are used by competitors in the most prestigious yacht races in the world, including the Volvo Ocean Race, with outstanding results. Glowfast Luminous Draft Stripes have been proven to improve boat speed and performance by as much as 20% at night.

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