SailingPR - Sailing & Regatas

Tonight is another windy night out here on leg two. The waves are very choppy and the wind speed ranges from 25 to 35 knots. It’s sailing that keeps you on your toes. We are heading almost due east towards the scoring gate. This is also our fastest path to India, so our track is taking us to both scoring locations very quickly. I’m looking forward to a couple hours in my bunk, resting. The wind will still be here when I wake up so my next bout of big wind sailing is only 4 hours away. I’m looking forward to it!

Ryan Houston - Watch Captain

Estocolmo, Suecia (29 de octubre, 2008) - Los dos barcos de Ericsson Racing Team en la Volvo Ocean Race han completado unas fenomenales 24 horas. Ericsson 4 sigue acelerando hacia nuevos records al frente de la flota mientras su compañero de escuadrón Ericsson 3 consolida su posición en el cuarto puesto.

En el informe de posiciones de las 14:25 GMT de hoy, los datos daban que Ericsson 4 de Torben Grael había cubierto 594,23 millas náuticas (una media de 24,759 nudos), lo que supone un potencial nuevo record para un monocasco tripulado, tan solo pendiente de la ratificación del World Sailing Speed Record Council.

En el momento de la medición Ericsson 4, diseñado por Juan Kouyoumdjian, estaba navegando a 26,3 nudos con 27 nudos de viento y olas de 2 metros. Era la cuarta vez desde las 03:55 GMT de esta mañana que Ericsson 4 había aumentado el record de velocidad sobre la última marca certificada de 562,96 millas (23,45 nudos de media).

“Las condiciones no son fáciles. Ir a esta velocidad es siempre bastante duro,” dijo el patrón Torben Grael. “Estamos llegando a los 30 nudos muy a menudo. El viento está entre los 28 y los 32 nudos. Las olas no son muy buenas, pero tampoco muy malas. Las condiciones no son muy buenas, especialmente por la noche. No fue nada divertido.”

También en las pasadas 24 horas Ericsson 3 ha subido a la cuarta posición tras haber estado hundidos en la clasificación en la puerta puntuable. Anders Lewander y la tripulación nórdica adelantaron durante la tarde-noche de ayer a sus rivales españoles Telefónica Negro y Telefónica Azul, y ahora tienen un colchón de32 millas sobre Telefgónica Azul.

Ericsson 3 estaba rondando los 24,5 nudos de media con 32 nudos de viento y un oleaje de 2 metros.

Las dos tripulaciones han sido impulsadas por un sistema de bajas presiones que pasa por el sudeste de la flota. Hay un frente frío
asociado que se extiende hacia el noroeste del sistema, que se está moviendo muy rápido, de modo que el frente frío pasará a la flota en algún momento, trayendo vientos más suaves.

“Lo importante ahora es permanecer por delante del frente frío y en los vientos prefrontales del noroeste, que son más fuertes y dan un mejor ángulo hacia la llegada” dijo Chris Bedford, meteorólogo de Ericsson Racing Team. “Al haberse impulsado Ericsson 4 en cuanto a su velocidad y posición hacia una pequeña ventaja, deberían ser el último barco en caer en caer presa del frente y deberían ser capaces de mantenerse en los vientos más favorables durante un día y medio más. Va a estar muy justo, pero mantenerse delante del frente es definitivamente una ventaja que debería beneficiar a los líderes.”

Grael cree que la tripulación ha encontrado el límite de velocidad del barco, al menos para este estado de la mar.

“Yo no diría que podríamos ir más rápido. Hemos estado muy al límite. Puede que con mejor estado de la mar pudiéramos ir más rápido, pero es difícil ir más rápido saltando sobre olas como estas,” dijo Grael.

El tripulante de medios Guy Salter describió la navegación como húmeda y salvaje.

“Llevamos el spi fraccionado y navegando con 30 nudos de viento y estamos simplemente volando,” dijo Salter. “Brad Jackson está
haciendo un magnífico trabajo al timón. Estamos aguantando a unos 26 nudos con picos de de 32 nudos. De vez en cuando atravesamos una ola y es como dos metros o así de agua blanca sobre el barco. Es bastante duro de momento. Phil Jameson está trimando y Dave Endean y Joca Signorini están de grinders. Es fantástico. Vamos con un rizo y estamos volando. Solo podemos vislumbrar a Puma detrás de nosotros. Parece que nos estamos escapando, pero no tanto como quisiéramos.”

TABLA DE POSICIONES VOLVO OCEAN RACE
(29 de Octubre, 2008, 13:00 GMT)
1. Ericsson 4, 1,694 a millas náuticas del final de etapa
2. Puma, 34 a MN del líder
3. Green Dragon, a 76 MN del líder
4. Ericsson 3, a 113 MN del líder
5. Telefónica Blue, a 145 MN del líder
6. Telefónica Black, a 155 MN del líder
7. Delta Lloyd, a 315 MN del líder
8. Kosatka, a 337 MN del líder

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Oct. 27, 2008) - Beginning what could be their final week at sea, Ericsson 4 continues to lead the fleet towards Cape Town, South Africa, and the Leg 1 finish of the Volvo Ocean Race.

At today’s 1300 GMT position report, Ericsson 4 had 2,699 nautical miles remaining to the finish. The International crew led by Brazilian skipper Torben Grael leads rival Puma of the U.S. by a scant 5 nautical miles.

The two crews have been within sight of each other nearly every day since the race started 16 days ago in Alicante, Spain.

“We have been having some interesting skirmishes with Puma throughout this race, and again we find ourselves within 4 miles of each other with them in the ascendancy,” said Guy Salter, media crewman on Ericsson 4. “We seem to hang in there with Puma but only just. Are we faster? Our perception onboard is no, as the shoe boat keeps gaining
then a light spot or angle change seems to give us another lucky jump and the process begins again.”

A bit further back, Ericsson 3 is making good progress in trying to climb up the standings. At 1300, Ericsson 3 was 75 nautical miles behind the fleet leader, but fewer than 30 miles behind fifth-placed Telefónica Blue.

“Every position report is a small gain and touch of hope, and with 3,000 nautical miles ahead we feel we can catch up the losses from the Doldrums,” said Ericsson 3 skipper Anders Lewander. “Yes, as we now sail on the softer side of this battle and loading the human batteries, we get mentally ready to catch the train. The wild and crazy Eastern Express, leaving the terminal at 20S-36W, the wheel turning clockwise! Step on the train and the next station on the other side of the Southern Atlantic Ocean, the approach to Cape Town.
Discharging the batteries but devoted to have a successful leg, we stand strong.”

Lewander’s reference to the Eastern Express is a low pressure that’s forming to the south/southwest of the fleet off the coast of South America. It’s predicted to hit the fleet in the next couple of days, complete with 40-knot winds. The winds will help propel the fleet into Cape Town, but will also make for anxious moments as the crews
battle sleep deprivation and the mental strain of keeping their craft in one piece.

“Now we are preparing for conditions we really respect. Most of us onboard are going to get the first real ride on a solid low pressure system, for the most of the Atlantic crossing,” said Ericsson 3 navigator Aksel Magdahl. “Even though it is with respect, we are really looking forward to this, as it is what separates the Volvo Ocean Race from other yacht races. How fast we sail the boats in these conditions.”

Aboard Ericsson 4, the feeling is similar.

“There is a feeling of expectation as we await the probable kicking from the low pressure - it will be pretty hard living onboard, just cleaning and cooking and sleeping with be a huge task,” said Salter. “The risk of being hurt below as we slam about is ever present, but we know that the miles should go very quickly and a few tough days to
get ashore earlier are very welcome.”

VOLVO OCEAN RACE LEADERBOARD
(Oct. 27, 2008, 1300 GMT)
1. Ericsson 4, 2,699 nautical miles to finish
2. Puma, 5 NM to leader
3. Green Dragon, 27 NM to leader
4. Telefónica Black, 33 NM to leader
5. Telefónica Blue, 48 NM to leader
6. Ericsson 3, 75 NM to leader
7. Delta Lloyd, 128 NM to leader
8. Kosatka, 218 NM to leader

The fleet is compressing in this race once more as we start to make the turn east to Cape Town. We have been having some interesting skirmishes with Puma throughout this race and again we find ourselves within 4 miles of each other with them in the ascendancy. The pursuers, which range from Green Dragon in the south, to Telefónica Blue to the North, all have better wind than us right now - the Irish have probably got themselves into the best position leverage-wise for a move to the front of the pack…we shall see.

Problem for us is how to minimise the losses against these guys as the wind field evens out then increases for all…and then on the smaller scale keeping the Puma at bay. Oh to be in 3 places at once. Never mind, we are still leading though being down to 10 men (soccer pundits insert your cod 11 versus 10 team psychology here….).

We seem to hang in there with Puma but only just, are we faster? Our perception on board is not as the shoe boat keeps gaining then a light spot or angle change seems to give us another lucky jump and the process begins again…it will be interesting to hear the Puma guys thoughts on this.

The latest weather models route us through some big wind areas so we will have to take a view on that, always better to get there with some points than not at all. This class of boat still does not fully convince me of its robustness in winds greater than 35 knots. Some exciting sailing ahead for those who like sailing then, for the others like me who don’t, it will be a period of constant worrying below decks with the odd stroll on deck to prove man’s efforts at making oilskins that work have not moved on much since wool dipped in tar and oil was donned by whalers down here 200 years ago…or maybe it is just that people were tougher back then.

Jules Salter - navigator

The days have been rolling by very fast and we have been out here for 2 weeks already. It feels like we are on the home stretch now even though we have a lot of weather to get through before Cape Town.

The last 3 days into Cape Town sound wet and wild so we are enjoying being fairly dry and comfortable for another day or so before the low pressure comes and gets us and hopefully carries us most of the way to the finish.

We have had a good night and managed to get ourselves in front but not by much, this race reminds me of how tight the racing use to be in the Volvo 60 boats with the first 4 boats all in sight yesterday and of course we have Puma joined to us again which we are a little tired of.

The boys seem to be making up for Tony not being here but we notice the workload has gone up for everyone and we will miss his skills in the next few days.

I wanted to say hi to my oldest son Liam who follows this race permanently and I hope you are helping Mum with your brothers and behaving yourself, we are doing our best and will see you in Cape Town, Love Dad

Brad Jackson – watch captain

MCM note - Couple of bits of interest this morning, the first was Ryan (Godfrey) sporting a very white neck! Was he getting ready for London 2012 as a shot putter? No he just loves using Sudocrem for any minor scrape or scratch.

The other was the biggest flying fish I have seen - unfortunately it had arrived onboard over night and won’t be flying anymore. I reckon that if Chris Dickson had been hit by this fish in the Whitbread in ‘97, he would have had his head taken off rather than just the black eye he received!

En estos momentos se está desarrollando la segunda etapa de la regata “Puertos de Andalucía”, con un recorrido de 40 millas entre los puertos de Mazagón y Rota.

A las 11:20 horas el comité de regata dio la salida a las 15 embarcaciones de la división “RN Copa de Andalucía” que hoy disputan la prueba, y diez minutos más tarde se la dio a la división “Promoción”, en la que hoy participan 14 barcos.

La salida se dio al sur del Puerto de Mazagón, con la boya de desmarque situada al viento, que venía del suroeste con 4/5 nudos de intensidad, es decir, prácticamente una brisa. En estas condiciones la salida fue muy lenta y no se registró ninguan incidencia. La nota de color la aportaron los muchos delfines que divisaban en la zona de la salida.

Se prevé que en las primeras horas haya muy poco viento y que la flota -al igual que ya sucediese en la etapa de ayer- encuentre una encalmada a la altura de Salmedina, en Chipiona. Si el pronóstico se cumple, el viento rolará a levante, con lo que la flota podrá navegar rumbo a Rota. Eso sí, no lo van a tener fácil las embarcaciones, ya que llevarán el viento en contra y se verán obligadas a ir ciñendo y virando durante la travesía con el viento de cara.

La organización calcula unas siete horas antes de que las primeras embarcaciones atraviesen la línea de meta en el Puerto de Rota.

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