Cold and Dangerous Waters Ahead
11:05 GMT Friday, January 16, 2009. |
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Leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Singapore to Qingdao (2,500 nm), promises to be among the hardest sections of this edition of the race. Before the finish in China, the crews are expected to encounter difficult upwind conditions, freezing temperatures, and boat-breaking sea states caused by strong winds battling fierce currents.
On Friday, the pre-start press conference with the seven skippers in Singapore featured the unusual sight of these highly competitive sailors speaking not of winning the leg, but of how it might be necessary to ease off, to preserve their crew and equipment to ensure safe arrival in Qingdao, China. |
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Skippers Press Conference before the In-Port Race in Singapore during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.
Photo © Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race.
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"We want to come first like everyone else, but we want to get there more than we want to get there first," said Torben Grael, skipper of the race leading Ericsson 4.
The others on the stage agreed: "Fast or slow, we need to get there in one piece. We have to look out for each other," added Ken Read, skipper of PUMA. "We could get into situations where others need our help so it is a challenge for everyone, not just individually but as a fleet. We’ve got to get there. We just have to get there." |
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Skipper Ken Read helming PUMA Ocean Racing in rough seas heading towards Cape Town, on leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Photo © Rick Deppe / PUMA Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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"You need to be fast and smart but most important, you need to get there in one piece," said Ian Walker, who will be sailing the Green Dragon into its home waters as the boat was built in China.
Leg four is nominally a 2500 nautical mile battle; one of the medium length legs in the race. But in reality, the teams are expected to sail much further, as the prevailing conditions would typically make much of the leg an upwind beat. |
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Skipper of Ericsson 4, Torben Grael.
Photo © Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race.
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After spending the better part of a month on Sentosa Island in Singapore, it is hard to imagine what lies ahead. The leg will start on Sunday in winds forecast to be near 15 knots and temperatures approaching 30-degrees.
The first half of this leg should be straightforward; sail the fastest up the race course, utilising the shifts to strike off the miles efficiently. Boat speed and weather analysis will be the keys to success here. Then, a tactically difficult decision comes; whether to go inside or outside Taiwan. The current and sea state will be major factors in making this call. |
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Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker checks the bearing on Delta Lloyd, on leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Cape Town, South Africa to Cochin, India.
Photo © Guo Chuan / Green Dragon Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The final obstacle will be the winter storms that often sweep off the mainland of China at this time of year. They can bring strong winds, thick clouds and rain, or snow and will doubtless provide a very stern test.
When the teams arrive in Qingdao, they will be hosted at a first-class facility. The Race Village is in the same location as the sailing events in the 2008 Olympic Games. The first boats are due to arrive on the 30 January. |
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Damian Foxall on watch in rough sea, onboard Green Dragon on leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Cape Town, South Africa to Cochin, India.
Photo © Guo Chuan / Green Dragon Racing / Volvo Ocean Race.
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The race start in Singapore is scheduled for 13:00 local time (05:00 GMT). The teams will sail around a triangle-shaped course after the start before proceeding out to sea. Live audio commentary of the leg start will be available on www.volvooceanrace.org.
The next race in the in-port series will be held in Qingdao, China on 7 February.
UBS Challenge for the In-Port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race Singapore
1. Ericsson 4: (4 points)
2. PUMA: (3.5 points)
3. Telefónica Blue: (3 points)
4. Telefónica Black: (2.5 points)
5. Green Dragon: (2 points)
6. Ericsson 3: (1.5 points)
7. Delta Lloyd: (1 point) |
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The crew of Ericsson 4 prepare to be hit by a huge wave, on leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Cape Town, South Africa to Cochin, India.
Photo © Guy Salter / Ericsson 4 / Volvo Ocean Race.
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Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael / BRA): 39 points
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking / NED): 33.5 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read/USA): 31 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson / SWE): 24 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker / GBR): 22.5 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri / ESP): 22 points
7. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp / AUT): 10.5 points
8. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez / ESP): 10 points
Visit www.volvooceanrace.org for all the latest news! |
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