Tiesiai iš jachtų - lapkričio 4, 2014

Šaltis, tonos vandens ir viltis, kad jūros liga neaplankė. Pastrąsias keletą dienų jachtoje buvo itin nepatogu, tarsi kopinėti į kalną. Lyderiai viskas lekia link Keiptauno. Tuo tarpu atsilikinėjantys dar labiau atsilieka, nes pakliuvo į aukšto slėgio ir mažo vėjo zoną. Vienas pliusas, kad šiek tiek ramiau, tačiau visi nori kuo greičiau namo. Abu Dhabi komanda jau nusiramino - jaučia, kad pergalė jau jų kišenėje.

Dongfeng Race Team

Violent. That’s the best adjective to describe the last three days. Reaching with the hound gennaker up, in 25-30 knots of wind. In other words, it means that you’re sailing fast, that it’s crashing, that there are tons of water on deck, and that, onboard some boats, including our, you sail on your side, very heeled.

On deck, you spend your time taking tons of water in the face. The helmsman may enjoy it. The other crew, not so much. Inside the boat, you’re looking for your balance – to no avail. You don’t see the waves coming so you cannot anticipate it. The heeling angle quickly becomes unbearable. To walk across the boat, you’re facing a mobile climbing wall.

Three days like this and you’re knocked out.

Yann Riou, OBR
Dongfeng Race Team
Go to team website 

MAPFRE

I can guarantee that none of you would have wanted to step in our shoes last night… Freezing cold, no wind, foggy, sails without any tension in them. It was a nightmare, like having the doldrums in the middle of the Southern Ocean. The only patch without wind in the ocean, and we were in it, causing us to loose miles on all the other boats.

It’s probably not the moment to ask what’s happening, nor why are things not working out for MAPFRE. We have to finish this leg the best way we can, reach land and then adjust what needs to be adjusted.

Francisco Vignale, OBR
MAPFRE
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Team Vestas Wind

It’s so far from comfort where we are, although only 750 miles to go to Cape Town. Right now from where I’m sitting I cannot wait. I’ve enjoyed the Southern Ocean slay ride but I’ve had enough of a leaking boat. It seems hourly we need to bail this giant sieve of seawater, it’s coming in from parts we didn’t even know we had. This job is exhausting but necessary.

I’ve had zero amount of creative input in the job today, it’s simply a task using the toilet never mind cooking and telling the story on top of it all. They did advertise this as the toughest job in the world, today I’m getting a feel for why they had such a dramatic job description. It’s not tough – it’s damn right hell at times.

I’m particularly lucky that I don’t suffer from seasickness but for those OBRs or crews that do I can’t imagine it’s much fun below decks for these. My heart genuinely goes out to anyone out here suffering this illness.

Brian Carlin, OBR
Team Vestas Wind
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Team Alvimedica

Day 24. This is now the longest I’ve been on a boat—and with the exception of Will who has circumnavigated nonstop—everyone else, too. Crazy how quickly the days pass once you get into a rhythm. We’ve really had a bit of everything and as Housty pointed out—we’re getting a “real good bang for the buck,” as the winds are getting really light, light, and lighter, our progress slows too.

The routing has us drifting around for a bit today before getting whisked up by the low-pressure system that MAPFRE and SCA are riding east in. Then another bit of light before a proper bashing into the finish. Sounds like we’ll be arriving in Cape Town upwind with two reefs and the tiny J3. It’s never easy!

In the meantime, back on deck for the first sunrise in days. Beautiful morning onboard, with the albatross swooping just out of reach and the temps rising ever so slowly. The kind of warm morning that--even after 24 days—makes you feel like you could stay out here forever.

Amory Ross, OBR
Team Alvimedica 
Go to team website 

Team SCA

Today, we lost function of the toilet. The sign on the bulkhead door reads: “Ladies room is out of order. Sorry for any inconveniences.” And it’s not just temporarily broken nor patched together with duct tape and Sikaflex—nope it’s really broken.

We have to wait the 1,000 nautical miles until Cape Town to do the repair. And until then, we have to revert to the traditional head: outside. We’re accustomed to this head but it’s always been an option, not ‘the only.’

It goes without saying that the next few days will be a very humbling experience, especially as we encounter higher winds. Today was ok as the wind progressively died, however the days to come has us all a bit nervous. What if the wind and the waves increase—will I drink less water for fear of getting soaked by waves crashing over the bow? Either option seems a bit dangerous; plus, there’s been times when the outside head has been shut—what if that happens?! Then what?!

Corinna Halloran, OBR 
Team SCA 
Go to team website 

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Granted, we’re all at the point where everyone is pulling longer hours because we know a full nights rest is less than 48 hours away. SiFi is sleeping in the Nav Station while Daryl is resting in the stern; his head on a pillow drenched in saltwater.

The 0100 position report provided the only respite in the tense ambiance. We had put pace on the rest of the fleet and most importantly, Dongfeng had not gybed before us towards Cape Town. We had crossed them in the night and are now pointing at the finish only 12 nm ahead.

Exhausted, and with the saltwater continuing to flood the cockpit, the bearded faces up on deck continue to steadily take the race one mile at a time. The war of attrition wages on.

Matt Knighton, OBR
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
Go to team website