Tiesiai iš jachtų - spalio 25, 2014

Paskutiniai nuotykiai krikštijant naujokus, pirmąkart kirtusius pusiaują jachtoje. Ir pasiruošimas greičiausiam maršrutui link Keiptauno. Panašu, kad visas laivynas pasiruošęs kairiu halsu plaukti pagal Pietų Ameriką. Gana nepatogu gyventi paverstame laive, kurį nuolat skalauja bangos. Arbatos denyje jau nebeišgersi.

Do you know that feeling when you’re walking with a full grocery bag to the garage? You can take the stairs and walk three floors up, or you make an investment and take the escalator that is a little bit further, but with which you could be quicker. There is a big chance that the detour will pay off.

Brunel’s navigator Capey has to take the same sort of decision. Yesterday, Team Brunel rounded the island of Fernando, near Brazil, aiming to reach Cape Town as fast as possible – and hopefully sooner than the current leader and the other competitors.

The shortest route to Cape Town, let’s say the stairs, is in a straight line. 3,500 miles! But the chance that the teams will arrive out of breathe in Cape Town is likely, because there is a high-pressure system, the St Helena High, with no wind, or even worst, wind in the nose, on the route.

And so the teams are going with the escalator in the direction of Cape Town! A big round detour along South America and through the Southern Ocean and back up in the direction of South Africa.

Stefan Coppers, OBR
Team Brunel
Go to team website 

By the time King Neptune made her appearance we were all giddy with anticipation—ticking such a big moment off the proverbial “bucket list” by sailing across the Equator put everyone all on good form.

First we had fish stew facials—although Team SCA may be doing them, trust us: they do not take years off your face, quite the opposite really. “I’m just happy we didn’t have to ingest it,” Sara said.

Then, the three extra naughty Pollywogs were told to grab a friend and were tasked with performances of humiliation. Stacey (who dragged along Sally) was told to do five burpees (yes, as we raced along at 17 knots!), Sara and Libby had to do a panty liner commercial, Carolijn and I sang our dock out song in “gospel,’ and Justine and Annie (neither of whom had been extra bad) had to act like our coaches.

Then, having smeared our faces with stew and humiliated ourselves on “stage,” King Neptune congratulated us and headed back into the sea. All in all, it was an incredible experience—the best way to be welcomed into “God’s country,” as Stacey described the Southern Hemisphere.

Corinna Halloran, OBR
 
Team SCA 

Go to team website 

We now hold a full compliment of Shellbacks aboard. King Neptune (Trae) arrived with Codfish (Salty) and the Barber (Nico/Cichao) on Vestas Wind to undergo a very important seafaring tradition. The youngest sailors aboard Nicolai Sehested, Tom Johnson and Peter Popp Wibroe joined an elite club today. It however comes at a price.

While we had our moment of fun today, we were also pushing Vestas pretty hard. The six hourly scheds keep coming in. We now see ourselves snapping at the heels of the leaders. You can certainly sense the “we want this” feel onboard. Everyone is so plugged in now to deliver a good result for the team both here and shore side.

People may think we are only ones in this, in fact it’s a lot more. I know all the Vestas Team will be working as hard on the shore as we are on the water to get us there. I would like to make a special mention to Neil Cox our shore manager. Coxy has been our go to guy for personal emails, he’s been sending and receiving for all of us, Cheers Coxy, we thank you…

Brian Carlin, OBR
 
Team Vestas Wind 

Go to team website 

Our boat smells a bit better this morning and I’m not sure if it’s because the gnarly concoction of freeze-dried brew in the bow has been sacrificed to the sea along with some of Mark, Charlie, and Alberto’s head hair, or if it’s because those three have had a complete bathing following said sacrifice to King Neptune. Either way—subtle improvements in smell-ability go a long way on day 14.

All joking aside, the Equator line-crossing ceremony is an honored tradition and the ritual of proving your worth in Neptune’s court is one that any seasoned sailor can appreciate.

Amory Ross, OBR
Team Alvimedica 

Go to team website 

Heading South towards the St. Helena High on port tack, the crew has made the left side of Azzam their semi-permanent home. Every piece of stackable weight is pushed as far up the inside as allowed. All the food bags, spare parts, and foul weather gear is all positioned carefully. The crew even spends noticeably less time out of the bunks so as to keep their weight high of the centerline. Over long miles, weight placement can equate directly to miles gained and lost.

The crew is being pushed to the limit as yet again, we’re in another drag race against a Volvo Ocean 65. Adil has been so exhausted that he’s starting to miss crucial meals. We’re trying to encourage him to eat. SiFi is finally getting some much needed sleep after spending most of the race up until this point in front of the computer.

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

We could have nicely crossed the Equator, celebrating the occasion for our four Southern hemisphere rookies. Then, we’d have taken two or three pics, and sailed agreeably to Fernando de Noronha, a cute little Brazilian island and waypoint on the Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Yes, but that’s not how it happened.

It didn’t happen like that, because the last couple of days have been testing. Neptune didn’t spare us, leaving us unwilling to play with him today, a day we changed hemisphere. So we chose to do our own things. Steering and trimming for some, sleeping in the bunks for others.

It didn’t happen like that, because ours boats, like other boats of this generation, tend to sail on its side in those wind angles, with a permanent spray that doesn’t encourage you to have a drink on deck. Our sense of self-mockery is rather strong, but not totally waterproof.

Yann Riou, OBR
Dongfeng Race Team
Go to team website