Volvo Ocean Race News RSS

Pondering piracy

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00

With the fleet continuing their climb north towards India, there has been time for reflection of the threat of piracy - real or imagined. Given the routing, the risk is low, but race organisers have measures in place.

TELEFONICA BLUE EMAIL: 'Right now, it is our time to shine'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:04:50

Since we snuck through the scoring gate ahead of Puma and our boys on the black boat, things have been on the up and up. We have been going really well in the last 24 hours, which is a great motivator for everyone onboard.

TELEFONICA BLACK EMAIL: 'He is a legend of the seas!'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:45:53

Here we go again. This morning we had a problem with the lashing in the R3 halyard, so our bowman Mike Pammenter/RSA had to go up the mast to solve it.

PUMA EMAIL: 'These are hard yards for me aboard Il Mostro'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:38:23

Well here we are... It’s cold, bumpy, I’m miserable and the boat feels as though it is falling apart around me, although of course it is not, it’s the Volvo. What did I expect? These are hard yards for me aboard Il Mostro.

GREEN DRAGON EMAIL: 'Lunch is now cooked at 9am and dinner will be at 3pm'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:13:28

We have now entered one of those quiet periods of the race, where nothing too much is happening. Everyone is charging along on a reach at 20 knots but not on the edge, as you would be downwind with a spinnaker.

Shifting gears, changing lanes

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:00

The winds are shifting as the fleet head north-east in a north-westerly breeze of around 20 knots. The conditions have become less edgy but there are still potholes lurking on the road ahead. Mark Chisnell reports.

ERICSSON 4 EMAIL: 'The kit bags are filling up with the thermals'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:38:32

I guess it must be huge news onshore but in the last day, we have been getting the news of the piracy off Somalia, apologies if this is the thousandth blog mentioning the fact!

Go north, but...

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:30:00

As the fleet turns sharply north for Cochin, the wind is forecast to ease dramatically. Already, the northernmost boats, the two Ericsson twins, are seeing the effects of this, with windspeed down to the mid-teens. And it's only going to get worse.

TELEFONICA BLUE EMAIL: 'On deck: wet, wet, wet...'

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:11:00

On deck: wet, wet, wet...

PUMA EMAIL: 'Today was a great day'

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:15:00

'Today was a great day. It is the little things in life that tip the scales from not so good through to great.'