Volvo Ocean Race The Guide PDF

THe guidE
Pain.
Gain. Glory.
Inside the world’s
premier ocean race
€12
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The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
Yvan Zedda
María Muiña
Offshore Drama
04 Men of oak bludgeon cruel seas

04
06 The best line up
Under starter’s orders
10 The world is the race track
Where, when and how long?
12 raps, trials and tribulations
T
The navigator’s dilema
24 24 outh inspires gnarly veterans
Y
2
The next generation steps up
28 CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
Chris Nicholson takes it on
31
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
Ian Walker fights back
58 34 Team Telefónica
Iker Martinez guns for glory
37 Team Sanya
Mike Sanderson has won it before
40 PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG
Ken Read is fully focused
44 Groupama sailing team
Franck Cammas faces new challenge
48 Anatomy of a Volvo Open 70
Under the skin
58 The numbers game
The hunger for points
Hearts and Minds
20 Killer coffee and the graveyard watches

54 22 Naked truth behind body odour
Breaking the news from onboard
54 attered bodies, battered minds
B
Dragon Racing/volvo
Preparing for the physical demands

cover photo: Green
56 arning: stress kills

W
chris cameron
Keeping the team together

ocean race
82 Three kids, eleven suitcases

Part of being a Volvo Ocean Race mum
Contents
ABU DHABI OCEAN RACING
N ever before has the Volvo Ocean

Race boasted such a strong fleet
and never before has it been so difficult to
predict a winner. As we prepare for what
promises to be the closest contest in a
race that dates back to 1973, our goal is
to make the experience better than ever
for our visitors too – for fans, media and
DAN ARMSTRONG TIM STONTON/VOLVO OCEAN RACE sponsors.
Visitors can expect the race villages
to have a strong local flavour. The ports
are our partners in organising this event
Glamour Ashore Mission Control and we have an incredible line-up of world
class destinations on our route.
Most of the great names in sailing
66 Alicante: the region of Valencia 62 Watching over the fleet
have competed at least once in the
70 Cape Town: southern gateway to Africa The teams that never sleep Volvo Ocean Race and success with
71 Abu Dhabi: push the boat out 68 Pirates pepper the crisis playbook us has been the pinnacle of many of
Coping with danger on the high seas their careers. We launched the Legends
74 Sanya: paradise awaits Regatta (1-5 November) to celebrate the
72 Weather gods
78 Auckland: the city of sails achievement of those who have raced
The unbeatable foe around the world and I look forward to
79 Itajaí: European sophistication
seeing new acts of heroism and
84 Miami: beyond water adventure emblazoned across the
90 Lisbon: shining city Marine Messenger 2011-12 edition. 3
The sacrifices, the risks, the
94 Lorient: sailors’ haven human drama these sailors go through are
76 Someone else’s playground
96 Galway: voyage of discovery simply incredible, and all for the simple
The endangered albatross
prestige of winning.
97 Academy will take thousands afloat
Many have tried, including the late Eric
Step aboard and try sailing
Tabarly, France’s most famous sailor, while
100 The roar of the crowd Our contributors the late Sir Peter Blake finally won at the
Ten villages, 10 cultures fifth attempt with Steinlager 2 in 1989-
Stuart Alexander The Independent, London 90. In Galway in July 2012 we will have a
Riath Al-Samarrai Daily Mail, London new winner but not before the boats have
James Boyd Thedailysail.com covered more than 39,000 nautical miles,
Success Breeds Success passing through extremes of conditions
Mark Covell Media Crew Member 2008-09
that will test the teams to the very limit.
Dr. Pete Cunningham Sports science consultant
60 Any time, any place, race the race Organising this race has been
Boot up and play the game Debra Douglas Auckland sports writer described as the Everest of logistics, risk
Vincent Geake Multiple race navigator and commentator management and teamwork. I have a great
86 A perfect mixture of sails and sales
Edward Gorman The Times, London team with me organising the Volvo Ocean
How suits support the sailors
Richard Mason Race veteran
Race 2011-12, and I’d like to thank all
102 The making of the Legends of them, including everyone at the host
Suzanne McFadden Auckland sports writer
Thirty-eight years of race history ports, the teams and the sponsors.
Bruce Montgomery Australian yachting writer And to all of you watching and visiting
Angus Phillips Sailing World the race, welcome onboard.
David Schmidt Sail magazine/sail-world.com/US
Matt Sheahan Yachting World
Bernie Wilson US sports writer
Knut Frostad
Published by Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U. Edificio Antigua Estación Marítima, Muelle n°10 de Levante, Puerto de Alicante, 03001 Alicante, Spain
Tel: +34 966 011 100
Editor Lizzie Ward Consulting Editor Stuart Alexander Art Director Ian Lock Advertisement Sales Graeme Beeson Design and
Production Cradduck Design Company Ltd Print Jimenez Godoy, S.A. Murcia +34 968 851650 Distribution Seahorse Magazine
Translation Miriam Torres, Lenaïc Blériot, Coralie Rassinoux, Teodora Lasarova
Copyright Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
photocopying and recording, without permission. Permission must also be obtained before any part of this publication is stored in a retrieval
system of any nature. Whilst every care is taken with submitted material to ensure factual accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted
by Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U. or any editor or contributor for any loss or damage arising as a result of information contained in this
publication. The views expressed by individual contributors are not necessarily those of Volvo Ocean Race, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
Published October 2011.
Men of oak bludgeon

cruel sea
Grant Dalton calls them seagoing bulldozers. You don’t
have to be a yachtsman to catch his drift. The fleet
of speedy, colourful 70-foot sloops heading
around the globe in the Volvo Ocean Race
this year may look sleek and tall, but
they’re built to push and shove,
not to please the eye or make
sailors comfortable.
Words: Angus PhiLlips
Dan Armstrong
Offshore Drama
T hey’re bound for the most treacherous waters

on earth on a mission to smash things – speed
records, huge waves, the will of the competition. “They’re
so fast they can beat themselves up. These boats are
when the Royal Naval Sailing Association and the British
brewery Whitbread co-sponsored the first event. When
19 yachts left Portsmouth, England, that September,
bound for Cape Town, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and
being sailed in an extreme manner in extreme conditions,” back to Portsmouth, few of the 167 sailors aboard had
says the yacht designer Bruce Farr, whose naval architects clue what challenges awaited. Now they know, but they
have designed more entries since the race debuted in go anyway.
1973 than anyone in the trade, yet Farr admits to still
waking in the middle of the night when the Volvo is on, Like Mike Sanderson, skipper of the first-ever
worrying how the lads out there are faring. Chinese entry Sanya. ‘Moose,’ as he is known, won
“You basically cant the keel up, you move anything the Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-06 with a commanding
on the boat you can up to the windward side,” says performance on ABN AMRO ONE. Like everyone who has
Dalton, “then you pile on as much sail as you can and been there, he grumbled about appalling conditions on
just bludgeon the sea aside. It’s fast and powerful, but it’s the long, cold legs down south, where everything adds up
certainly not refined.” to 30: the wind blows 30 knots, sea and air temperatures
“Dalts,” as the leader of first-time Volvo entry CAMPER are 30 degrees Fahrenheit, waves are 30 feet high and
with Emirates Team New Zealand is called, should know. the boats crash along at 30 knots of speed.
He’s been seven times around the planet in races, with “I never said I wouldn’t do it again,” Sanderson argues 5
three firsts, three seconds and a third-place finish to show now. “I was careful about that. I’ve always said the Volvo
for it. If anyone understands the rigors of competitive provides the best sailing and the worst sailing you’ll ever
life in the bitter wastes of the Southern Ocean, it’s he. do.” So when the call came late in the game to head a
He won’t be going back this time. It’s a game for Chinese syndicate on a recycled boat from the 2008-09
younger blood. race, he found himself unable to say no. “Anytime you get
But a few score more brave young men will tackle this to skipper a Volvo boat, it’s an amazing opportunity,” he
remote patch of frigid water, which lay all but forgotten for says. “And it’s a really interesting challenge if you can put
over a century. The Southern Ocean, a windy ring of sea your ego aside.”
and icebergs encircling Antarctica, buzzed with activity in He’ll not lack for competition. Two-time British
the Age of Sail, when square-rigged ships of iron and Olympic medalist Ian Walker is skippering the first-ever
men of oak rounded the world’s great capes hauling gold Abu Dhabi entry and another double Olympic medallist,
and wheat, spices and finished goods between Asia, Iker Martínez, will be in charge of the latest Telefónica
Australia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. contender. America’s Cup and Volvo veteran Ken Read
When the Suez Canal opened in 1869, then the heads an experienced team on US-based PUMA’s Mar
Panama Canal in 1914, no sailor in his right mind wanted Mostro, back for a second try in a new boat after finishing
to view perilous Cape Horn at the tip of South America or second in 2008-09 and French multihull champion
the stormy Cape of Good Hope at the bottom of Africa Franck Cammas leads a formidable team on another new
again, at least not from seaward. It wasn’t until the 1960s boat designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, who designed the
that yachtsmen saw in the waters of the deep southern last two Volvo winners.
latitudes the sort of challenge that tugs at the heart. The Volvo Ocean Race makes its appearance for the
By 1969, two Britons, Sir Francis Chichester and Sir first time in Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Itajaí, Llisbon and Lorient,
Robin Knox-Johnston, had completed bold singlehanded with the finish in Galway. But the heart of this race,
circumnavigations ‘round the Capes in the Roaring as ever, lies in the grueling legs of the deep Southern
Forties and Furious Fifties. The next step – a full-on race latitudes where humans rarely stray, and where a grizzled
in crewed offshore yachts – was inevitable. seaman can drive his seagoing bulldozer just as hard as
The seeds of the Volvo Ocean Race hatched in 1973 ever he dares. And will.
The best
line up
No quarter asked, no quarter given.
A fierce race is in store from
beginning to end for the
fleet in the Volvo Ocean
Race 2011-12.
SANDER PLUIJM/TEAM DELTA LLOYD/VOLVO OCEAN RACE

6
Abu Dhabi Ocean “ Memories

like that made
Racing me want to
come back. It
was such an
”
• First time entry experience.
• First time UAE stopover IAN WALKER
• Brand new Farr design

• First time an Emirati in the Volvo Ocean Race
• Experienced multi-national crew
United Arab Emirates

Offshore Drama
CAMPER with Emirates “ There were

times when I
Team New Zealand was right at the
extreme limit of
• Spanish entry
• New Zealand team management
my skills.
CHRIS NICHOLSON”
• Boat built in Auckland
• Spanish design by Marcelino Botín
• Steeped in race history
CHRIS CAMERON
Spain/New Zealand
Groupama sailing
team
“ This is a
huge challenge
”
for me.
FRANCK CAMMAS
• The French are back

• Home port stopover 7
• New Juan K boat

• Ocean racing pedigree
• Strong management
YVAN ZEDDA
France
PUMA Ocean “ I was so

high on the
Racing powered by whole thing

it was
BERG contagious.
KEN READ
”
• Second consecutive campaign
• New Juan K boat
• Experienced crew
• Youngest crew member
DAN ARMSTRONG
USA
Team Sanya “ I love the

challenge, I love
”
the race.
MIKE SANDERSON
• China debut
• New resort stopover
• Build on China/Ireland links
IAN ROMAN/VOLVO OCEAN RACE

• Chinese join international crew
• Race-winning skipper
China
Team Telefónica “ Sailing is

great because
you have the
opportunity to
do many
• Third team appearance
”
things.
8 • Home port start IKER MARTÍNEZ
• New Juan K boat
MARÍA MUIÑA/TEAM TELEFÓNICA

• Spanish build and skipper
• Spanish crew with international support
Spain
Game On!
The world
is the race
Alicante Cape Town
Estimated Arrival - 25 Nov 2011
In-Port Race 29 Oct 2011 10 Dec 2011
track
Leg Start 5 Nov 2011 11 Dec 2011
Racing to Cape Town Abu Dhabi
Leg Distance 6,500 nm 5,430 nm
Atlantic Ocean
Alicante
10
Abu Dhabi
Sanya
Pirates to the
left and pirates
to the right
Cape Town Indian Ocean
After the
Doldrums
skirt the high and
head for Table WHALES
Southern Ocean
Mountain
ALBATROSS WHALES
SCREAMING SIXTIES ANTARCTICA

Offshore Drama
Abu Dhabi Sanya Auckland Itajai Miami Lisbon Lorient Galway

1 Jan 2012 4 Feb 2012 8 Mar 2012 4 Apr 2012 6 May 2012 31 May 2012 17 Jun 2012 3 Jul 2012
13 Jan 2012 18 Feb 2012 17 Mar 2012 21 Apr 2012 19 May 2012 9 Jun 2012 30 Jun 2012 7 Jul 2012
14 Jan 2012 19 Feb 2012 18 Mar 2012 22 Apr 2012 20 May 2012 10 Jun 2012 1 Jul 2012 -
Sanya Auckland Itajai Miami Lisbon Lorient Galway -
4,600 nm 5,220 nm 6,705 nm 4,800 nm 3,590 nm 1,940 nm 485 nm -
Galway
Lorient
No big boost
from the Gulf
Stream Lisbon
11
Miami
Pacific Ocean WHALES
Atlantic Ocean
Auckland Itajai
ROARING FORTIES
CAPE HORN
Cape Horn can be
Classic charge FURIOUS FIFTIES fearsome
through the
Southern Ocean – ANTARCTICA
beware ice ALBATROSS
Traps, trials and

tactical
tribulations “ Now, winning
by one minute is as
good as winning by
”
The course sets an intriguing mixture 12 hours.
of sailing conditions and challenges for TOM ADDIS
navigators. These include fast, heavy weather
running in the Southern Ocean, nail biting
light airs and thunderstorms in the Doldrums,
plus tricky tidal conditions along the
European coastline.
WORDS: VINCENT GEAKE
Techi-talk
12 Trade Winds
In the tropics north and south of the equator lie zones of high
pressure broken up by the continents. The wind in the high
pressure systems is light, but with stronger, steadier trade winds,
Doldrums typically 12-25 knots, blowing around the outside.
The high pressure systems oscillate back and
Between the tropical trade wind belts lies the forth over periods of weeks, moving the
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), bands of trade winds with them.
or Doldrums, where the winds are very L Polar Front L
The navigators need to anticipate
fickle. Large areas of calm alternate the position of these highs and put
with low pressure troughs and themselves in the strong wind
vigorous cells, which can build H Horse Latitudes H
bands.
into tropical storms, cyclones
and hurricanes, bringing strong
L Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (Doldrums) L
winds and thunderstorms. The
Westerlies
wind is dominated by clouds, Trade Winds
which bring local calms and North and south of the high
H H
gusts lasting for hours, shooting pressure lie bands of low
one boat forward and leaving Westerly Storm Track pressure containing individual
another becalmed. depressions. Warm and cold fronts
L L
Within these zones, coastlines move quickly across the oceans,
Polar Easterlies
and islands have two effects on the bringing strong fluctuating winds from
wind. First, high mountainous areas can a mainly southwest to northwest direction.
leave large wind shadows with lighter winds L = Low Pressure H = High Pressure These depressions can build into storms
and funnels of stronger wind sea breezes. Second, with winds up to 40 or 50 knots, particularly in the
as the land heats up and cools each day, the wind near the Roaring Forties and the Screaming Fifties in the Southern
shore builds and dies away. Ocean. Between the lows the wind can die to a calm.
The effect of the islands can be felt hundreds of miles Navigators will want to ‘hitch a lift’ on one of these systems and
away. Unless the wind offshore is light, navigators try to stay find the strong tail winds that give the famous high speed
well away. running conditions.
Offshore Drama
1
Challenge One
Alicante
Alicante to Cape Town
6,500 nm
Days at sea: 20
After the start, the teams must Through the northeast trade
negotiate the unpredictable winds of winds, everyone will be trying to
the Mediterranean before breaking work their way west to cross the
out through the Straits of Gibraltar Doldrums belt at its narrowest
into the Atlantic. There they need point and to connect with the
to hook into the northeast trade South Atlantic trade winds
winds to speed south towards the near the Brazilian coast. Luck
equator. This will provide the first could also play a part in
tactical challenge. Should they push deciding who breaks free first,
west for better wind or head south but the crews will be
Cape Town
in the wind they have to make miles concentrating hard on every cloud
towards the finish? Jules Salter, that passes to take advantage of the
navigator for Abu Dhabi Ocean best wind and avoid the calms.
Racing, expects a bit of drag racing
here as this is a chance for everyone Having picked up the south Atlantic trade winds near the Brazilian coast, the direct course
to look at the performance of their to Cape Town leads through light airs in the centre of the South Atlantic high pressure zone and
own boat and compare it with the almost certainly the navigators will advise sailing a longer route south along the coast before
competition. turning east for South Africa. This could be the big decision and the one that decides the
finishing positions for the leg. How many extra miles dare they afford to sail in order to pick up
the stronger winds?
“ Anyone who turns upwind initially will likely be

first on the leaderboard in the early stages.
WILL OXLEY
”
13
2
Pirate Zone
Cape Town to Abu Dhabi
5,430 nm Abu Dhabi
Days at sea: 20
Now it’s round the Cape of Leaving Cape Town, it’s

Good Hope, then back up across decision time again. Who will take
the light winds of the Indian the low road through the Southern
Ocean high, to the Doldrum belt. Ocean and who will opt for an
Then find the northeasterly trade upwind slog via Madagascar to
Cape Town
winds to take the fleet up to the reach the southeast trade winds?
Straits of Hormuz and through the CAMPER’s navigator Will
GUSTAV MORIN/ERICSSON 3/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
confined waters of the Gulf to Oxley says, “anyone who turns

Abu Dhabi. upwind initially will likely be first on Approaching the Straits of
Here, the risk of piracy brings the leaderboard by a long way in Hormuz, unless the strong Shamal
a new hazard, and a safety the early stages – the big question wind is blowing, the heat of the
exclusion zone along the African is whether that lead would be desert and the mountainous coast
coast makes a short cut inside large enough as the others charge of Oman will break up the wind
Madagascar impossible. on in the Southern Ocean before and could stop the fleet in its
picking their spot to head north.” tracks with very light airs.
3
The dreaded Malacca Strait
Abu Dhabi to Sanya
4,600 nm Abu Dhabi
Sanya
Days at sea: 21
This demanding leg will be sailed

mainly upwind in the fickle winds
around the equator, although there are
the unique weather and navigational
hazards of the Malacca Strait.
Combine this with the probability of
a heavy weather beat to the finish in
Sanya in cold winds driven by the
Siberian high pressure and this leg is
full of tests. Andrew Cape, sailing with The leading teams will be dreading
At the beginning there are few Telefónica, reckons that better winds lie the Malacca Strait, where the high
opportunities for the fleet to separate to the north of the conventional direct mountains and tropical conditions
on the way back through the Straits of line, but both he and weather expert generate thunderstorms with
Hormuz and then reaching across to Roger Badham think the real success alternating gusts and flat calms. Added
Sri Lanka. But the beat across the will be to call the wind shifts associated to the challenge is the additional
Sea of Bengal to Indonesia will see with small troughs of low pressure. navigational nightmare of dense
boats spread out and it is here that the shipping and small local fishing boats
key decisions for the leg will be taken. to be avoided at all costs.
14
“ Do you sail high of the rhumb line for a possible

(but not certain) benefit 3,000 miles away?
WILL OXLEY
”
4
Tactically Testing Sanya
Sanya to Auckland
5,220 nm
Days at sea: 21
This, the third of the new legs, is
another where there is precious little
previous data available. It starts in trade
winds and the normal route passes
through the light fickle winds of the
Doldrum belt at its widest.
This track has the added wind
Auckland
disturbance from the islands of the west
Pacific and even passes close to
Papua New Guinea. Once the teams
have picked up the trade winds around The first week reaching to the So better winds lie further to the
New Hebrides and New Caledonia, Philippines is a straight line, but can east and the leg should be long enough
they then face the final challenge of the produce severe conditions for the to claw back the extra miles sailed to
approach to New Zealand. boats, and skippers cannot afford to reach them, but as Abu Dhabi Ocean
‘Dry racing’ the course on computer damage sails this early in the leg. Racing’s Ian Walker points out: “It is
this year, PUMA Ocean Racing’s Tom At the Philippines the key decision difficult to continue to squeeze east
Addis reckons this leg could be tactically is when to turn right and head south for hard on the wind when other boats are
the most difficult. “Passing lanes open the long leg down to Auckland. reaching off down the track to leeward.”
up but you need to commit east or west Will Oxley says there is typically more
much sooner,” he says. wind to the east, but further to sail.
Offshore Drama
5
Infamous Cape Horn
Auckland to Itajaí
6,705 nm
Days at sea: 17
Auckland Itajai
Like the first leg, this is a classic The Great Circle route goes
round the world leg taking the boats past 60 degrees south, and, although
south from Auckland through the thrill the sailing will be fast and furious,
of the Southern Ocean. those leaving it late to turn north will pay for
Deciding when to abandon the it with a slow vicious slog back to the Horn. Who will pass outside the Falkland Islands
Southern Ocean and sail most quickly The safety waypoints set at around after rounding Cape Horn? It’s a key decision,
back up to Cape Horn will be hard. 58 degrees south will reduce the risk of but improved weather forecasts now allow
Then there will be an energy-sapping encounters with icebergs and growlers (the navigators to look further ahead and simply
beat up the coast to Brazil. The key bits that break off the ‘mother’ iceberg), but factor in the Falklands as an obstruction in a
decisions to Cape Horn will be how still provide the chance to gain in the fast longer game plan. Tom Addis thinks the main
sharply off course to head south from conditions in the south. Oxley says: “The challenge will be the high pressures coming
New Zealand, but picking the right time weather routing software we use does not off the River Plate. “Do you try to get round the
to hitch a ride on the strong westerlies, deal well with ice gates and many hours will front or cut up behind?” he asks. The passing
and then when to turn north to reach inevitably be spent deciding just how we lanes will therefore be harder to find and the
the Cape. get back up to them.” fleet will stay closer together.
“ The weather routing software we use does not

deal well with ice gates.
WILL OXLEY
”
15
6
Random Luck Miami
Itajaí to Miami
3,590 nm
Days at sea: 14
By Brazil, it will be clear who is the Rounding Recife, the current and wind
fastest, and the leaderboard could be follow west along the Brazilian coast, but
starting to open out. Skippers with slower the stronger north Atlantic trade winds are
boats or with fewer points will be looking north across the Doldrums. The second
hard for options to separate from the fleet decision of the leg is when to pick a slot
and take risks for faster sailing conditions in the Doldrums and head sharply north
elsewhere. This leg should provide several into the new wind. Itajai
opportunities. Here we will see separation in the fleet
Heading north from Itajaí, the course combined with random luck around the
follows the Brazilian coast, but how far will towering clouds. Tom Addis thinks this leg
the teams sail offshore? The trade winds will be more of a drag race for boat speed
are less reliable here – convective clouds and warns: “It will be hard to find passing
constantly disrupt the wind and, from time lanes after the Doldrums.”
to time, low pressure extends from the
shore, killing the coastal wind. Evidence
from earlier races supports the long held Then it’s north past the Caribbean island chain to the Bahamas, where
rule: “Less than 50 miles inshore or more there are no passing lanes, but the final challenge of the leg can come in
than 500 offshore”, providing a good light airs. Do not misjudge the crossing of the Gulf Stream running north at
opportunity to split. five knots between the Bahamas and Miami.
7
Gulf Stream Drama Lisbon
Miami to Lisbon
3,590 nm Miami
Days at sea: 11
Although the North Atlantic

is very well raced and studied,
finishing in Lisbon is not what the
crews are used to and is much
further south. The Great Circle
The warm water of the Gulf
route passes straight through the
Stream, which follows the US
light winds past Bermuda and
coast from Florida and across the
through the Azores high pressure
Atlantic towards the UK can play
zone, forcing navigators to choose
a big part in the route north, but,
a longer route north of the high, in
armed with multicolour satellite In previous races, finishes in Southampton,
search of stronger westerly winds
images, the navigators will face Galway or La Rochelle have kept the boats in
around the depressions.
a key decision on day one in the westerly wind and the Gulf Stream. This time
whether to follow the Gulf Stream the navigators must decide when to head south
round the coast or make a break back into the high pressure zone, connecting with
straight to Cape Hatteras, another the stronger band of northeast trade winds as
opportunity for back markers to it oscillates east and west from the Portuguese
split from the fleet. coast with the Azores high.
16
“ ” If you want to be a good navigator, sail

on a fast boat!
ANDREW CAPE
8-9
Calms and Gales
Lisbon - Lorient - Galway Galway
1,940nm - 485nm Lorient
Days at sea: 7 - 2
Lisbon
Two sprint legs complete The weather conditions for
the course, and with few points these legs could be from calms
remaining to be won, skippers will to gales. Tom Addis points out
start to focus on beating specific that each of these legs “fits within
boats above and below them on a single forecast period” and
the leaderboard. Some boats will therefore he expects that boats will
have damaged or missing sails, start with fully, pre-prepared race
which will restrict their tactical plans.
options, and will be raced in very Roger Badham points to an The second leg along
different configurations. unusual factor in the first sprint the French and Irish coasts
The first sprint is an ocean leg and the probability that it will will put continuous demands
running west from Lisbon into the effectively restart in light airs on the navigators, as the
Azores high, turning round the around the Azores before racing challenges of tides and
Azores island of São Miguel, then back to France. “It will be critical windshifts on the headlands
north east back out of the high for navigators to call the laylines cause rapidly changing
to Lorient. The second sprint is on the right wind angles,” says conditions in which a well-
a coastal leg along the Brittany Andrew Cape explaining what sailed boat might wriggle away
coast, across the English Channel happens when sailing into such and change the result of the
and up the west coast of Ireland. light airs. whole year’s race.
Offshore Drama
Juggling the options
T he increasing frequency of
accurate position reports on
the fleet has focused the skippers
another boat when wind conditions
vary significantly over a short
distance, for example in light airs near
to navigators. Each sail carried suits
different conditions and only allows
the boat to sail in a narrow wind
on their short-term gains and losses, coastlines, or around clouds in the angle to achieve best speed.
and is leading them to treat each leg Doldrums, expect to see rapid place Without a range of overlapping
as a rolling six-hour race. Boat speed changes in these areas. sail choices, navigators must now
has become key to this as skippers When the straight line between compromise their ideal routes to take
focus on beating competitors by two points leads through a light wind account of the specific sails onboard,
sailing faster in the same water, area, navigators will have to decide and the individual sail inventory on
rather than by sailing a quicker route how much extra distance to sail each boat will introduce an element
in different water. Badham points around that area to pick up stronger of luck. Expect to see some unusual
out how recent races have been won winds. routes forced on navigators by sail
by the fastest boat, and, as Andrew All navigators acknowledge the inventory or damage and expect to
Cape wryly put it: “If you want to be a stress of losing miles as the six- see boats diverging unwillingly at
good navigator, sail on a fast boat!” hourly boat position reports come in. times due to different sail availability.
With increasing weather forecast Investing in a longer, better course, If it becomes clear that some
accuracy delivered as digital data requires huge certainty from the boats are short of speed, then they
to software packages, navigators navigator and the trust of his skipper will have to change tactics and seek
tend to pick similar quick routes to commit to these plans. opportunities to exploit different wind
and sail more as a fleet, with a few The latest sail limitations have conditions, especially later in the
exceptions. It is difficult to cover severely reduced the options open race.
TEN HosT citIeS 17
Five ContiNenTs
Four Oceans
39,270nm
One Wild
RICK DEPPE/PUMA OCEAN RACING/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
AdventurE
T sun sets, a tod lights shir
Where glamour meets grandeur. Where majesty meets mystery.

There’s a cityscape that glimmers among the stars.
In a place where beauty is illuminated.
Spend your days wrapped in splendour,
your nights lost in wonder.
Discover an unbelievable skyline.
You will see that the sky is no longer the limit.
And you think you’ve done it all?
Abu Dhabi. Travellers welcome.
“Arguably the world’s most exciting new tourism hotspot” Travel Weekly UK Magazine. www.visitabudhabi.ae
d t wonder begi.
The Yas Hotel

When trying to describe a day in the life of a Volvo Ocean Race sailor, the
first thing that jumps into your mind is which day? The one where you sail
a measly 24 miles sweating as if you were living in a Swedish sauna, or
the day where you wonder when your kidneys are going to fall out of your
back as you career through the Southern Ocean?
Richard Mason picks the highs and lows from some typical days, where
the crew work a four-hour watch, followed by a two-hour standby watch
where they should be ready to spring into action should extra hands be
required, and finally a two-hour off watch where sleep is a welcome relief.
Killer coffee and the graveyard

Delicate matters 04d .0 0 08in.0 0
re eyes sal e drip
Guo Chuan/Green Dragon Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

After an hour’s sleep there is porridge
20 ready for breakfast and a warm bowl
feels like complete luxury. Time to peel
off the gear, as I go off the standby
watch of two hours and climb into my
Life harness on, helmet on and crawl
bunk for one hour 45 minutes of rest.
out into the cockpit in between waves
The head, or toilet to you, is usually There can be those days where you
washing over the deck.
placed in the bow – an area of the boat are thankful to have morning watch.
“Morning, ladies,” I am greeted by
that can move up and down one to two At the equator it is impossible to sleep,
the off-going watch captain, Magnus
metres. If you feel the boat starting to 35 degrees plus below deck and 110
Olsson, “How’s it going?” “Ah, a little
rise rapidly and you begin to approach per cent humidity – a lot of it dripping
crazy, we got hit by a big squall.”
zero G-force, you need to be careful on you from the guy in the bunk above.
In the dim light his eyes are
you don’t end up with something not
completely bloodshot from all the
very nice on your lap. It has been
0
salt spray. He informs me the current
known to happen.
Then there are, of course, meal
helmsman needs a break. 10n.0
derfoot
times. On the modern Volvo Open 70
Waves are smashing through the hot u
cockpit at up to 30 knots, so, after
we have the luxury of a Media Crew
clipping to the lifeline, I make my way
Member who helps with cooking the
to the back of the boat and sit behind
meals. All the meals are freeze-dried
the helmsman.
and the only cooking utensils required
After 10 minutes adjusting, it’s time
are a kettle, one large insulated pot that
Gabriele Olivo/Equipo Telefonica/Volvo Ocean Race
to take over. Standing at the helm I am

is custom built into the boat, four litres
exposed to the full force of the water.
of water, and a spoon.
Gustav Morin/Ericsson 3/Volvo Ocean Race
Gustav Morin/Ericsson 3/Volvo OcEAN RACE
White peaks of foam mark the The next watch starts off cool, but, by
The galley and the toilet are normally
top of the wave in front of me before the end, I am looking for somewhere
very close, in fact on the old Volvo
we leap over it and crash down the on the deck safe enough to stand
Ocean 60s you could sit on the toilet
other side. It’s like driving in the Paris without burning my feet. We are drifting
and stir the dinner pot. Nice. Back then
Dakar race with no headlights, and a along trying to hop from the edge of
you had to be very careful to make sure
smashed windscreen. one cloud to the next, hoping not to
that dish brush did not get mixed up
Exhausted, I stagger down the be swallowed up by it, and that the
with the toilet brush. It is rumoured that
stairs, fall asleep instantly, only to breezes on the edge of it will slingshot
this happened on one boat. It doesn’t
waken in an hour, still fully dressed, us out of the Doldrums and back into
bear thinking about.
eyes glued shut with salt crystals. the trade winds.
Hearts and Minds
No mercy medical clinic
Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

The skipper has been washed down the deck by a big wave. It
is time to open the ‘No Mercy Medical Clinic’.
We undress the skipper, put him in a bunk, and start to have
a look at the affected area. After a brief examination it is on
to the satellite phone to a shore-based doctor to discuss our
options for treatment. Very strong painkillers and a week in the
bunk are prescribed, with constant monitoring every four hours.
We have a lot of medical equipment on the Volvo boats and
we are well trained in medical procedures. As the boats become
faster, the injuries are now far more frequent.
It’s like driving in the Paris

Dakar race with no headlights
watches and a smashed windscreen.
18er.0 0 20 .0o0n
che s: yuk t e
ketl
21
After two hours of trying to rest, it’s

time to head back on watch. Torrents
of freezing cold water are pouring over
the deck as the boat is crashing along
at 27-knot averages. Sleeping like a
The early evening watch in equatorial areas be the most unforgettable brew they had fireman with your wet weather gear
can be a real treat. The clouds that have ever had. Twenty minutes of hard labour later, around your ankles, you crawl out of
been building up all day start to push some the coffee mugs were passed out of the the warmth of your sleeping bag.
breeze around as they cool down. Finally hatch with great satisfaction. The navigator is looking at a screen
we start moving again for more than two I ducked down below to fetch my cup covered in red and purple – 35-40
minutes. It feels as if we are racing again, and return to join the lads and see the knots in the weather models – and
not just floating around in the middle of immense gratitude and satisfaction on their there will be no let up for the next four
nowhere. The sun sets early and it is usually faces. There was silence on deck when I hours. We discuss the latest position
a spectacular half hour where the boat returned, confused I charged my coffee cup report, where we would like to be in
becomes very quiet as we reflect on our to offer the lads cheers, and took a huge four hours’ time (at home in bed) and
thoughts. gulp of coffee. what we expect to happen with the
Half way through the watch brings the The result was horrendous. Diving for the weather. A quick glance at the radar
opportunity for a coffee to lift the spirits of side of the boat I spat the contents of my reveals a few clouds around; they can
the crew on deck. During the last race I mouth over the side. The crew was rolling have 50 knots on the edge of them!
found some proper ground coffee, a true around the deck in fits of laughter. I had On with the wet weather jacket
luxury, but absolutely useless on a Volvo boat made the coffee with salt water: possibly the that is soaking from the previous
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race
unless you can invent a filter system. I took most disgusting thing ever served on a Volvo watch, and crawl into the dark cavern
my last clean shirt (NOT underpants), and boat! Not to be beaten, I returned to the in search of the galley and a hot cup
began to build in my mind what was going to galley and eventually produced something of coffee. I find the kettle is warm and
be the best coffee ever served. drinkable with fresh water, but to this day, I the bowman, my watch partner, braced
I stuck my head out the hatch to take have not been allowed to forget my coffee into the super-structure trying to get
orders, and severely talk up the process I skills. dressed. “Good to see you: put the
had developed to make what was going to kettle on, love!”
To understand the role of

a media crew member you
first must understand the
mentality of a racing sailor.
Naked truth
behind body
22
odour and
breaking news colleague and even more rarely with a
journalist. I witnessed the hopes and
fears of grown men unfold before me.
It was always my intention to
Words: MARK COVELL, media crew member with
team russia in 2008-09 film and document everything that
happened on board, the good and
bad, the highs and the lows. I felt
A
that if you don’t document the bad
busy Volvo Ocean Race No smiling or data transfer capability of Inmarsat’s times, then the good times fall out of
crewman is totally focused on second takes for Fleet 500 satellite communications perspective. It was a concept that took
the MCM and his
pushing the boat to the max, with very to Volvo HQ. Enter the Media Crew a while for the crew to get used to.
camera.
little regard to anything outside that Member (MCM). I remember the first night of leg
mission. I blogged, filmed and one from Alicante to Cape Town in
Ask them to pick up a camera or photographed, cooked and hung on, 2008. The conditions were bad and
write a blog, and, on the whole, you’ll as my team did their thing all around we had already ripped a sail in half
only get footage from the Doldrums, me. and the next setback was discovering
while they wait frustratingly for the Sometimes I felt like I was a ghost we were sinking. These are two things
wind to occupy their hunger for speed or a hovering spirit moving around the that should be generally avoided on
again. crew, recording their story, unseen and your first day of the Volvo Ocean Race.
So the only way you’re going to ignored. Other times I felt like I was It was safe to say that the mood
get any footage from the heart of their personal scribe – as if they could of the crew was a little peeved. Like
the action is to make it someone’s not read or write and it was left to me eager worker ants, the crew moved
specific job to focus on nothing but to document their extraordinary story. quickly to detect and solve the
the onboard media, using an arsenal Very occasionally a crew member problem. After many attempts to patch
of specially adapted cameras and would divulge sentiments and feelings the punctured keel ram to no avail, I let
microphones, and the outstanding not normally discussed with a work slip that my dry bag was the biggest
Hearts and Minds
Guy Salter/Ericsson 4/Volvo Ocean Race

This is one of sailing’s strangest occupations.
How many times have you seen a job
description that reads:
• M
ust be good with people with strange habits and
body odour issues
• W
orks well in both a cold, damp environment and
searing heat and humidity
• C
an hold a camera steady while travelling at speeds
of 30 knots from the inside of a washing machine
• M
ust have culinary skills that can turn bland into less
bland with only a small bottle of chilli sauce
• C
an type confidently while being launched off
large waves in the dark listening to carbon fibre
complaining of misuse in the work place
skittles. The crew’s frustration was • A
good understanding of videography, photography,
becoming painful. journalism, psychology, satellite communications and
Late one humid night, a cloud food re-hydration is essential
started to form in our path and the • T
imewasters and claustrophobic agoraphobics need
updraft of air began to fill our lifeless not apply
sails. As I filmed the unfolding action
I realised this could be my chance to Amazingly there is an exclusive bunch that have all of
get a natural shower and feel clean the above on their resumé, and I’m proud to be one
for the first time since leaving South of them. It was my job to be the voice of the Team
Africa. Russia crew on the last race so
As well as grabbing my video they could concentrate
camera in its waterproof case I put on the job in hand.
a small bar of soap in my pocket. I
filmed what I needed of the night
watch crew, changing sails as the
wind picked up. As one solid drop
of fresh rain fell on my grubby face, 23
I put down my camera, stood on the
aft deck and quickly stripped to my
birthday suit.
Mark Covell/Team Russia/Volvo Ocean race
It was now raining solidly,
flattening the sea and temporally
extinguishing the welcome wind. With
piece of rubberised cloth on the boat soap, razor and shampoo in hand I I blogged, I did what every good seaman
and may provide the perfect fix. quickly whipped up a total body lather should do and donned my life vest
As there is no place on the from tip to toe, worthy of any 1950’s filmed and and harness, attaching the crotch
boat that is safe from the ingress barber shop. I was now fully covered photographed, strap for good measure. Now please
of inquisitive salt water, I wasn’t in foaming olive soap, smelling like the don’t dwell on this in your mind’s eye,
best pleased to lose my only dry foothills of Tuscany in spring. What
cooked and but, just as I finished getting ready to
sanctuary. I reluctantly handed my dry bliss and satisfaction to feel clean hung on, as rinse off, the burly bow crew came aft
bag over. The problem solved and again. after reducing sail, to find me lathered
the gift appreciated, the crew/MCM I mused how funny I would look if
my team did up like a spring sheep before it is
relationship became a little stronger. the rain stopped. Just as if the Gods their thing all shorn, butt naked, my crotch strap
That relationship would be tested had heard my thoughts, the rain came pulled tight and a look of frustration
around me...
once again on leg two from Cape to an abrupt end. Like a practical joke, on my face. They looked at me as if
Town to Cochin in India. We had someone had turned the heavenly I witnessed they had just seen a kinky ghost with
been at sea for almost three weeks tap off. The rain ceased and the wind the hopes and behavioural problems.
and progress through the stop/start started, kicking us along faster and I knew I would push the limits of
thunderheads of the steamy equatorial faster. fears of grown trust between MCM and crew by
Indian Ocean was slow. I hadn’t Spray was now billowing out from men unfold exposing the naked truth, but I never
washed for weeks and I could smell both sides of the bow as we hurtled thought I would actually BE the naked
myself even when I held my nose. along in the flat water but for once before me. truth.
No matter how hard we tried to line there was nothing coming down the So, as I look back at the skills
up with one of the tropical anvil clouds decks. My only option was to scoop and attributes an MCM should have,
that dumped warm rain and solid some sea water from under the aft rail I guess I should add: ‘Must have a
winds, we seemed to fall between and douche myself down. But I wasn’t healthy sense of humour and a very
systems time and time again. Like going to lean over the stern, covered large dose of humility’, to the resumé.
a miniature bowling ball, we sailed in nothing but slippery soap suds in Oh yes, and a better knowledge of
down the ocean ally missing the windy the pitch black doing 25 knots. meteorology.
Youth
inspires
the gnarly
veterans
The few round-the-world sailors
who enter the pantheon of the gods
of ocean racing have a common
trait: their passion for long-distance
Adam Minoprio is
CAMPER’s youngest
sailing began when they were
sailor.
young and it never ebbed.
Words: BRUCE MONTGOMERY
24
CHRIS CAMERON
Offshore Drama
The youngest sailor in each team (at start of race) MATT HUMPHRIES
Adil Khalid 23 years 1 month Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
Adam Minoprio 26 years 5 months CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
Brad Marsh 28 years 1 month Groupama Sailing Team
Rome Kirby 22 years 5 months PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG Propulsion
Oskar Kihlborg/Volvo Ocean Race

Dave Swete 27 years 11 months Team Sanya
Zane Gills 28 years 8 months Team Telefónica
T he Volvo Ocean Race recognises the

importance of youth to the future of the
event and is more committed than ever to
Getting the mix right is as important as getting
the boat right.
“You need the right chemistry between the
steve hayles
giving a chance for younger sailors to play a old boys and the young boys,” Humphries says.
central part. PUMA skipper Ken Read agrees.
In 2008-09 at least two crewmembers had “The under 30 rule helps bring the race
to be under 30. In this year’s race, under rule personally to the next generation of sailors

6.1.3, it is three. and non-sailors alike,” Read says. “This type
The under-30s on board will not only of forward thinking is crucial to what we do in
gain valuable experience for themselves, they many aspects of the programme. Having three
will also inspire others to take part and can under 30s keeps us old guys honest. It also
communicate more directly to a fan base that brings a certain energy that wouldn’t be there
is itself growing, especially at the younger end. without them.”
Now even second-generation members of the Rome Kirby (22) will be doing his firstVolvo
same family are taking their turn in the race. with PUMA but the race is already in his
Britain’s Matt Humphries was the youngest genes. His father, Jerry Kirby, a legendary 25
ever, racing With Integrity in 1989 at the age bowman, did three including the 2008-09
rome kirby
of 18 and then skippering Dolphin and Youth race on PUMA.
in the 1993 Whitbread. The navigator on his “Because some under 30s are new, they
second race was Steve Hayles, then just 19. step it up to an entirely new level,” says Read.
Each went on to compete in five editions of the “Rome is a perfect example. It’s almost like
races. they’re constantly trying to prove themselves,
“Of the 14 young guns on Dolphin and even though they don’t have to. That’s the
Youth in 1993 at least nine are still involved in energy that they bring and it’s inspirational for
sailing at a professional level,” Hayles says. everyone. It’s great for the team; it’s great for
Humphries says that if you are going to be the sport.”
a professional sailor, the Volvo Ocean Race is Kirby says this is the life he wants to lead.
“the important place to be”. “You honestly learn a lot about yourself and Dan Armstrong
The new under 30 rule reinforces the view about how much suffering you can deal with.
of many that this is the age at which a Volvo It’s all in your head. You’re going through tough
sailor is in his prime. times, but you get through it. Obviously I want
“For professional sailors, 18-22 is the to win. I wouldn’t do it otherwise. I also want
defining period in one’s life,” Humphries says. to go around the world and keep doing it. It’s
“If I were putting a team together I would have definitely not one and done.” adil khalid
more than three under 30s. Possibly half the
crew would be under 30.” Adil Khalid is one of the three under 30s
Franck Cammas’ Groupama 4 will be with Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
sailing with four under 30s: Martin Krite (SWE), Khalid, who represented the United Arab
Brad Marsh (NZ), Martin Stromberg (SWE), Emirates in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the
and Erwan Israel (FRA). 2010 Asian Games, was selected above 120
The new rule redefines crew selection, Emirati sailors to join the crew.
given that the posts of skipper, navigator and “I am very proud I have this opportunity,”
watch captains account for four of the slots. he says. “Sailing has been a huge part of Abu
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing
“ This rule helps give some of these younger sailors

a chance but it was the all-youth teams from many
years ago, such as ABN AMRO Two and Dolphin and
”
Youth, which have given the biggest opportunities.
Ian Walker
Dhabi’s identity for centuries. The you don’t gain the experience and so
thought of leading Abu Dhabi Ocean on. This rule helps give some of these
Racing into the UAE capital in January younger sailors a chance but it was
2012 will be amazing, especially if we the all-youth teams from many years
are in first place.” ago, such as ABN AMRO Two and
Ian Walker believes ocean racing is Dolphin and Youth, which have given
one sport where one tends to improve the biggest opportunities.”
with age and the under 30 rule goes Steve Hayles says the Volvo has
a long way to getting younger people given young sailors a grounding in
on boats. what he terms “an insular world”.
Sebastien Josse “Unfortunately it is a very circular “It’s like a global cottage industry,
leads a team of young problem: if you don’t have the incredibly small. The race gave us a
guns during the 2005- experience then you don’t get invited massive launch pad into that arena
06 race. to sail on the big boats, which means and gave us a good work ethic and
real understanding of what it meant to
be a professional sailor. If we all raced
round the world when we were 50 it
wouldn’t be the same thing. We need
brave young people.”
26
One of those ‘brave young
people’ is a New Zealander who
has the potential to become the next
Grant Dalton of round-the-world racing.
CAMPER with Emirates Team New
Zealand has recruited Adam Minoprio,
26, the 2010 world match racing
champion. He will be a helmsman and
a trimmer.
“My main responsibility will be
driving the boat fast,” he says. “I
know people onboard have done a lot
before, so I’m going to be like a big
sponge and learn as much as I can
from all the others onboard, who are
very experienced compared with me.”
Minoprio sees the under 30 rule
as vital.
“I think it’s probably the most
important rule, because the older and
more experienced guys have been
doing it since they were under 30
and they’re still doing it now. There
probably wouldn’t be that much
opportunity for people of my age to
©Oskar Kihlborg/Volvo Ocean Race
sail on the boats without it. But, in

the future, when the older guys retire,
there wouldn’t be any young blood to
fill their spots.
“So it’s good to have these
positions to keep a healthy turnover
of sailors and help improve the
image of the sport with the younger
people involved.”
CAMPER with
Emirates
Team New
Zealand
WORDS: RIATH AL-SAMARRAI
28
Chris Nicholson
Skipper
CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand
Chris Nicholson could have been forgiven
NICO MARTINEZ
for walking away from the Volvo Ocean Race
and not looking back.
THE STORY SO FAR
T o put it mildly, the Australian’s past two attempts to

win this title, following his 2001-02 debut on Amer
Sports One, have ended dramatically.
“It was a real eye-opener,” he says. “During that
campaign there were times when I was right at the
extreme limit of my skills. I remember being on the helm
Age: 42
DOB: 18.06.69
Family: Partner Megan
In 2005-06, he was part of the movistar crew which, deep in Southern Ocean and seeing this huge wave. and son Banjo
having survived one near sinking off Cape Horn, finally “I’m thinking in my head, ‘This is going to be pretty full Nationality: AUS
abandoned ship in the Atlantic. In the last edition his race on’. Dalts is behind me and he just leans into my ear and Lives: Auckland, NZ
was over before the halfway stage when a wave launched says, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ I really didn’t have Whitbread/Volvo
one of his PUMA crew-mates down the deck and into time to respond but somehow I managed to say just two achievements:
his right knee. He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament words, ‘Too late!’ 2001-02 Amer Sports
but somehow hobbled through the next leg before “We went sliding down the wave and somehow made One
undergoing surgery and playing no further part. it through the other side and I just remember being pretty 2005-06 movistar
“I guess, when you look at it on paper, some people glad to make it, and even more glad I saw it through and 2008-09 PUMA
might wonder why I would come back, but it is that drive didn’t just bail out. For Dalts as a skipper to be assured Dislikes: not giving 100
and motivation to win this event that makes me get up and enough to give me that responsibility was something I per cent
do this every day,” he says. “This is a brutal race, but to really remember.” Favourite food: Sushi,
me the good far outweighs the tough times. It isn’t about Peking Duck
money and prestige. You do it because you have a strong, NICHOLSON DIDN’T look back. He had developed a Hobbies/pastimes:
29
strong motivation to win. It definitely shapes people, you reputation as one of the fastest and safest helmsmen in Mountain biking,
have to be a certain type of person to do this race, and the fleet and was soon snapped up by Bouwe Bekking, and horse riding
I think you see that in the crews and sailors that keep Dalton’s co-skipper onboard Amer Sports One, for his Beach or winter holiday:
coming back.” movistar crew in 2005-06. If his first Volvo experience winter holiday skiing
This will be Nicholson’s fourth lap. To say his was an eye-opener, then this was an entire career rolled Music: U2
career has followed an unusual path would be an into one tumultuous year. “It was tough,” he says. Good at: what’s
understatement. He was a gifted dinghy sailor as a Movistar was among the pre-race favourites having important
youngster – he has acquired six world titles across the sailed across the Southern Ocean in training, breaking Bad at: coping with
49er and 505 classes – but trained as an electrician and the world 24-hour distance record in the process. But the people not committing
ultimately went to work down the coalmines in Hunter yacht suffered keel damage on the first night of the race 100 per cent
Valley, New South Wales. and it was a sign of the nightmares to come. Nicholson I can’t get through the day
“I worked as an electrician in the mines to pay for an had a closer view than most of the terrifying events without: reading a book
expensive sailing habit,” he says. “Not a typical route into of March 2006 when he awoke to a shout that the to unwind
professional sport.” boat, 300 miles off Cape Horn, was taking on water I wish people would be:
In time, a choice had to be made between his ‘real more appreciative of
job’ and sport. Sport won and it wasn’t a bad call. He what we all have
twice represented Australia at the Olympic Games – at
Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 – but between
those two events something happened and it turned his
head towards the adventure of big-boat racing. 5 things you may not know about Chris Nicholson...
GRANT DALTON, a legend in sailing circles, came

He was a gifted dinghy
calling ahead of the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race and
Nicholson got his first taste of an event that would shape
sailor as a youngster
his career. It wasn’t a natural fit. For a start, Nicholson
He suffers from
had little experience of steering big yachts. Secondly, he
sea sickness
suffered from seasickness. “Not ideal,” he says.
But he was soon indispensible to Amer Sports One, one
He has two horses
of a couple of go-to helmsmen that Dalton used when the
CHRIS CAMERON
weather got nasty. He once threw all of a boat’s

cutlery overboard by mistake
He would like to sail to Antarctica

Chris Nicholson in his own words:
through a failed keel fairing. He jumped from his bunk Honest, Focussed, Passionate
into freezing waist-high water and what followed
became the stuff of legend.
The yacht’s electrical systems had been flooded
and, as fuses popped all around, the only hope of
activating and sustaining the emergency pumps was
to connect them directly to the submerged battery
terminal. Nicholson was zapped to the tune of 24
volts more than 20 times as he attempted to get the
pumps going. He succeeded and saved the boat,
earning the race’s Seamanship Award for his efforts.
Saving the yacht was beyond anyone in the
Atlantic a couple of months later and movistar, a title
contender on her day, was lost. “That whole situation
was pretty hard to deal with because effectively the
boat had the last word and it had beaten us, which for
anyone who knows me, losing isn’t something that I
enjoy,” Nicholson says.
His time on PUMA ended in an equally abrupt
manner and a first race win still eludes him. This time
he will chase it as a skipper.
Hamish Hooper/CAMPER/Volvo Ocean Race
Meet the Team
CHRIS CAMERON
30
Stu Bannatyne WILL OXLEY Andrew McLean Mike Pammenter* Daryl Wislang*
Co-Skipper/Watch Leader Navigator Co-Navigator/Pitman Bowman/Boat Captain Bowman
Born: 20.04.71 Born: 22.04.65 Born: 09.06.79 Born: 03.11.83 Born: 20.05.81
Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Australia Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: RSA Nationality: New Zealand
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements:
2008-09 Ericsson 4 2005-06 Brunel (navigator) 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Telefónica Black 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 movistar
2001-02 illbruck
1997-98 Silk Cut
1993-94 NZ Endeavour
Tony Rae Roberto BermÚdez Rob Salthouse Adam Minoprio* Hamish Hooper
Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Media Crew Member
Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: ESP Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer Newcomer
1997-98 Innovation 2008-09 Delta Lloyd 2008-09 PUMA
Kvaerner 2005-06 Brasil 1 2001-02 Tyco
1993-94 NZ Endeavour 2001-02 Assa Abloy
1989-90 Steinlager 2 1993-94 Galicia ‘93
1985-86 Lion NZ Pescanova
* Under 30
ABU DHABI Ocean Racing
Abu Dhabi
Ocean Racing
31
Ian Walker
Skipper
The Volvo
volvooceanrace.com
Ocean Race Official Programme
Ian Walker has unfinished business with

the Volvo Ocean Race. And that is putting it mildly.
H
THE STORY SO FAR
is memories of the last event are vivid. Many did not relent. He was made skipper of GBR Challenge Age: 41
are good, so good that he has been lured back for the 2002 America’s Cup and, having coached Shirley DOB: 25.02.70
for another lap, but he will never forget some of the Robertson’s Yngling crew to Olympic gold in the 2004 Family: Married to Lisa,
frustrations that accompanied his time as the skipper of Games, went on to win the 2006 TP52 world title as two daughters Emilia
Green Dragon. skipper of Patches. Walker’s reputation as one of the and Zoe
“It was pretty hard at times, I can tell you,” he says. sport’s finest strategic minds landed him the tactician role Nationality: GBR
The issue boils down to the uneasy union of onboard +39 for the 2007 America’s Cup, but then he Lives: Warsash,
competitive, successful men and a slow yacht. stumbled into the world of the Volvo Ocean Race. Southampton, UK
Walker’s crew was among the finest in the event, “I always had an interest in it,” he says. “A lot of my Whitbread/Volvo
involving race legends such as Neal McDonald, past friends, like Matt Humphries, Adrian Stead and Tim Achievements:
winners in Justin Slattery and Ian Moore, and respected Powell, had competed in it and it was in my mind to be Green Dragon 2008-09
offshore veterans like Tom Braidwood and Damian involved in some capacity.” Dislikes: Losing
Foxall. But their keel bulb was a tonne lighter than most, Favourite food: Thai
wrecking their chances in the reaching conditions that He had just finished another TP52 campaign Hobbies/pastimes: Golf,
dominated the course, and no amount of talent was going when he teamed up with his business partner Jamie Boag Tennis, West Ham
to win with that kind of restriction. They finished fifth. to co-ordinate Galway’s bid to be part of the 2008-09 Football Club
“All of those guys were used to winning and it’s a long race. Boag’s role was initially to look after the stopover Beach or winter holiday:
32 lap if the boat is not competitive,” Walker says. and Walker’s was to oversee the sailing operation. His Beach
Walker is not a man used to being on the outside intentions did not include leading the team. Music: The Killers
looking in. He started sailing at the age of eight in Mirror “We had planned on bringing in a big-name skipper Favourite animal/family
dinghies at Chipstead Sailing Club in Kent, England. His but we were up against it from the start financially,” pet: Toby (Labrador)
family were not keen sailors but the sport came naturally Walker says. “At one point we actually approached Chris Good at: Organising
to Walker and by 16 he was a national champion. He has Nicholson (the skipper of CAMPER for this race). But Bad at: Relaxing
rarely been out of contention since. without proper funding in place we couldn’t attract a top I can’t get through the
After graduating from Cambridge University with a skipper. day without: Checking
degree in geography, his attentions turned to the 1996 “Eventually the penny dropped.” my email
Olympics. Walker and his 470 partner John Merricks Walker could skipper the boat himself. But the money I wish people would be:
provided one of the few highlights of a disappointing problem was not about to go away. more understanding of
Games for Team GB by claiming a silver medal and much “I had barely been in one of these boats before the others
was expected of their future. The following year they were race, or crossed the equator, or gone to the Southern One day I would like to:
leading after seven races at the Melges 24 European Ocean, so those opening legs were an eye-opener,” he See West Ham win the
Championships in Italy when tragedy struck. They had says. “There were a lot of gnarly days where I was hanging Premier League
been travelling to dinner with other team members when on and wondering just how we were going to cope when
the vehicle overturned. Merricks was killed.
It was an awful time, but a second tragedy was
5
about to have a profound effect on Walker’s career. Glyn
things you may not know about Ian Walker...
Charles, the skipper of Britain’s Star team, had been
racing in the Sydney-Hobart Race in December 2008
when he was washed overboard by a freak wave. It was He is a two-time Olympic silver medalist
the second disaster to strike Team GB in little over a
He won his second Olympic silver medal
year. But something amazing came out of adversity when
Walker called Mark Covell, Charles’s sailing partner, to
with Mark Covell
offer his support. The pair spoke a few more times before
He was named skipper of Britain’s
agreeing to team up in the Star for a late assault on the
Sydney Olympics. In one of the most remarkable stories
America’s Cup effort in 2000
of the Games, they returned from Australia with a silver

He learned to sail on a flooded gravel pit
medal.
when he was eight years old
Walker moved on to bigger boats and the success
He coached British gold
medallist Shirley Robertson
Abu DhabiOcean Racing
Ian Walker in his own words:
Loyal, Organised, Competitive
Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race
it got dark. I was lucky I had great guys onboard.” This time, he is after more than memories.
Walker’s crew went on to take third in leg eight, but it “I want to win this,” he says.
was the result of the previous leg into their home port that The team’s boat, Azzam, was late on the water relative
has become part of the race’s folklore. to other teams, but the preparation and research and
It was a downwind blast and, after flogging the boat design work has been far smoother than he thought
far harder than is healthy, Walker’s crew arrived in third. possible and Walker has a good feeling about the yacht
It was after 4am when they docked but more than 3,000 and personnel. “We had a great winter’s training in Abu
screaming people turned up and generated one of the Dhabi and we have a really good set-up moving forward.
most stirring atmospheres in the race’s history. “We are not as far down the road as a team like
“Memories like that made me want to come back,” Groupama, but we are going out there to do well. I really
Walker says. “Unlike other events, the Volvo Ocean Race want to give it a go. It is going to be great to welcome the
is the one where every team has its story. It was such an world to Abu Dhabi in January and we want to at least be
experience.” standing on the podium at the final prizegiving.”
Meet the Team
33
Jules Salter Craig Satterthwaite Robert Greenhalgh Justin Ferris Simon Fisher
Navigator Watch Leader Watch Leader Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer
Nationality: Great Britain Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Great Britain Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Great Britain
2008-09 Ericsson 4 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 Pirates of the 2005-06 Pirates of the 2005-06 ABN AMRO One 2005-06 Pirates of the 2005-06 ABN AMRO Two
Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean
1997-98 Swedish Match
Justin Slattery Wade Morgan* Adil Khalid* Andrew Lewis* Nick Dana
Bowman Bowman Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Media Crew Member
Nationality: Ireland Nationality: Australia Nationality: UAE Nationality: USA Nationality: USA
Achievements: Newcomer Newcomer Achievements: Newcomer

2005-06 ABN AMRO One 2005-06 ABN AMRO Two
2001-02 News Corp
* Under 30
Team
Telefónica
34
Iker Martínez
Skipper
Team Telefónica
For a man who says he is not ‘crazily competitive’,
MARÍA MUIÑA/ TEAM TELEFÓNICA

Iker Martínez has made a habit of winning.
O lympic gold, three world titles and the second

step of the podium at the 2010-11 Barcelona
World Race – all were claimed before the Spaniard’s
They missed the chance to defend their world title and
the start of 2004 was also tough. By the time the 2004
world championships came around in April, Martínez and
THE STORY SO FAR
Age: 33
DOB: 16.06.77
34th birthday. Fernández had fallen to 19th in the world. “Injuries are the
Family: Wife Barbara,
“But I did start young,” Martínez laughs. He was just hardest part of this sport, for me,” says Martínez.
one son
“three or four” when he took his first trips on a cruising They bounced back in some style, taking the top rank
Nationality: ESP
boat with his family. on the podium and heading off to Athens to chase their
Lives: Santander, Spain
“I just enjoyed sailing as a child,” he says. “I liked fate.
Whitbread/Volvo
being on the water. I have always enjoyed the ocean, Having battled injuries for the better part of 18 months
achievements:
doing stuff on the water like surfing. and amid prolonged doubts over their participation,
2005-06 movistar
“Sailing was perfect. I liked racing, going against other Martínez and Fernández took the gold. “Incredible, that is
(inshore tactician)
kids. It could be technical and I liked that, figuring tactics all I can say,” Martínez says.
2008-09 Telefónica
out, working out how to win. I always felt like I was OK at It would mark a turning point in their careers. “Sailing
Blue
it.” is great because you have the opportunity to try many
Dislikes: people who
It’s a modest assessment. In 1993, as a 16-year- things in many boats,” Martínez says. “We both wanted to
don’t try their best or
old, he won his first national title in the Optimist and he try another side in big boats.”
make an effort
scooped Spanish youth golds in 1995 and 1996 in the
Favourite food: Spaghetti
Vaurien class. By the time he won the Basque Country THEIR CHANCE CAME when telecommunications giant
Hobbies/pastimes:
Championship in 1997 he was already considered one of movistar entered a yacht in the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean 35
cycling, surfing
the top sailing talents in the country. Race. The pair flew to Australia ahead of the race – the
Beach or winter holiday:
Then, in 1999, he made a decision that would add yacht was built in New South Wales – and were part of
Beach
several golden entries to his CV. He teamed up in the the crew that delivered the boat back to Spain.
Music: ACDC
49er with Xabi Fernández, a man from Guipúzcoa, Iker’s Unfortunately for Martínez, his involvement was only
Favourite animal/family
home province in the Basque Country. They had first met going to extend to the tactician role during inshore races.
pet: Albatross
as rivals in the Optimist and Vaurien classes but as team- “The skipper (Bouwe Bekking) wanted people with more
Good at: working hard
mates they were a natural fit. experience and I didn’t do the ocean legs. That was
Bad at: many things
The Spanish sailing authorities saw enough potential disappointing but I also think it helped me long-term.
I can’t get through the
in the young pair to include them in their plans for the I was able to watch closely from the side, see how
day without: snacking
Sydney Olympics of 2000, using Martínez and Fernández a big project like this works, and take that knowledge
on food
as sparring partners for their 49er entry. “We learned a forward.”
I wish people would be:
lot,” Martínez says. “We were always learning, trying to After the race, Martínez and Fernández, who had
nice
move forward.” sailed offshore onboard movistar, returned to the
One day I would like to:
It did not take long for them to live up to their Olympic circuit. Their preparations for the 2008
have more time for my
credentials. In a year from October 2000 they rose from Games had been interrupted by the Volvo Ocean
family
33rd in the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) world
rankings to fifth, collecting world and European silver
medals along the way. Soon the golds were rolling in,
starting with a win at the French Olympic sailing week in
April 2002, followed by their first world title in June and
European glory a month later.
5 things you may not know about Iker Martínez...
He loves surfing
Validation of the pairing, not that any was needed,
came with a dual nomination for the 2002 ISAF World He would like to buy a
Sailor of the Year award. “We always worked very hard,”
Ducati motorbike
Martínez says. “Our secret is not a big secret. We work
hard. Xabi is very driven, a very talented man. He was He treasures the watch his mother
great to have in the boat.” gave him for his 30th birthday
The following year saw them reach the top of the
rankings, but injuries were about to take a grip on the pair. He travelled around Lanzarote with his
wife and son in a 25-year old van
He loses his iPhone and

CHAPI
sunglasses constantly
The Volvo
volvooceanrace.com
Race but they had won the European championships in

both 2007 and 2008 and felt they had a good chance.
What transpired was both bitter and sweet.
Martínez and Fernández were beaten to a second
gold by the Danish pairing, who had broken their mast
ahead of the medal race but had been able to participate
in a boat belonging to the Croatian team. Many of the
sport’s commentators felt the Danes’ result should not
have stood, but Martínez and Fernández accepted the
silver medal and drew credit from the sailing world for the
dignity with which they dealt with the episode.
After the storm at the Olympics, the pair returned
for a second crack at the Volvo Ocean Race. Telefónica
was sponsoring a two-boat campaign and Martínez
was onboard for real this time. “It was a good and bad
Iker Martínez in his own words:
experience,” Martínez says.
The yacht had established itself as the key challenger
to Ericsson 4 but was prone to mishaps. Two collisions Eager, eager, eager
with rocks and gear failure at inopportune moments saw
them edged out by PUMA in the battle for second. María Muiña/ Team Telefónica
Now they have their sights set on the Volvo Ocean
Race once again. “I really want to win this,” Martínez says.
Plenty of people, not just in Spain, will be ready to put
their money on him.
Meet the Team
María Muiña/ Team Telefónica

36
Andrew Cape Xabier Fernández Pepe Ribes Neal McDonald Jordi Calafat
Navigator Helmsman/Trimmer Boat Captain Watch Leader Helmsman
Nationality: Australia Nationality: Spain Nationality: Spain Nationality: Great Britain Nationality: Spain
2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 movistar 2005-06 movistar 2005-06 Ericsson Racing
2005-06 Ericsson 2001-02 Amer Sports One Team
1997-98 Toshiba 2001-02 Assa Abloy
1993-94 Tokio 1997-98 Silk Cut
João Signorini Pablo Arrarte* Antonio Cuervas-Mons* Zane Gills* Diego Fructuoso
Watch Leader Helmsman Bowman Bowman Media Crew Member
Nationality: Brazil Nationality: Spain Nationality: Spain Nationality: Australia Nationality: Spain
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer Newcomer
2008-09 Ericsson 4 2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Telefónica Black
2005-06 Brasil 1
* Under 30
Team Sanya
Team Sanya
37
Mike Sanderson
IAN ROMAN/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Skipper
Return of the king? It seems a fair summary
IAN ROMAN
when you consider the impact Mike Sanderson
had the last time he enterered this race.
I t was the 2005-06 event, the first edition to be sailed

in the Volvo Open 70, and teething problems were
expected for a new, superfast class of yacht. They came
why no contact had been made with Dalton. Sanderson
picked up the phone and so, at 22 years old, began his
association with this race.
THE STORY SO FAR
Age: 40
Date of birth: 29.05.71
in abundance. Team after team broke down as sailors “It was just like all the books I had read on the race,” Family: wife Emma,
learned tough lessons about when to unleash the power Sanderson says. “In those days the parties were bigger, daughter Amelia, son
and when to rein it in. we blew out sails, broke masts, had wind gear frozen. The Merrick
Sanderson’s ABN AMRO One crew didn’t really whole thing was a real adventure. The scary thing is I am Nationality: NZL
have any problems. While other yachts were flattened by only talking 1993-94! It doesn’t seem that long ago.” Lives: Auckland, New
significant gear failures, his thoroughly prepared team Zealand
skimmed across the oceans relatively unscathed – the New Zealand Endeavour won the maxi class of Whitbread/Volvo
hallmark of a top, well-organised campaign. What made it that race and Sanderson had caught the offshore bug. Achievements:
a brilliant campaign were the results. But he isn’t known as one of the world’s great all-round 1993-94 NZ Endeavour
No fewer than six of the nine legs were won by sailors for nothing. In 1995 he made his breakthrough 1997-98 Merit Cup
Sanderson’s crew, who also took the honours at five of into the America’s Cup, racing as mainsheet trimmer 2005-06 ABN AMRO One
Dislikes: seafood
the seven in-port races. By the middle of the race, the for Chris Dickson’s Tag Heuer team, before making a
Favourite food: Eye Fillet
rest of the fleet was effectively fighting for second; by its successful return to the Whitbread in 1997, becoming
Steak
conclusion Sanderson’s rivals agreed it had been one of one of the race’s all-time youngest watch captains as a
Hobbies/pastimes:
the most masterful performances in the event’s history. 26-year-old on second-placed Merit Cup.
Sailing Moth dinghy,
38 Winning this race had been his dream for quite some His star continued to rise in 1998 when, sailing powerboat cruising,
time. as watch captain onboard Mari Cha III, he broke the diving
Sanderson was born in 1971 in Whangarei, on New Transatlantic record. In 1999, he slashed 19 hours off the Beach or winter holiday:
Zealand’s North Island, and sailing was always going to best time recorded for the Sydney-Hobart passage, and Beach
be a major part of his life. a year later he was part of Team New Zealand’s winning Music: Coldplay, Feelers
“When I was a kid I was just obsessive about boats,” America’s Cup squad. Good at: bringing
he says. “Initially, as I was learning to talk, all I talked about More major accolades followed – not least his together a great team of
was ‘boats with motors’. My father and my grandfather selection as mainsheet trimmer for BMW Oracle Racing people
were keen sailors, so sailing was part of our life, but I had in the 2003 Cup and his prominent role in Mari Cha Bad at: throwing a ball
plans even at a young age.” IV’s demolition of the Transatlantic record – before an I can’t get through the day
He was sailing by the age of five in an Optimist called encounter that would define his career. without: Diet Coke
He Bee Gee Bee – “It was yellow and black” – but Sanderson was on the dock in Plymouth ahead of his I wish people would be:
he didn’t follow the likes of Sir Russell Coutts and Sir first major solo race, the 2004 Transat, when Dutch sailor more straight up with
each other
Peter Blake down the typical Kiwi route into the P-class. Roy Heiner approached him with a proposition. He was
One day I would like to:
Sanderson’s preference was for two-man skiffs, taking an recruiting on behalf of ABN AMRO for the 2005-06 Volvo
skipper a winning Volvo
early leap into the development side of the sport, learning Ocean Race.
boat again
the technical nuances that increase speed.
Focused purely on sailing, Sanderson left school in
1988 and cut his teeth as a sailmaker with North Sails.
Off the water, he was learning the industry and on it he
was expanding his reputation, delivering an all-conquering
series of performances in 1991, scooping every major
5 things you may not know about Mike Sanderson...
title in New Zealand on the Elliott 5.9 scene.

Then he got a big and surprising break. Murray
His wife Emma was a top single-
Ross, a member of Grant Dalton’s Fisher & Peykal team
handed sailor
in the 1989-90 Whitbread Race, was helping Dalton
recruit crew for his next lap. Ross was having a beer with His nickname is ‘Moose’
Frankie Leonard/Team Sanya
Sanderson when he asked if he’d be interested in joining

New Zealand Endeavour. He loves dogs
“I thought it was bar talk,” Sanderson says. He thought
no more of it until Ross called a fortnight later to ask His Optimist was called
He Bee Gee Bee
He raced with Grant Dalton twice

Team Sanya
Mike Sanderson in his own words:
Genuine, Friendly, Committed
Helped immensely by a radical Juan Kouyoumdjian

design, Sanderson’s team was imperious.
“This is my Olympic medal, this is my climbing of
Mount Everest, this is my childhood dream,” he said after
winning. He was duly named the 2006 ISAF Rolex World
Sailor of the Year. Ian Roman/Volvo Ocean Race
Following a few years with Team Origin, the British
America’s Cup team, before they decided to withdraw
from the Cup, an opportunity with Team Sanya arose. “With Team Sanya we really have an opportunity to do
Whereas ABN AMRO had a great new boat and stacks something special, and once you put your own ego aside,
of preparation time, Team Sanya had neither. Some have as winning the race in a second-hand boat is a very big
asked Sanderson why he would return in such different ask, then there is no reason not to do it. I am genuinely
circumstances from his last outing. excited. It’s no-lose, right? If we can take some scalps of
“I love the challenge, I love the race,” he says. the big teams every now and then, we will be winners.”
Meet the Team

IAN ROMAN/TIM STONTON/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
39
Aksel Magdahl Cameron Dunn Chris Main Richard Mason David Swete*
Navigator Watch Leader Watch Leader Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer
Nationality: Norway Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand
Achievements: Newcomer Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 Ericsson 3 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Ericsson 3
2005-06 Ericsson
2001-02 Assa Abloy
Teng Jiang He ‘Tiger’ Bert SchandevYhl* Andy Meiklejohn Ryan Houston* ANDRES SORIANO*
Trimmer/Grinder Bowman Bowman Trimmer Media Crew Member
Nationality: China Nationality: Belgium Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Spain/USA
Newcomer Newcomer Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2005-06 Brasil 1 2008-09 Delta Lloyd
* Under 30
PUMA Ocean
Racing powered
by BERG
40
Kenny Read
Skipper
DAVE KNEALE/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG
Kenny Read sounds a little bemused when he
DAN ARMSTRONG
goes over the multitude of achievements that crowd
his career.
THE STORY SO FAR
A s he says, “I never chased anything. I have always

worked as hard as I can and wanted to do well,
but good things have come along at times when I didn’t
says. “That normally went to Dennis Conner or Ted Turner,
not some punk kid from Seekonk.”
By 1989, Read and a friend, Dan Neri, had bought
Age: 50
DOB: 24.06.61
Family: Wife Kath,
daughter Tory
really expect them.” the Shore Sails Newport loft, which was the flagship of Nationality: USA
The story has reached the point where the man with the franchise. “We hocked everything to buy it,” he says. Lives: Newport, RI, USA
nine world titles, 37 national titles, and three America’s “But getting involved like that has changed everything Whitbread/Volvo
Cup campaigns under his belt is about to lead PUMA for me. I learned about budgets, managing people, Achievements:
around the world for the second time. But it started 50 deadlines, the technicalities of running a business.” 2005-06 Ericsson
years ago in the small, landlocked town of Seekonk, Shore flourished. After seven years they licensed the 2008-09 PUMA
Massachusetts. Sobstad name and 10 years after buying the company, Dislikes: swimming in cold
Read’s mother says he started sailing in the womb, the market-leading juggernaut of North Sails came calling water, olives
Favourite food: peanut
but his clearer recollections are of the days spent as a with a buyout offer. “Tom Whidden (North’s CEO) simply
butter, Sushi
six-year-old in his Sunfish, racing time trials against his said, ‘You’ve been a pain in our ass so let’s talk.’ We did
Hobbies/pastimes: golf,
younger brother, Brad, on Narragansett Bay. “If you ask a deal in about four minutes and I think all parties were ice hockey, cruising with
him he’d say he never lost, and if you ask me I’ll tell you I happy.” family
never lost,” Reads says. Ken was made a vice-president and board member of Beach or winter holiday:
His passion grew through his teenage years and he North Sails and still holds the position. Beach
41
wound up at Boston University, whose sailing programme On the water, he was moving equally fast – he was Music: Grateful Dead
had a good reputation. Back then he would have named US Sailor of the Year for the second time in 1995 Favourite animal/family pet:
described himself as a keen sailor, but not a brilliant one. – and then another phone call came. Toby (Golden Retriever,
It wasn’t until he was racing in the Freshman Northeast “The guy said he was Dennis Conner and I thought it cats Fenway and Tibby)
Good at: sailboat racing,
Championships in 1979 against the cream of young was a crank call. I didn’t believe him.”
selling stuff
United States talent that something dawned on him. But it was, and Conner wanted Read to helm his Stars
Bad at: Maths
“I won the regatta by a mile,” he says. “These guys and Stripes team in the 2000 America’s Cup. He made I can’t get through the
were the best in the country. I had been reading about an impact, was recognised as one of the world’s finest day without: reading the
them in magazines for years. and was back to go again in the 2003 Cup. “That was sports section and a cup
“They were all off competing in the youth worlds and just great, being around those guys, racing at that level,” of coffee
the Olympic trials. I was intimidated. My crew and I were he says. I wish people would:
just two homers who turned up to race and we ended up use common sense when
winning. When we got back to Boston, everyone in our But he was already yearning for something creating solutions
team was shocked.” different. He thought his opportunity had come in One day I would like to: win
the Volvo Ocean Race so
Read went on to be a Collegiate All-American sailor 2005 when he flew to England to discuss running
that I can tick that box
three years in a row, College Sailor of the Year in 1982,
and never have to sail
and was inducted to the Boston University Athletic Hall around the world again
of Fame. “I was just a second-rate recruit and I guess it
worked out,” he says.
After finishing university, Read joined Rhode Island’s
Shore Sails in a move that would ultimately have a huge
5 things you may not know about Kenny Read...
impact on his career. His job was to sell sails, but part
He began sailing when he was
of the remit was to campaign a J24 and showcase
Parker Worthington/PUMA Ocean Racing
Shore’s product. People who follow the J24s still point

six years old
to an early development Read made to forestay tension
He was Collegiate All-American
that revolutionised the class; his take is that it was an
sailor three times
accidental discovery made after a mistake. Either way, he
won a lot of titles and sold a lot of sails.
He dislikes olives and heights
Then he heard some news – he was the 1985 US
Sailor of the Year at the age of 24. “I was stunned,” Read He hates to lose
He likes playing golf and ice

hockey
the Pirates of the Caribbean entry in that year’s Volvo

Ocean Race. “Paul Cayard had apparently turned it down,
so had John Kostecki, and I was called. I went over, spoke
about it for six hours and it sounded great.”
But Cayard did a U-turn and Read’s deal fell through.
“They took the right guy, by the way,” says Read. Later
that race he was called in as Ericsson looked to cure their
ongoing difficulties. He was onboard for four legs and
they made an impression.
His enthusiasm for the subject led to another of those
unexpected opportunities.
“I was so high on the whole thing it was contagious,”
he says. “I went over to the maxi worlds in 2006,
skippering a German boat, and one night over some
wine I’m telling some stories to the boat’s owner about
the Volvo Ocean Race, this wild ride. He wanted to know
more.
Kenny Read in his own words:
“Turned out he owned 30 per cent of PUMA – I didn’t
know it at the time. At the end of the regatta, he came
up, explained that at board level the company had been Hate to lose
talking about sailing. Before I knew it I was making a
proposal and they made a proposal and the thing was
Arden Oksanen/PUMA Ocean Racing
happening.”
Meet the Team
DAN ARMSTRONG
42
Tom Addis Ryan Godfrey* Kelvin Harrap Brad Jackson Rome Kirby*
Navigator Pitman Helmsman/Trimmer Watch Leader Helmsman/Trimmer
Nationality: Australia Nationality: Australia Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: USA
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 Telefónica Blue 2008-09 Ericsson 4 1997-98 Toshiba 2008-09 Ericsson 4
1993-94 Tokio 2005-06 ABN AMRO One
2001-02 Tyco
1997-98 Merit Cup
1993-94 NZ Endeavour
Michi Mueller* Tony Mutter Casey Smith Jonathan Swain AMORY ROSS*
Bowman Watch Leader Bowman Helmsman/Trimmer/Medic Media Crew Member
Nationality: Germany Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Australia Nationality: RSA Nationality: USA
Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Ericsson 4 2008-09 PUMA 2008-09 Telefónica Blue
2005-06 ABN AMRO One 2005-06 movistar
2001-02 SEB 2001-02 Tyco
1997-98 Swedish Match 1997-98 Chessie Racing
* Under 30
ONLY THE BEST ON BOARD
To overcome life at the extreme, Volvo Ocean Race crews have

to be the best. The boats have to be the fastest. The equipment has
to be the toughest. For the third consecutive time, Thrane & Thrane
will safeguard the crews and deliver the action from the oceans to
the millions of fans following the race worldwide.
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to the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012.
SAILOR® FleetBroadband Series SAILOR® 6200 VHF Series SAILOR® SP3500 VHF Portable Series Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 Race Course
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Groupama
sailing team
44
Franck Cammas
Skipper
Groupama sailing team
The argument is that experience counts for everything,
YVAN ZEDDA
that the man who has sailed this race before is far better
equipped than the man who hasn’t.
THE STORY SO FAR
F ranck Cammas agrees with the theory, so much

so that he ranks himself as an outsider to lift the
trophy in 2012. False modesty? The statistics alone are
one of the finest talents the multihulls had seen and after
a disappointing 2002 – he finished sixth in the rankings
after three retirements in five races – he surged to the
Age: 38
DOB: 22.12.72
Family: Partner Perrine
compelling enough to suggest this Volvo Ocean Race title again in both 2003 and 2004. In those two years and two daughters: Thaïs
debutant is a man who will destroy conventional wisdom. he raced 13 events, winning seven. Cammas says: “I just and Jeanne
He has raced 73 times in Groupama’s colours and love winning.” Nationality: FRA
59 times he has been on the podium. Of those, he has “The domination of the green trimaran is such that the Lives: Guidel, France
won 33. In short, he is one of the finest multihull sailors to other skippers on the circuit are asking themselves some Whitbread/Volvo
have lived. serious questions about what modifications they can achievements:
How will he do with just one hull and no Volvo bring to their multihulls for next year,” reported Yachting Newcomer
background? That is the question giving hope to his rivals. World in October 2004, that same year he became Fico- Dislikes: losing time
Cammas was a latecomer to the sport. His parents Lacoste world champion for the second time. Favourite food: Sushi
held the perfect jobs to stir a passion in a would-be In 2007 he was nominated for the International Hobbies/pastimes:
sailing legend, his father working as a technology teacher Sailing Federation’s World Sailor of the Year. cycling/mountain
and his mother teaching natural sciences. But neither had However, there was another record lodged firmly at climbing
a particular affinity for sailing and Cammas fell into it by the forefront of his ambitions – the Jules Verne Trophy Beach or winter holiday:
accident as a 10-year-old. for the fastest circumnavigation of the planet in any type both, as they both bring
45
“I was on the beach, watching the waves and the of yacht. “I wanted that record very much,” he says. Its adventures
horizon and wanted to test it,” he says. pursuit took over from the fierce regatta circuit he had Music: Classical pop
Around that time he had been reading a book by Eric been dominating for so long. Good at: boosting team
Tabarly about his exploits as skipper of Pen Duick VI in the moral
first Whitbread Race, way back in 1973-74. The pages THE MARK HAD BEEN set in 2005 by Bruno Peyron’s Bad at: DIY
were filled with adventure, documenting the challenges of Orange II crew with an incredible time of 50 days and I can’t get through the
a groundbreaking and occasionally tragic race. “I didn’t 16 hours. Cammas would twice try and fail to beat that day without: doing some
understand anything at first because the words were too time, first capsizing off New Zealand in 2008 after losing sporting activity
complicated - a lot of sailing words - but I was interested.” Groupama 3’s leeward float and then in 2009 when the I wish people would be:
Like most kids he completed his first few miles in an aft beam bulkhead was damaged in a storm. more able to follow their
Optimist, playing off the Vieux Port in Marseille. He had He was not about to give up. In January 2010, the own dreams
shown huge early promise with both violin and piano, but Frenchman and his nine crew set off on their third
he was soon hooked on sailing and by 15 it had taken attempt and 48 days and seven hours later returned
over. to Brest, France as record breakers. “That was
“I couldn’t stay indoors in a closed room,” he says. “I
preferred to be out sailing.”
The decision paid off.
What followed was a period of sustained brilliance in
competition against the best multihull talent around.
He announced his presence among the elite as a
24-year-old when he won the 1997 Figaro, the one-
5 things you may not know about Franck Cammas...
design, multi-stage race in France.

By the end of 1998, Cammas, skippering his first
Groupama multihull, had scooped a podium finish in the
Route de Rhum. He would like to climb
The prestige title of winning the Multihull Offshore the Himalayas
Championship would be his in 2000 – he was also
the 2000 Fico-Lacoste world champion – and again in
He grew up in Provence
2001, as he scored stunning victories in classics like the
He doesn’t drink or smoke
Transat Jacques Vabre. He was, by then, recognised as
YVAN ZEDDA
He wanted to be an airline pilot
His parents were teachers

my favourite achievement,” says Cammas. “A beautiful

moment.”
Cammas had started planning his next great adventure
before the Jules Verne Trophy had even started. He had
his first taste of a Volvo Open 70 in 2009 during the
Galway in-port race and then in December that year,
after confirming Groupama’s entry in the 2011-12 race,
he helped deliver Ericsson 4 to France for its new life as
Groupama’s training boat.
“I learned a lot about these boats quickly,” he says.
“They are so powerful, so extreme. There are a lot of
manoeuvres and more sail changes than you have in
multihulls. This is a huge challenge for me.”
That is why he is here. “After many years offshore on
multihulls, single-handed and with crew, we wanted to
fight against the world’s best monohull crews offshore,”
Cammas says. And this is where the modesty comes in.
“In sailing, experience is key to performance,” he says.
“Therefore, in my first Volvo race, it will be hard for me and Franck Cammas in his own words:
for my French team to avoid mistakes. I imagine there will
be other teams with more chances to win.” Efficient, team manager
After more than a decade of watching him succeed,
none of his rival skippers will rely on that for a second.
Yvan Zedda
Meet the Team
Yvan Zedda
46
Jean-Luc NÉlias Thomas Coville Brad Marsh* Martin Krite* Erwan Israel*
Navigator Helmsman/Trimmer Bowman Bowman Helmsman/Trimmer
Nationality: France Nationality: France Nationality: New Zealand Nationality: Sweden Nationality: France
Newcomer Achievements: Newcomer Achievements: Newcomer
2000-01 djuice 2008-09 Ericsson 3
Damien Foxall Charles Caudrelier Phil Harmer Martin Stromberg* Yann Riou
Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer Helmsman/Trimmer/Pitman Helmsman/Trimmer Media Crew Member
Nationality: Ireland Nationality: France Nationality: Australia Nationality: Sweden Nationality: France
Achievements: Newcomer Achievements: Achievements: Newcomer
2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Green Dragon 2008-09 Ericsson 3
2005-06 Ericsson 2005-06 Brunel
2001-02 Tyco
* Under 30
Anatomy of a
Volvo Open 70
The Volvo Open 70 is designed to a
‘box’ rule to provide designers with
some latitude to vary beam and
displacement within a standard
length of 70.5ft (21.49m) and
total sail area of 8,771.7 sq ft
(814.92sq m). First introduced for
the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race,
these state-of-the-art carbon
fibre yachts are the world’s
fastest and most extreme racing
monohulls.
48
12
13
11
8 9
10
15 17
14 21 7
16 20 24
18 22 23 4
26 5
25 3
1 Bowsprit
27
2 Bow cavity hatch
3 Sink 17 Sheets and ropes
4 Head 18 Bunk
5 Galley 19 Sail bags
6 Retractable daggerboard 20 Navigation station
7 Dehydrated food storage 21 Media desk
8 Mainsail winches 22 Crew kit bag
9 Sail sheet tail stowage 23 Main engine
28
10 Winch grinder 24 Generator
11 Steering platform 25 Sleeping bag
12 Comms support frame 26 Fuel tank
13 Satellite communication dome 27 Hydraulic keel ram
14 Escape hatch 28 Canting keel
15 Aft water ballast tank 29 Watertight bulkhead
16 Aft bulkhead and watertight hatch 30 Watertight hatch
Offshore Drama
Sail plans
Full asymmetric
spinnaker
Code zero reaching

asymmetric gennaker
Upwind rig
49
Canting Keel
Key to their exceptional performance

is the canting keel, which moves like
a pendulum to increase the yacht’s
righting moment and ability to carry
larger sails in stronger winds. The keel,
with its lead bulb up to 5.5 tonnes on
30
the bottom, can be cranked up to 40º
either side by two powerful hydraulic
rams mounted inside the hull.
19
2 1
29
Volvo Open 70 Specifications
Length overall 70.5ft 21.49m

Beam 15.4 - 18.7ft 4.7 - 5.7m
Draft 14.8ft 4.51m
Mainsail area 1883.7sq ft 175 sq m
Headsail area 1506sq ft 139.9sq m
Spinnaker area 5382sq ft 500sq m
Mast height 103.3ft 31.49m
Displacement 12.3 - 13.8 tonnes
Keel bulb Up to 5.5 tonnes
Eliminating non-essential weight is crucial
here. Some call it madness. We call it the
very spirit of Volvo Ocean Race.
Volvo Group – proud owner of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Volvo Group offers a broad range of innovative transport solutions, including trucks,
construction equipment, buses, marine engines, components and services for the
aviation industry and ﬁnancial services. Everyday, more than 100,000 Volvo Group
employees located around the world are working to create added value and exceed
our customer demands for products and services. For further information please
visit volvogroup.com or volvooceanrace.com
Volvo Ocean Race is co-owned by the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars. Volvo Group
Brave crew
prepare for sail
change on
Groupama 4.
52
Offshore Drama
53
Yvan Zedda
Battered bodies
battered minds
Years of research and months of preparation
go into making the crews fit to take on the
physical demands of racing powerful yachts,
24 hours a day, for weeks on end.
Words: DR. Pete Cunningham
54
Hearts and Minds
The crew of Telefónica
Maria Muina
knuckle down to some
serious yomping near their
training base in Lanzarote.
I t is a very tough ask on the crew

and their bodies and the
preparation and the maintenance of
Ocean Race there have reportedly
been body weight losses as great
as eight to 10 per cent in some
energy is important but of crucial
significance is making sure that
everyone drinks enough. At certain
the crew is all aimed at ensuring that individuals on the initial stages of the times in the race, like passing through
they can perform at their optimal level race. No wonder some of the more the tropics and particularly through
throughout the race. experienced hands put on body weight the Doldrums, the potential for heat
Preparation falls into three distinct just in case. exhaustion and severe dehydration
areas: physical conditioning in the A body weight buffer of this kind is high. During such periods the
months leading up to the start; in a pre-race training phase may well sweating rates will be as high as
maintaining physical and mental put the individual sailor at an increased one litre per hour depending on the
fitness during the eight month period risk of injury during sailing as their individual. Maintaining fluid balance,
of the race itself; and the preparation skeletal system is not used to carrying or hydration, is an important factor in
of the food rations and other stores this additional weight and normally preserving various body functions and
to ensure both physical and mental they lose a bit of their agility and supporting exercise performance. The
performance. nimbleness which again predisposes boats make their own drinking water
The easy part is the initial fitness them to injury in an ever moving, and by passing sea water through a high
preparation. Most of the teams have sometimes violently moving, boat. pressure desalination system.
been working on their physical fitness The hardest part of the race, and
for up to 12 months. In this modern Much thought and planning probably the toughest on the sailors, is
era of professional sailing most of the goes into organising the food supplies trying to get used to the lack of sleep,
crews tend to be more athletic and are as this is the only energy and nutrient as severe sleep deprivation will occur
training as part of their daily lives. supply that the crews will get during at some point for every sailor doing
The fitness levels of the crews and the race. Best estimates are around the Volvo Ocean Race. Trying to sleep
the importance the skippers place on 6,000 to 6,500 calories per day. when the boat is doing 20+ knots in
this has increased over the last few This compares with around 2,500 big seas and strong winds is extremely
editions of this race and nowadays calories for a normal diet, but some difficult and commonly this lack of
most teams employ sports science of the Arctic and Antarctic explorers sleep also coincides with periods of 55
and sports medical staff. have been reported to consume up to high workloads. The two combined
The hard part of the training 10,000 calories per day to maintain soon lead to extreme fatigue. The
regimen during the preparation phase their body mass. body, physically and mentally, takes a
is trying to find the right balance Invariably the food means ‘freeze pounding during such periods and will
between aerobic fitness, strength dried’ rations. Freeze dried food probably not fully recover until the crew
training and agility/flexibility training. isn’t to everyone’s taste and getting has crossed the finish line.
The latter is important as it helps to used to a food without much texture The stopovers are normally
prevent injury and makes movement takes some time. Snacking between associated with rest, recovery and
around the boat smoother and more meals on sports energy bars, protein decent eating and it is during this
natural. Quite often the gym work will bars, biltong, biscuits, chocolate and period that the crews’ medical teams,
happen at the crack of dawn and well other sweets can relieve some of the and especially the physiotherapists
before any breakfast. boredom and repetitive nature of the and massage therapists, are rushed
The importance placed on freeze dried meals. off their feet repairing battered bodies
aerobic fitness is massive. The race Making sure the body gets enough and battered minds.
is a marathon not a sprint and being
aerobically fit has a lot of knock-
on advantages, such as increased
Rehydrating freeze
concentration for longer periods,
dried food is vitally
better recovery, enhanced tolerance important.
to heat, plus the ability to perform
physical work at a higher intensity for

longer periods.
To achieve strength gains and
muscle mass increases you need to
perform consistent weight training
exercises, the loads need to be
fairly heavy, and there needs to be
progression in the weights lifted.
There is a common desire to
increase body weight, and that could
be both muscle and fat, as they see
this as a buffer for the long stages.
In previous editions of the Volvo
When times are hard, keep the

team together, goes the saying.
S ometimes the situation
is straightforward.
Aside from medical or family
Yet sometimes personalities
that appeared to gel during
try-outs, team building and
emergencies, sometimes a sailor bonding sessions still find a way
But there are also times when just isn’t performing or can’t get of clashing once land recedes
along with the rest of the crew and everyone’s world becomes
life is just too hard and when and needs to go. Other times, condensed.
the accumulated pressures are The last two editions of the
one team member threatens too much and a sailor quits. race each saw one team – ABN
the outcome of the whole race, The usual stresses are touted:
bad food, terrible weather, and
AMRO One (2005-06) and
Ericsson 4 (2008-09) – pull a
action has to precious little sleep. The truth,
however, runs deeper. The entire
horizon job on the rest of the
fleet. Interestingly, neither team
be taken. race is won or lost before the changed a single sailor on the
first leg even starts, and that way round.
doesn’t stop with yacht and sail “The environment will always
design. Grizzled race veterans create stress,” says Maxi Tropé, a
point to pre-start teambuilding professional sports
and leadership as the factors that psychologist
separate winners from losers. who has
Everyone agrees prevention worked in
is better than cure, and all
sorts of tactics have been
tried and tested, from
preparing under the eye of
Special Forces in the military
to adventure training on skis or
climbing mountains.
56
Warning:
stress kills
Words: david schmidt
Hearts and Minds
the past with Volvo Ocean Race exercises, they’ll know about “Everyone’s expectations are team’s morale. While the Volvo
teams, including Knut Frostad’s and understand each other’s routed through him. No one else Ocean Race is for professionals
2001-02 Djuice Dragons unique characteristics. Without on the boat feels anywhere near only, inter-personal differences
campaign. this and under stress, morale the pressure that he does.” have led to sailors walking off
“How you deal with those and communication quickly Crews are split into sailors boats, being fired, or worse,
stresses impacts how a team break down. and afterguard, the skipper, the dragging the entire team down
handles the race. A better team navigator and the two watch with petty infighting.
will focus on the factors that bring THE OTHER IMPORTANT captains who are involved in “A lot of the time some guy will
them back into control. A worse reality, of course, is that a Volvo all major decisions. According grumble under his breath about
team will focus on the negatives – Ocean Race campaign is an to McKee, achieving the right someone else. Is that a fight
things they can’t control.” expensive, hyper-competitive power-sharing paradigm is one or is that just some guy being
Tropé points to a crew’s game. “Don’t ever under estimate of the hardest tasks facing any unhappy with someone else?”
psychological make-up as being the pressures that are on the skipper, as well as one of the asks McKee. “A good skipper
of utmost importance, especially skipper from everyone – the biggest keys to success. will take care of it, sometimes in
when a skipper is drawing up his sponsor, the designers and the “The best leaders empower a quiet way, sometimes in a more
roster. equipment suppliers,” advises their top guys to make decisions public way.”
While there’s little doubt that Jonathan McKee, mainsail and help them to feel they have Ultimately, it’s a skipper’s job
a highly introverted person, with a trimmer and inshore tactician authority,” he said. “The leaders to weigh the project’s goals and
strong need for personal space/ aboard PUMA’s Il Mostro through who struggle are those who ambitions against the realities of
time, would struggle with the the end of the first leg of the don’t allow their lieutenants the his team’s performance. While
pressures of the race and the 2008-09 edition. authority to make decisions.” surgical crew changes have been
environment of a carbon-fibre McKee left the boat after Not surprisingly, stressful seen to help both results and
raceboat, Tropé argues that when the first leg, despite the team’s times often provoke onboard morale, there’s little doubt that the
situations become really intense second-place finish in quibbles that, if left model set by ABN AMRO One
– say, surging through Southern Cape Town. While unchecked, can destroy a and Ericsson 4 is the way to go.
Ocean iceberg territory in the he was obviously Tropé again: “If you don’t
pitch black – that a person’s disappointed, his need to change someone, don’t
defence mechanisms come own experiences do it.”
into play. skippering boats
If the team has done allows him to see the
the proper pre-event big-picture pressures
57
team-building affecting each skipper.
Achieving the right

power-sharing
paradigm is one of the
hardest tasks facing
any skipper, as well as
GUO CHUAN/GREEN DRAGON RACING/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
one of the biggest keys

to success.
The numbers
game
Keep it simple and keep it tense were
the two prime objectives of the
refinements to the scoring system for
the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.
WORDS: JAMES BOYD
T here are two main changes

in the cleaned up system.
The first is to abandon scoring
ones. Thus a disaster in one
leg would no longer obliterate
a team’s chances of winning
effect of funnelling everyone into
one place. So we decided to
open up the race course a little
gates and keep scoring for overall. bit more.”
the in-port races as simple as But in recent races This funnelling, Lloyd adds,
possible. The second is to offer the scoring became more had the potential to put the boats
much bigger rewards for winning complicated. In-port racing was at risk, as it forced them into a
offshore. Five points for every introduced to the event in 2005- particular part of the ocean where
boat you beat will add up to a 06, aimed at bringing Volvo it might not be seamanlike for
significant boost, especially if a Ocean Race sailing closer to them to go if the weather turned
58
previous winner has a bad leg. the public and to a TV audience, bad.
When the race first started, while another addition for
scoring could hardly have been 2008-09 were the seven scoring WHILE THE INTERIM gates
simpler – the race was divided gates designed to add some have gone, the ice gates remain,
into four or six legs and a team’s spice within the longer legs. although these are included
result was based on the sum of Understanding this, the purely for reasons of safety
its elapsed times for each. organisers have rationalised the and are non-scoring. They aim
A shortcoming of this system scoring for the Volvo Ocean to keep the boats away from
was highlighted in the 1993-94 Race 2011-12. In particular, the icebergs and their offshoot
race when one of the leaders scoring gates have been dropped growlers and the potential
was dismasted, in one stroke completely. disaster that could occur if a boat
removing the possibility of her “We didn’t feel that the collided with them.
being able to win the event scoring gates added anything to The in-port races have been
outright. the race,” states Race Director
For 1997-98 the round Jack Lloyd. “We found that they
the world race went through a didn’t affect the overall points
revolution as, not only were some and quite often they just had the
‘sprints’ introduced, bumping
the number of legs up from six
to nine, but for the first time the
race was scored on points, with
the longer legs being ‘weighted’
more heavily than the shorter
Offshore Drama
both expanded and rationalised. “Because of live television shore teams expended much
In 2008-09 there were 10 legs and the need to have a winner, effort ‘remoding’ their boats for
and seven in-port races. This time we decided to cut it back to one in-port races, removing all the
around there are nine legs, but in-port race, so that whoever wins unnecessary offshore
there will be in-port racing at all the race wins the day,” explains equipment, then changing them
the stopovers, including the start Lloyd. back afterwards ready for the
and the finish. The scoring has also next leg.
“The race will start and finish changed. Teams continue to For this race teams simply
with an in-port race,” confirms receive points equal to the won’t have time to do this: with
Jack Lloyd. “In Galway the fleet number of entries less the the exception of the start and
will be in port for a few days number of boats placed above finish ports, all of the other in-port
and then they will do an in-port them. So in the 2008 race where races are scheduled for the day
race to finish.” This is a first, as, there was a field of eight, a leg before the start of the next leg.
throughout the Volvo Ocean win would count eight points The new rules for the Volvo
Race’s 38-year history, the (with no weighting to differentiate Ocean Race emphasise this
event has always ended at the between the short and the long point. “What you race with in the
conclusion of the final offshore legs), while the in-ports and in-port race – apart from personal
leg. waypoint gates counted for half equipment and water and food,
The format of the in-port this, or four points for a win. etc – you must use again in the
races has been simplified, too. leg,” explains Jack Lloyd. “So if
Previously, on in-port race day, For 2011-12 all the legs carry you have a spinnaker take-down
two races were held and their a multiplication weighting of five system for instance, then it won’t
combined results gave each while all the in-ports are one. So, be something you take off after 59
team’s placing for the day, which to compare like for like, a leg win the in-port race – you’ll sail the
was then added to their overall in a field of eight this time would leg with it as well. Most of the
points tally. This time around score 40 points, while victory in teams are saying they’ll be racing
there will be just one in-port an in-port would be eight. “It is a with their emergency steering
race and this will be about one bit easier to understand,” states gear as well because they won’t
hour long as, on this occasion, Lloyd. be able to get it on board and
each in-port race is due to be But a factor the teams will stowed in any sort of reasonable
broadcast live. have taken into account in their time for the leg start.”
preparation for the race, and Crew changes for in-ports
in particular the design and have also been limited. In the
equipping of their boats, is the previous race an extra crewman
bias between the in-port races could be brought on for the
and the offshores. Last time the in-ports, most teams typically
in-port racing represented 20.6 choosing a beefy grinder to add
per cent of the total available muscle hoisting the sails.
points, whereas this time it This time, teams must stick
accounts for 18.2 per cent. with their 11-strong offshore
Given that one fifth of the complement, with the same
points were at stake, in the proviso from the last race that
last two Volvo Ocean Races of these all but one must have
sailed the previous leg or be
sailing the next.
Any time, any place,

race the race
The sleep patterns are about to be disrupted
for race followers around the world.
The Volvo Ocean Race game is back!
R ace followers around the

world are about to see their
sleep patterns seriously disrupted.
The big demands for improvement
came from people wanting to play
the game on their mobile phones.
the Netherlands, who triumphed last
time, has joined the game organisers
and cannot take part.
The Volvo Ocean Race game is back So, there are new apps to download So there will be two huge grins in
and this time it’s bigger, faster and for Android and iPhone and the on- Galway when the race finishes in July
tuned in to social media. the-go interface will include improved 2012 and you can bet the smile on
During the last race, while the features like auto-sail, auto-angle and the face of the virtual race winner will
sailors were dragging themselves waypoints to allow the players to plan easily match that of the triumphant
out of their bunks to claw extra vital ahead and, just possibly, get a bit Volvo Ocean Race skipper.
yards at sea, a total of 234,000 more sleep.
racers were in competition with each All these tools give the
other online, assessing weather contestants greater control and more
information, sea conditions, and opportunities to make gains over rival
making tactical decisions to be at the competitors no matter what their own
top of the fleet over the finish line of schedule is, or even if at times they
each leg. do not have computer access.
60 The new Volvo Ocean Race And then there is Facebook.
trophy may be beyond their reach, Anyone can join the race by just
but every contestant in the virtual race logging into their personal accounts.
will be hoping to be handed the keys That will allow them to share their
of the first prize in Galway, a brand race progress with friends and family.
new Volvo Ocean Race edition of the They will be able to see their
Volvo XC60. friends’ positions as well as the race
The Volvo Ocean Race Game fleet and there will be lots of tutorials,
2011-12 has a new and improved so even a sailing novice can play.
interface designed to make it more There are also other prizes
engaging, more fun and more along the way, including trips to the
precise. Improvements include more stopover ports with the opportunity
accurate wind and land data, new not just to see the boats but also to
polars based on the Volvo Open 70 meet the skippers.
rule set used in the race, and a new And there has to be a new
engine to power it all. winner, given that Hugo Zwaal of
Onscreen
with both
mobiles and
computers.
Designed to make it.
No matter what.
www.volvoce.com
volvo construction equipment
Explore boats and machines engineered for

the extreme at volvoce.com/volvooceanrace
Watching over
the fleet:
the teams that
never sleep
The shore-based hub of the Volvo Ocean Race,
‘Race Control’ may sound rather grand and futuristic
to describe the organisational focal point of the
race. Yet this modern, purpose built, security locked,
technology base is just that, the nerve centre
of the 39,000-mile world tour.
WORDS: MATTHEW SHEAHAN
62
W ithin the futuristic, glass-walled

offices, duty officers stand eight-hour
watches throughout the entire race, 24 hours
a day, seven days a week when the fleet is at
sea. They monitor each boat’s progress, read
every email and data request that comes off the
boats, as well as the responses. They watch
the weather, assess the fleet’s most likely route,
and provide the essential link between the
sailors and the outside world.
Nothing, short of a full on EPIRB statistics and stories to keep all the race the website tracking and for the Volvo Ocean
(emergency position indicating radio beacon) followers informed.” Race game.
triggered emergency happens unless it has At the heart of the onboard information Race Control is not only about data
passed through this centre. system is a black box that collates, packages transmissions and megabytes. Alongside the
“Officially we call it Race Control,” explained and sends raw data from the boats back to complex technical monitoring systems for data
race director Jack Lloyd. Understated, calm Race Control via the Inmarsat network. transmission lies a crucial human element, the
and quietly spoken, the responsibility for this “We’ve been using this system for a while true heart of Race Control.
facility falls on Lloyd and it is fitting that he now,“ explained Lloyd. “The secure units cannot “Our duty officers need to be skilled in
downplays its description before expanding on be tampered with or adjusted by anyone on many areas,” said Lloyd. “While keeping tabs
the essential role that the unit plays. the boat. They collect all kinds of data from on the communications to and from the boats,
“Overall, our objective is to monitor the general boat data such as speed, heading and they often need to read between the lines
current state of the fleet,” he continued. “We wind conditions, to information on the wave for indications of other potential problems.
know where each of the boats is every 15 height and slamming motion of the boats. This Sometimes it is a hint that a crew member may
minutes from the satellite position signals. time around, we will be receiving additional be starting to feel unwell but doesn’t want to
We know how they are performing, what the information such as canting keel angles, tell the skipper for fear of unsettling the crew
conditions are like, and can predict where temperature and humidity inside and outside or jeopardising his place on the next leg. In this
they will be. That plays a major part in our race the boats.” case we can at least make preparations for
management. But Race Control performs But, in addition to informing the organisers, tests and treatment when they come ashore. In
another major function in feeding the media the data stream drives the more public face of extreme cases we can pre-empt more serious
output that is required to produce facts, the race by providing up to date information for situations like a medevac.
Mission Control
63
such as handling pictures on FTP (file transfer

protocol) servers are simple to run, while
others, like integrating weather, predicting
positions of the fleet, and driving 3D models on
“In other circumstances, technical staff you’re on top of the small things to make sure Google Earth are more complex.
ashore may receive thoughts or questions from the overall picture is healthy.” “But, there are some big changes coming
the crew about how to improve things later in Behind the scenes lies the monster task for this race too. We plan to increase the
the race. Often these are simply ideas to add to of managing the flow of data to and from the frequency of the telemetry from every 15
the discussion list once they’ve finished the leg, boats, as well as integrating it within the overall minutes to every 10 seconds. This will allow us
but in our fast communicating world, these are operation. This, too, falls within the bounds of to see the boats in real time, which will help us
sometimes responded to in all innocence by Race Control and is run by technical director improve our race management system. But it
technical experts with ideas on how to improve Jordi Neves. will also push the network to the extreme.
performance. This kind of assistance is outside “There are three main areas of our work,” he “We also have plans for video conferencing
the rules and sometimes we have to step in and outlined. “The first is the technical problem of between broadcasters and the sailors while
ask the shore teams whether they really want networking the data from the boats at one end racing, which will allow live interviews. This
this information to be passed back to the boat. of the chain, through the land stations and in will also be a big technical challenge, as will
“At other times the concerns that duty to race control at Alicante and then on to our the integration of social media to access the
officers have to deal with are more to do with connections with the outside world. messages off the boats and maybe pull in a
knowing who to contact to help with a technical “Then there’s the race management system, new audience.”
problem. So, as well as needing to have a good which is not only the essential part of running All of which will be managed through Race
VOLVO OCEAN RACE
bedside manner, our staff need to understand the race, but feeds our online assets from Control. With so many different draws on its
in detail how a Volvo Open 70 campaign works race viewers to iPad and Android applications. resources, and given the level of expertise
in the heat of the competition. In many ways Thirdly, there is the support to the flow of within the glass walls, somehow ‘mission
it’s like running a family, you need to make sure information through the network. Some aspects control’ seems a better description.
MAKING THE
TOUGHEST RACE
IN THE WORLD
POSSIBLE.
∙∙∙∙∙∙∙
As Official Logistics Partner of the Volvo Ocean Race™, we have to
stay one step ahead. Prepping the harbours, moving life-critical supplies
and high tech sailing equipment across the world is a normal day for us.
From Alicante to Auckland and from Itajaí to Galway, DHL is truly part of an
epic global race across sea, land and air - and if we don’t win, no one else can.
www.dhl-brandworld.com
Region
of Valencia
Beaches and coves, two great charm
s
ACCUSOFT INC.
CK.CO M
PATRY K KOSM IDER/S HUTTERSTO
V ast sandy beaches and remote coves, smart hotels or typical Spanish villas and plenty of
fashionable places to eat, the region of Valencia, and in particular, the port of Alicante, has it
all. Go exploring and you will find charming villages with enough culture and tradition to keep even
the most enthusiastic historian entranced. Not surprisingly, it is a region that now hosts almost 24 From 14 October to 5 November
million visitors each year. 2011, the city of Alicante will again
66
There are well over 100 km of beautiful beaches stretching from Castellón in the north to become the world’s sailing capital.
Benidorm and the Costa Blanca in the south. There are beaches for everyone and Alicante itself In 2008 Alicante first hosted
has seven: from the noisy and festive with large stretches of fine sand, to quiet and still stony coves the start of the world-renowned
Volvo Ocean Race. The start was an
with crystal clear water.
unprecedented success, both for the
Along with the history, the chance to see castles and climb mountains, the beaches are the
media and for the sport itself. It
main draw for millions who flock to the region in search of sun and sea. The regional government was frequently referred to as one of
– the Generalitat – is proudly keeping everything in the best condition possible. So there are the best starts in the history of the
sunshades and deckchairs, toilets and changing areas, as well as signs, ramps and access for competition, and the city of Alicante
people with reduced mobility. There are no showers on the beach, though, not here. Instead, was confirmed as start port for next
environmentally friendly footbaths are the norm, using treated seawater. Over 100 beaches on the three races. The city of Alicante is
Valencian coast have been awarded the blue flag, recognition from the European Union over quality also the home of the race and the
of water and sand as well as the services offered. race office is situated in the heart of
And the beaches are not just for sunbathing and swimming. Through its Department of the Puerto de Alicante.
For more information visit:
Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Generalitat has set aside separate areas for basketball, volleyball
www.alicantepuertodesalida.com.
and even football.
In the heart of the region, lies the city of Alicante. It has an exceptional climate that is
EDUARDO RIPOLL VIDAL
characterised by mild winters and hot summers, with an average annual temperature of over 18
degrees Celsius and around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
In Alicante, the Mediterranean is ever present, helping infuse the city with light. Its seafront,
stretching between El Postiguet beach and the western quay, from where you can enjoy a view of
the marina, is a must at any time of the year. Also along the seafront, and next to the Plaza del Mar
fountain, there is one of the city’s finest buildings: the Casa Carbonell, built between 1922 and
1925 by the architect Juan Vidal Ramos. The new raised promenade, that runs parallel to the sea
along the eastern quay, is a fantastic place from which to watch the Alicante In-Port Race and the
start of leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The Explanada is one of the nicest promenades in Alicante. It is lined with four rows of
palm trees and its floor is paved with 6.6 million tricolour marble tiles forming a wave effect
mosaic. Other local parks and squares include Canalejas Park, at the end of the Explanada, with
spectacular lush vegetation including several hundred-year old rubber plants, the romantic Gabriel
Miró square, and La Ereta Park, built on the slopes of Mount Benacantil and overlooking the bay
and El Palmeral, on the outskirts of the city.
For more information visit: www.comunitatvalenciana.com

Pirates pepper
T hink of the Volvo Ocean Race
and you think of top professional
sailors on superfast racing yachts the crisis playbook
pitting their wits against each other
and some of the most extreme
conditions on the planet. Inherent
in the challenge is the continual
assessment of risk and danger set
The Volvo Ocean Race will travel around
against competitive performance but
that calculation is not all about the sea
an increasingly unstable world and
and the gear and the sailors. the security situation, particularly
At any one time there are
something like 45 different wars going as it relates to piracy, must be
on around the world. A large number
68
of countries are broadly unstable, factored in.
and there are plenty of nations whose
political and ideological outlooks WORDS: ED GORMAN
are not well disposed to the values
behind a race of this kind. There are
also many areas of the globe and of
the ocean that are poorly administered
and policed, places which present
their own obstacles to fast moving Is it a fishing to the race with the team examining a For the Volvo Ocean Race, the
racing machines trying to sail from boat or is it huge number of “what-if” scenarios. piracy issue comes into play on
something sinister?
one stopover port to the next, by day, As anyone who has looked at both the 5,430 nautical mile leg two
by night and by the shortest possible the race route will quickly realise, the from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi and
route. outstanding political and security in the early stages of the following
The Volvo race management team issue for this edition of the race is the 4,600-mile leg from Abu Dhabi to
looks at the course for 2011-12 in two question of Somalia and the piracy Sanya in China. The key player in this
ways. On one level it is an ocean race problem there, which has steadily tricky management challenge is race
track with dangers including extreme deteriorated since the last running of director Jack Lloyd. He is well aware
weather, protruding headlands or this classic three years ago. Since that Somalia is his headline concern
shoals and even icebergs in the then Somali pirates have hijacked but he makes the point that it is only
Southern Ocean. On another level it around 200 commercial ships in the one of a series of issues that he
is a race through the waters of scores Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. They regards as potentially ‘live’ during the
of nations each of which requires an have taken several private yachts, course of the 2011-12 race. “There
assessment of the potential impact on including that of the British couple is a significant number of risks we are
this unique sporting event. Paul and Rachel Chandler who were facing, not only Somalia,” he says.
While large parts of the course held for 388 days on the Somali
look harmless in this context, there mainland before being released. And AMONG THE OTHERS is Morocco
is always the danger that unforeseen they have begun operating farther at the start of leg one from Alicante to
trouble – a dismasting for example and farther from their bases – the Cape Town. In recent years Moroccan
– could require a crew to put into Chandlers, for example, were taken customs launches have made it their
port for repairs in a location that had about 700 miles off the Somali coast. business to stop racing yachts mid-
not been expected and is not ideal The combined efforts of various passage for lengthy checks.
from a security perspective. So there national and intra-national agencies In the run-up to the last race
has been an enormous amount of to stop them have so far failed to Ericsson was practising off the
contingency planning in the build-up eradicate the problem. Moroccan coast and was not only
Mission Control
SERGEY BOGDANOV/TEAM RUSSIA/VOLVO OCEAN RACE

stopped but also escorted to port
before being allowed on its way. This
time Lloyd is taking no chances and
has created an exclusion zone around
Moroccan territorial waters as the fleet
exits the Mediterranean.
Later in the race, Iranian waters
are to be avoided at all costs. The
Straits of Malacca, the Philippines and
Indonesia present potential problem
areas – as much to do with shipping
without lights, floating containers and
fishing nets as political or security
concerns – as do New Guinea and
Fiji. Even the Caribbean on the 69
way north on leg five can present
emergency stopover ports which
Lloyd and his team may want to
bypass. But it is Somalia that is
mostly occupying his mind. He and
his team are keeping an open mind
ready for any contingencies for legs
two and three.
The race management team
retained two private security
consultancies to advise and assist on
the Somali issue and also consulted
with the sport’s world governing body,
the International Sailing Federation.
The race team examined – and
discarded – the idea of having security
Alicante personnel among the crews on
each yacht. It looked into having the
fleet guarded by motherships, but
Abu Dhabi no private security companies have
Sanya
the boats to do this. It examined
the possibility of having the yachts
regularly overflown by patrol aircraft,
which would require government-level
Exclusion
involvement. It devised a variety of
zone around
Moroccan course restrictions – a limit of 600
territorial miles from the Somali coast – and
waters
The devised a ‘stealth mode’ for the fleet.
highest risk Eventually, Lloyd decided to send
of danger the fleet from Cape Town to a ‘safe
to the fleet
haven’ and then ship the boats and fly
Cape Town
the crew to a restart point and sprint Auckland
to
the finish in Abu Dhabi.
and
To the teams, the shore crews,no e.”
their families: “Siya namkela nk
Welcome to
Cape Town
GREG BEADLE
The stopover is hosted by the City
ILVY NJIOKIKTJIEN
of Cape Town and The Western Cape
Government and staged at the V&A
Waterfront with support from the
T
National Port Authority, South African
Navy, Royal Cape Yacht Club, Cape
he port city of Cape Town, and the iconic landmark of Table Mountain and its ‘Africa Face’, Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes
have gazed over the Atlantic ocean and welcomed seafarers for as far back as man has Unlimited.
challenged the oceans. WORLDSPORT is the host port
Affectionately known as ‘The Tavern of the Seas’, Cape Town’s proud history with the Volvo organisation that pulls the key
Ocean Race started back in the early 1970s. stakeholders together and is the
70 turnkey operator of the Cape Town
Nineteen boats carrying 167 sailors left the Solent on September 8, 1973, and headed south
stopover.
for Cape Town. The city has upheld a wonderful relationship with the race ever since, offering
WORLDSPORT has a long and proud
crews and families the now famous hospitality, warmth, and, importantly, boat building, repair skills
history with sailing. It began its
and facilities which are equal to the very best in the world. affiliation with the sport by assisting
Cape Town is regarded as one of the most popular tourism destinations during the summer the Royal Cape Yacht Club to host what
months between November and March, when daily temperatures average between 24 and 27 was then the Whitbread Round the
degrees Celsius. The prevailing winds are from the south east, and usually provide ideal conditions World Yacht Race in 1997.
for the popular ‘Summer League’ sailing series in Table Bay. This initiation into the dynamic
The race village is situated in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which includes over 450 world of sailing was a baptism by
stores and more than 80 coffee shops, restaurants and pubs, all within the breathtaking setting fire which saw WORLDSPORT cut its
teeth to become rapidly recognised
of a dynamic working harbour. Highlights include an aquarium, helicopter charters, art and craft
as a world leader in managing ocean
markets, a world-class hotel and conference facilities.
race stopovers. This included multiple
When teams and their families require time away from the boat, Cape Town will spoil them for
editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, the
choice. The city offers a glimpse into the rainbow nation from its ancient pre-history, through the Heineken Cape to Rio, the BT Global
turbulent politics of the nation, to modern urban life, all mixed with the tastes, flavours and vibrant Challenge and the Hobie Cat World
colours of a wide mix of cultures. Championships.
Cable car rides will take you to the restaurant and summit of Table Mountain, or visit Robben
Island and the former prison of the world-renowned freedom fighter and former South African South Africa is proud to have two
President Nelson Mandela. Within 40 minutes, you can be visiting the quaint fishing towns of Fish sailors confirmed early as crew on the
Hoek and Simons Town, or take a drive to Cape Point Nature Reserve and gaze down onto the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race.
sheer cliffs overlooking False Bay, the home of the world’s highest Great White Shark population.
One to two hours’ drive will take you to the beautiful Stellenbosch wine region, where you can MICHAEL PAMMENTER is the bowman
sample some of the world’s finest wines in the comfort of exquisite Cape-Dutch architecture. Travel aboard CAMPER. Michael is a Durban-
through the beautiful ‘Overberg’ to reach the coastal town of Hermanus, and witness the world born sailor who was aboard Telefónica
famous ‘Whale Crier’ as he announces the arrival of the gentle giants, the Southern Right Whales Black during the last Volvo Ocean
Race.
that visit yearly.
Township tours are fast becoming some of the most popular activities among many visitors. It
JONO SWAIN is a helmsman/trimmer
is an experience that will open your eyes to the way the biggest portion of Cape Town’s population aboard PUMA Ocean Racing’s ‘Mar
live. Despite difficult circumstances and poor living conditions, you will experience the vibrancy and Mostro’. Jono is a veteran of four
spirit of the South African people. Volvo Ocean Races, and was last
aboard Telefónica Blue as a watch
For more information visit: www.tourismcapetown.co.za captain.
Glamour Ashore
SM AUTHORITY
Push the boat out in
Abu Dhabi
ALL PHOTOS: ABU DHABI TOURI

A bu Dhabi, with over 400 kilometres of pristine coastline and in excess of 200 natural
islands, has always been at one with the sea. For generations, ports throughout the
emirate – from the small western marine hub of Delma Island, to the UAE capital – were home
to fishing and pearling fleets and active boat yards, where highly skilled craftsmen forged the
traditional ‘dhow’, which quickly became noted as one of the sturdiest vessels afloat.
71
The history and passion for the sea Abu Dhabi’s mariners would travel as far as East Africa to trade in dates, pearls and mangrove
sees Abu Dhabi included as a host port wood. The sea was Abu Dhabi’s economic lifeblood, a source of food, and earned a respect that
for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, is immortalised in the ancient sea shanties chanted as pearling and fishing crews harvested their
opening a new chapter in the Middle
marine treasures.
East’s maritime history.
Today there is rarely a more inspiring sight than that of stately Arabian dhows with billowing,
This has been further accented
with the emirate’s Abu Dhabi Ocean white sails full ahoist. These traditional sailing vessels continue to ply the seas as they have done
Racing Team, which has - and will for hundreds of years in annual races which commemorate the days when pearl diving fleets, which
continue to be – an inspiration to had been at sea for months, would challenge each other to see which would be the first home.
future generations of aspiring sailors. It’s no surprise that Abu Dhabi is leveraging its partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race to
In another first for Abu Dhabi, the demonstrate to the world its credentials as a leading winter water sports destination.
team’s Emirati duo of Adil Khalid and Visitors to the emirate can connect with a sailing legacy that stretches back hundreds of years,
Butti Al Muhairi have also added their while also immersing themselves in a state-of-the-art array of world-class places to eat, drink and
names into the annals of sailing lore entertain.
as the first UAE nationals to compete
The benchmark is the magnificent 143-berth Yas Marina, home to the Formula 1™ Etihad
in the Volvo Ocean Race.
Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Its unique setting, surrounded by Yas Marina Circuit, is the perfect
vantage point for racing action or a quiet drink at the Yas Marina and Yacht Club.
For those wanting something even more sophisticated, there are berths at the opulent Emirates
Palace hotel. Abu Dhabi’s signature hotel boasts one of the most prestige yachting addresses –
Yachts Marina. On the western side of this magnificent ‘palace’ in a private bay, the marina can
moor 186 boats, with separate berthing for eight superyachts.
Developed with its natural marine life in mind, as the bay is the regular home to a pod of
dolphins, barracuda and hammour, the marina is a cornerstone in the emirate, realising its
ambitions of becoming a global yachting hub on a par with the likes of Monaco.
Yet it is not all caviar and crystal. Visitors to this sea-faring emirate can be at one with the
glistening Gulf in many different ways, from wakeboarding or kitesurfing in between island chains
which dot a pristine coastline to deep-sea fishing and kayaking through the shallows of mangrove
forests.
So what ever your desire, push the boat out in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi – Travellers Welcome.
For more information visit: www.visitabudhabi.ae

Weather gods:
moving away from the historical,
tougher routes through the Southern
Ocean. But the reality is we sailors
the unbeatable foe

look forward to that part of the race.
Although it’s cold, the boats are
performing in their element – surfing at
more than 20 knots downwind – and
it’s pretty much the most exhilarating
Furious storms in the South Atlantic, devastating thing you can do in sailing.
“But mentally the northern Indian
tropical cyclones in the South Pacific, the Roaring Ocean, and sailing in and out of
the Gulf, can be really difficult and
Forties of the Southern Ocean? Bring ‘em on. frustrating.”
Not only can a dearth of breeze in
sultry climes drive sailors to despair,
T
it can also play cruel tricks with the
Words: Suzanne McFadden he images conjured up of minds of navigators. Onboard the
round-the-world campaigns Volvo Open 70s, the navigators pluck
are of the boats blasting downwind their daily weather information from
on rollercoaster waves, white water cyberspace, received in the form of
lashing the decks, their sailors GRIB (gridded binary) files, which
cocooned in foul weather gear. store, transport and manipulate
All that may strike fear into the meteorological data.
hearts of armchair sailors but those But on the Equator, or anywhere
out on the ocean revel in the colossal there is little or no wind, the files fed
seas and howling gales. into onboard computers to guide the
The real dread for teams in the boats in the best direction cannot
Volvo Ocean Race is no wind at all. always be relied on to be honest.
In the 2011-12 edition of the “The weather models tend to
race, the course threads its way over be tricky in very light winds, so they
72 and under the Equator on frequent can tell you porkies,” says renowned
occasions – making the Doldrums, Australian sailing meteorologist Roger
and their coquettish wispy breezes, a ‘Clouds’ Badham.
recurring hazard for the race fleet. The only thing that equals the
“Most yachties would take wind trepidation of being parked up in no
over calms any day,” says Will Oxley, wind is crashing your way upwind.
the seasoned navigator onboard And this race route will send the fleet
CAMPER. “The calms are our enemy. upwind more often than any round-the-
“People talk about the race world race before it.
Clouds on the
horizon can bring local
calms and gusts which
can last for hours.
Mission Control
Jack Lloyd, race director, says the Once at sea, the cord is cut
RICK DEPPE/PUMA OCEAN RACING/VOLVO OCEAN RACE

upwind sailing stints will have quite an between meteorologist and navigator
impact this time. “It’s already changed and the only weather data flowing
the look of the boats. You want a boat onto the boat comes from race
that’s strong enough to go upwind, headquarters.
but at the same time one that sails For the 2011-12 race, the
downwind really well,” he says. organisers have employed two of
the race’s leading navigators – Steve
WHILE IT’S THE JOB of the boat Hayles and Marcel van Triest – to
designers and builders to create a provide weather data through the
boat that will cope with the constant UGRIB software they have developed.
jarring, it’s up to meteorologists like It’s far from an inexpensive
Clouds Badham – who works with business downloading information
CAMPER with Emirates Team New when you are thousands of miles from
Zealand – to prepare the crew for the land. So, this time, navigators can go
weather they’re about to sail into. onto the race server – firewalled so
“It is Clouds’ job to put us in they cannot access the internet – and
the mood for the leg we’re about to dip into the weather data.
encounter,” Oxley says. “Pre-work “If you’re wealthy or poor, you will
is a big part of winning this race. still get the same weather service. It’s
You look back to look forward, and much better because they can choose
analyse historic data. It’s a game of what they want instead of wasting
probabilities.” megabytes,” says Jack Lloyd.
In the lead-up to a leg, the “Every navigator is different, so we
weathermen and women for each are trying to provide it all for them, and
CHRIS CAMERON
team will scrutinise computerised each one can work their magic with
weather models predicting what whatever is available.”
lies ahead and compare that with With the GRIB files onboard, the
traditional weather patterns there. The navigators run them through their own
knowledge gleaned gives the navigator computer programmes, which know
a good understanding of what will pan the boat’s performance. The GRIB is 73
out for the first three days at sea, and factored into the forecast – it doesn’t
a “vague understanding” of up to 10 make the call on its own.
days out. But even with the very latest in
“Sometimes the model can get digital technology, at the end of the “Sometimes the
the flavour of the weather for most of day the direction the boat takes model can get
the flavour of the
the leg. But it can also get it horribly still comes down to human decision.
weather for most of
wrong. You get good days and bad “It’s still a strategic game,” the leg. But it can
days,” Badham says. Badham says. also get it horribly
wrong. You get good
days and bad days,”
says Roger Badham
(above right).
The real dread for teams

in the Volvo Ocean Race is
no wind at all.
ALL PHOTOS: AAD DESIGN
ence
Paradise for a unique sailing experi
Sanya
S ome say that sailing is like life – you’ll experience both peace and waves in it. Some say
sailing is a wonderful way to get a wider view on the world and challenge all kinds of
boundaries. Essentially, sailing represents a new life concept – think health, think green, think
Sanya is proud to have its own team
fashion – that’s highly valued in China. Now, more and more Chinese people are interested in it.
entered in the race. Mike Sanderson,
Sailing is unique for its charm and is a popular sport in costal cities, including Qingdao, Sanya, twice winner of the Volvo Ocean
74
Xiamen and Rizhao. Race and one of the world’s most
The Beijing Olympic Games sailing events held in Qingdao in 2008 attracted a large number respected sailors, will lead a
of sailing enthusiasts and that has helped the city adopt a sailing atmosphere. In southern China, professional team which includes
many top sailors from different national sailing clubs assembled in Xiamen to participate in the several local Chinese sailors.
annual China Club Cup regatta, an event which highlights the level of interest in sailing in China. Sanderson is eager to win the
And now, the Volvo Ocean Race, the most prestigious of them all, will be back in China again. event again and this time with a
In February 2012, the third leg of the race arrives in Sanya, China. As the only tropical coastal partly Chinese crew. A worldwide
recruitment programme to find and
tourist city in China, Sanya has sunshine, sea, beaches, a beautiful climate, forests, animals, hot
select Chinese crewmembers was
springs, caves and a pastoral and ethnic scene.
conducted.
Unique Sanya is a pearl on the global race’s stopover necklace. For the teams, it’s their ‘home’ Mike Sanderson and the crew of
in Asia and for the Chinese public, it’s their chance to be involved with the Volvo Ocean Race. ‘Sanya’ will spread the spirit of the
Sanya Serenity Marina, a specially built complex combining professional sailing sports and Volvo Ocean Race and the retreat of
leisure culture, will be completed in time to host the Volvo Ocean Race when it arrives from Abu Sanya all over the world.
Dhabi. Sanya Serenity Marina is a good way of returning to nature. People who want to enjoy back-
to-nature holidays feel a sense of return here.
While fierce competition can be watched on the water, in one sense, just being a spectator is
not enough any longer because sailing is something that really must be experienced.
The Volvo Ocean Race will arrive in Sanya during the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival,
which is when the official opening ceremony will be held. During the stopover, there will also be the
Spring Festival and Valentine’s Day. It is mid season for tourism here. Everyone who visits Sanya
at this time will enjoy the Beach Festival, sailing games, cultural activities, a fireworks show, an
evening party and a light show.
Someone
else’s
playground
Did it have a black back? Was it one colour
overall? Was it an albatross?
76
A lbatrosses are huge seabirds,
some have a wingspan of 12
feet and telling one from another, even
the fishing fleets themselves can avert a
disaster and save these birds for future
generations.
Albatross Task Force members
(ATMs) currently work in South African,
Chilean and Brazilian waters explaining
for experts, can be hard. Looking for “One of my most memorable the safer fishing methods to the
the colour of its back, and whether it’s moments was sitting eyeball to eyeball fishermen and ship’s captains. They
the same colour overall or different on with a Wandering Albatross chick on also spend time on board the ships
top from underneath, is a good starting the remote Atlantic Islands of South themselves actively instructing in the
point. Georgia,” says veteran broadcaster and operation of these methods.
When one glides into view, this year’s naturalist, Sir David Attenborough. “The results obtained through our
Volvo Ocean Race crews will once again Around 100,000 albatrosses each work in Brazil have shown that pelagic
be reaching for their pocket guides and year – approximately one every five longline fishing gear sinks significantly
telling the world that they have spotted minutes – drown when snatching bait faster if the weight is placed closer
a Light-mantled Sooty Albatross or a from hooks suspended on fishing lines to the hook, and that this simple gear
Black-Browed albatross, or, the best of up to 130km long. As longline fishing modification leads to significantly fewer
and rarest of them all, the Amsterdam methods differ depending on the target seabird attacks on baited hooks,” says
Albatross. fish, different ways of keeping the birds Global Seabird Co-ordinator Dr Ben
Since their discovery by early sailors, away have been developed. Sullivan.
the albatross has been an inspiration to Trailing streamers or ‘tori’ lines from “During five commercial fishing trips
people at sea. The ease with which they the stern of the fishing boat scares in a known by-catch hotspot over the
cross the oceans has made them the the birds away, and setting the lines at peak period of seabird abundance,
envy of every mariner, both young and night, when the birds are less active, we recorded zero by-catch, which is a
ancient. is effective, but doesn’t suit all longline fantastic result,” he adds.
The 22 species of albatross fisheries. Even setting the lines under
that live out at sea have thrived for water by passing them through large Three races ago, in 2005-06,
thousands of years, thanks to a clean tubes prevents access to the bait as it the Volvo Ocean Race teamed up with
marine environment, plentiful food enters the water and weighting the lines the Save the Albatross Campaign to
and safe, protected breeding places. to make them sink more quickly has the help raise awareness of the plight of the
Now there are terrible pressures on same effect. albatross.
this globetrotting seabird, and their While many of the solutions may be Continuing its support in 2008-09,
populations are declining. Seventeen of quick and easy, teaching the fishermen the race was able to donate enough
the species are under threat of extinction, to use these practices takes time and money raised by players of the Volvo
a great concern to everyone. money. The Albatross Task Force Ocean Race game (page 60), to employ
Modern fishing techniques have was established six years ago using two ATMs. The current race will continue
had a direct impact on their numbers, dedicated professionals who work in the to support the Save the Albatross
and only a swift and concerted effort world’s by-catch hotspots, where the Campaign with funds raised from the
by conservationists, governments and majestic seabirds are in most danger. game and this year the event also has
Marine Messenger
W isdom is the new mascot for the Volvo Ocean Race and Wisdom’s Ocean Zone
will be his home in each port. His logo will appear on the sails of the boats used
for the children’s Try Sailing as well as on flags and banners. “Keep the ocean’s clean” is the
message Wisdom will be spreading, and it will be reflected throughout the environmental
and school programmes in each port. There will also be a special Albatross game played
by the children visiting the event.
Wisdom will also have a real-life presence in the race villages through a costume worn
by volunteers. He will bring excitement to children who will be able to ask him questions
about his life on the ocean and have their photographs taken with him. Not only that, you
can buy a soft toy version of Wisdom and some of the proceeds will also be donated to the
Save the Albatross Campaign.
77
an albatross as its mascot, as well as a the condition

new environmental programme aimed of the world’s
at raising awareness of the plight of the oceans is Will Oxley,
world’s oceans. CAMPER’s navigator
Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut who is also an expert in
Frostad is keen to help preserve and coral reef ecosystems.
protect the ocean and says that more “Oil spills or floating rubbish
than any other sporting event, the are obvious signs of degradation,”
Volvo Ocean Race takes place right in he says. “However, the more serious
the middle of nature at its purest and effects are often insidious. It is under the
confirms that every sailor in the race water that the effects of negative impacts
shares a passion and love for the ocean. can be seen.
“As the boats cover more ocean “Of the several factors impacting
miles than anyone, they will be great coral reefs, elevated sea surface
ambassadors to raise awareness of the temperature (SST) is the most serious,
critical situation we are now in, with so and the weight of scientific evidence
many species becoming extinct and is very strong that recent SST rises
pollution and waste becoming an almost are a result of human induced climate
unmanageable problem in all big oceans change,” says Oxley.
around the planet,” he says. While Oxley’s primary goal for the
One such ambassador is British next 12 months is to help his team win
sailor Neal McDonald, taking part in his the Volvo Ocean Race, he says he is
sixth race. “You think you’re on your own, always keen to help increase public
then realise you are playing in someone awareness about the marine
DAVID TIPLING
else’s playground. Albatrosses are the environment and the increased human
ultimate ocean wanderers,” he says. pressures placed on 70 per cent of
Another man who is concerned with our planet.
OPMENT The Volvo Ocean Race Official Programme
SM, EVENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVEL
ALL PHOTOS: AUCKL AND TOURI
The City of Sails
Auckland CAMPER – the Emirates

Team New Zealand entry
Camper is a family-owned company
that started making shoes on the
Spanish island of Mallorca in 1877.
I
The history and the authenticity of
the race, the human adventure, the
t’s back! The Volvo Ocean Race returns to the City of Sails for the first time in a decade and
effort, the desire to improve and the
a huge 10-day party will welcome the boats, the crews, the race organisers and international teamwork fit the Camper values. This
visitors. round-the-world race will be, without
Auckland Viaduct Basin will be transformed into a vibrant race village for the stopover with a doubt, a strong source of inspiration
the new Viaduct Events Centre acting as Race HQ. Latitude Island will be the entertainment hub for the future of a brand that walks
78
with a packed programme of events on the big stage, large screens to watch the on-the-water with imagination.
action, live music, fireworks and lots more. And there’ll be a top quality range of stalls, public For Camper it is a privilege to
eateries and family activities in Gateway Plaza. take its first steps in the Volvo
Visitors to Pit Lane, in front of the Viaduct Events Centre, can see the Volvo Open 70 fleet Ocean Race with Emirates Team New
Zealand, undoubtedly one of the most
up close and watch the teams prepare for the next leg. The interactive Volvo Ocean Race
prestigious professional sailing teams
Experience Zone offers unique insight into life on board during the race with the adrenaline-filled
in the world. Collectively the CAMPER
simulator, the grinding challenge and a chance to race mini Volvo Open 70s. team, which is being run by Emirates
Team New Zealand, brings a wealth of
www.volvooceanraceauckland.com to keep up to date with the Auckland stopover party. experience to the race.
I
Team members have between
magine a vibrant, urban culture where everyone lives within half an hour of beautiful secluded them three Olympic campaigns,
beaches, hiking trails and a dozen enchanted holiday islands. Add a sunny climate, a 17 America’s Cups, 22 Volvo/
background rhythm of Polynesian culture and a passion for outstanding food, wine and shopping Whitbread races and numerous world
championship titles.
and you’re beginning to get the picture of Auckland – a destination consistently ranked in the top
five global lifestyle cities.
Auckland feels like the sailing capital of the world: host of two America’s Cups, home to
an unrivalled number of yachties, and the geography and climate for perfect sailing. The great
bars, restaurants and atmosphere will even keep landlubbers happy, as will March 2012’s other
sports: cricket, triathlon, rugby and even a 70,000-strong fun run.
The central city of Auckland looks out to the spectacular Hauraki Gulf, with more than 50
islands. Within easy reach is Waiheke with fabulous beaches, Pacific Rim dining and numerous
wineries. On volcanic Rangitoto Island a one-hour hike to the summit rewards you with
breathtaking views of Auckland’s harbour and skyline.
The city itself is modern and lively; the biggest in New Zealand and the largest Polynesian city
in the world. It boasts the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere – the Sky Tower, and a range
of leading family attractions. Auckland also provides a huge choice of dining experiences and
distinctive Pacific Rim-style cuisine, with more than 1,000 restaurants in the region.
The Auckland isthmus sits between the pohutukawa-lined shores of the Pacific Ocean, and
the contrasting and wildly rugged black-sand beaches of the Tasman Sea. The pohutukawa tree,
with its distinctive red or yellow flowers, is regarded as a predictor of summer weather to come.
For more information visit: www.aucklandnz.com

Glamour Ashore
European sophistication mixed wi

Itajaí
th a
Brazilian way of life
IGREJA MATRIZ RONALDO SILVA JR
MARC ELLO SOKA L
T he only South American city to host a major ocean sailing event is ready to welcome tourists
and crews from all over the world when the Volvo Ocean Race stops at Itajaí, on Brazil’s
southern coast, in April 2012.
The flourishing city in the state of Santa Catarina, set within a fully developed tourist centre,
offers a high level of infrastructure to complement a uniquely Brazilian way of life. On the streets it
79
is easy to see the European influence, mainly from Germany and Portugal, but the beach and sun,
the traditional Brazilian trademark, give a special touch to the city.
Itajaí has many cultural attractions and beaches that contrast perfectly to the urban rhythm,
and the port of Itajaí’s fast pace. Located in a landscape surrounded by a beautiful coast, the city
Volvo fleet comes to Itajaí has welcomed many cruise ships in the last few years.
From Auckland, after rounding Itajaí belongs to a region called Green Coast and Sea, that also includes the cities of
notorious Cape Horn, Itajaí becomes Balneário Camboriú, Balneário Piçarras, Bombinhas, Ilhota, Itapema, Luís Alves, Navegantes,
the third Brazilian port after Rio de Penha and Porto Belo.
Janeiro and São Sebastião to host the Santa Catarina’s north coast is simply lovely. Balneário Camboriú is one of the most visited
round the world race. cities in Brazil. It is considered the centre of Santa Catarina’s tourism and home of the third
The famous Brazilian welcome will
largest nightclub in the world, the Green Valley. Balneário Piçarras is charming and the visitors
be more than special here in Itajaí
love the fascinating coastal views. In Bombinhas, tourists will discover the meaning of the title
as the city celebrates with the crews
‘Santa Catarina’s rare jewel’. During the autumn, the landscape shines and the water stays warm,
one of the most testing legs of this
exhausting race. so it’s the perfect time and place for diving.
In Camboriú, nature and country style bring moments of relaxation and peace. Ilhota is known
as the beachwear and lingerie town in Santa Catarina. For those who love the air, Itapema is
JOAO SCHARF
known for skies full of ultra light planes. Comfort, peace and the simple way of life transform Luis
Alves into one of the best places to rest. This city is also known as one of the Brazilian Cachaça
towns. Cachaça is the most popular distilled beverage in Brazil, made from fermented sugar
cane. Navegantes has clear beaches for adventure sports and Penha – the city of Beto Carrero
World, the fifth largest theme park in the world – brings recreation, beaches, gastronomy and a
fishing village atmosphere. Charming landscapes and seductive beaches in a bay full of eccentric
beauty are what you find in Porto Belo.
Boating, jet skiing, indoor kart races, tracks and waterfalls are some choices for the family or
adventurers. The region has over 80 beaches to suit different kinds of people. It is easy to find
AUREO BERGER
quiet water for swimming and wild beaches for sports like sailing, surfing and bodyboarding. The
weather is mild and diverse, usually hot and humid, without a dry season.
Welcome to Itajaí!
Discover COSTA VERDE & MAR.
One of the fastest growing regions of Brazil.
A land of opportunities, entertainment and
attractions.
Str ateg ically lo cate d, both the por t of It aj aí a nd reg i o n o f fe r a g re at oppor tu ni t y
for d if f erent i ndustri es inter este d in i nv es ti n g i n Braz i l . Natu re bl en ds th e r i c h
At lantic Rainf o rest and exot ic beac hes t o c rea te rel ax i n g s c e ner y exc el l ent
for w atersp o rts and sai li ng enthu s ias t s. A r ic h c ul t ura l di ve rs i ty, m oder n th em e
park s and excit ing nightli fe, wit h s om e of t he bes t c l u bs i n th e w orl d, m ake
this reg ion a top touri sm desti nat ion i n th e c oun tr y.
Welcome to COSTA VERDE & MAR,

in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.
www.volvoo ce anracei taj ai.com
Photo: Unipraias
Photo: Juan Pablo Carnevalle
Photo: Marcello Sokal
Photo: Marcello Sokal

Three kids, eleven

suitcases: part of being a
Volvo Ocean Race mum
It’s a life less ordinary, but the race wives and
partners all agree: there is nothing like the thrill of
being there when their guys come into port.
Words: debra douglas
T wo days out of Cape Town on

the first leg of the 2001-02
Volvo Ocean Race, Amer Sports
who took his laptop down to the dock
for the boat’s arrival. She weighed
just 1.8 kilos, but was absolutely fine,
knew he wanted to get his teeth into
something that was more challenging
and was a longer-term thing. If
One was struggling to keep the lead just tiny. Now at nine years old she he’s happy, I’m happy. I’m a very
after shredding its key spinnaker. is winning equestrian ribbons. I had independent person and our girls,
Skipper Grant Dalton was looking wished, of course, that Grant had Annaleisha and Katie, have never
over his shoulder at illbruck, inching been there, but it just didn’t happen known anything different.”
82
closer from 40 miles back to just 10 that way.” In New Zealand Endeavour (NZE)
miles, when he received the news Volvo partners are a resilient days there was a line-up of Kiwi
his wife Nicki had given birth to a lot. They are independent and mothers with strollers at the dock.
daughter. resourceful, with a love of adventure. Eloise Dalton, Sam Quilter, Thomas
Dalton was reported as saying: They look back on the Whitbread Shoebridge and Annaleisha Rae
“I got a bit of a shock really, I’m just and Volvo Ocean Race campaigns were all born within a year of one
delighted.” It came as more of a as times of exciting racing, wonderful another.
shock to Nicki Dalton. Baby Olivia travel experiences and lasting Lynda: “We travelled as a pack.
was not expected for another seven friendships. The children were a perfect age, at
weeks. The plan was for her husband “Despite the rivalry, by the time one and two years old they were
to fly back to New Zealand for the the race finishes you’ve got to know transportable. As long as there were
birth from Sydney, at the end of the the other crews and their families so plenty of books and they could
second leg. well,” said Nicki. “You don’t get that share the toys, it didn’t matter where
“But Olivia had other ideas,” said with other regattas, it’s the longevity they were, although I do remember
Nicki. “The first time Grant saw her of the Volvo and the weeks in each spending a lot of time at McDonald’s
was after a friend photographed her port which makes this possible. It playgrounds. The NZE shore crew
The Volvo Ocean Race
in her incubator and emailed the school also travels from was sad saying goodbye, but you were also capable and willing on-
photo to the campaign’s PR man port to port. knew you would meet up with many hand uncles. They were mostly young
of them in another few years.” and single, so enjoyed entertaining
Volvo partners are also very our lot.”

understanding. And Lynda Rae
must be the most understanding Lynda will return to the Volvo
of all. Husband Tony is about to circuit this year, again with her oldest
undertake his fourth round-the-world daughter, although Annaleisha is now
race onboard CAMPER, 18 years 19 years old.
after the last one on NZ Endeavour “We have a great framed souvenir
(Whitbread 1993-94). from the 1994 Fort Lauderdale
“The decision to go wasn’t Tony’s stopover. Annaleisha doesn’t
alone. It was mutual,” said Lynda. remember this, but she received more
“Since his last Volvo Ocean Race, attention than the fleet when she was
Tony has been to many short-term photographed at the wheel of New
regattas around Europe, which has Zealand Endeavour by The Miami
been quite disruptive to home life. I Herald on her second birthday. I was
Hearts and Minds
83
handed a copy of the paper in the and there was no one to help us lug Grown up and looking “Even though you can
main street and there was my baby the cases up the station stairs. back: Lynda Rae with now communicate with your man during
19-year old daughter
on the front page!” I thought at the time I must be a leg via email, you tend not tell them
Annaleisha.
The only time Kathy Salthouse having a far worse time than Rob about any dramas, as you always
ever doubted her decision to follow could ever have during the race. think they have enough going on.
her husband Rob (a crew member I also thought once we got to La You really have to suck it up and deal
on Tyco in 2001-02 and today Rochelle I would spend the rest of with it by yourself.”
with CAMPER with Emirates New my life there, because I couldn’t face It’s a life less ordinary, but these
Zealand) around the world was the trip back.” race wives and partners all agree
when she found herself stranded on But it was a fleeting misgiving. there is nothing like the thrill of being
a platform with three children under Kathy now looks back at her first there when their guys come into port.
10 and surrounded by 11 suitcases, Volvo Ocean Race as being the Nicki Dalton: “I don’t have
having just missed the Paris to La most amazing experience. any regrets at all. I wouldn’t have
Rochelle train. “As a family, it is real bonding remembered anything at all
Kathy: “We had just arrived in stuff. There is you and your little unit from being at home, but I do
Paris after a flight from the United on this great adventure. We have remember so much from just being
States. Some of the suitcases were had our best family times following on the circuit.
full of correspondence school books the race.” “If you have a choice, go!”
Beyond water
Miami
INFINITY2/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
ABSTR AND
T he place to ‘Sea and Be-Scene’ in May 2012 is Miami, Florida, USA, during the Volvo
Ocean Race’s only North American stopover. After the race finish, the fleet will parade
through the international Port of Miami to the race village in Bicentennial Park in Downtown
Miami. To celebrate their festive arrival, Miami will host the Volvo Ocean Race Miami: Beyond The Americans
Water Festival, filling the international race village with culture, arts, music, food and interactivity
84 Throughout Volvo Ocean Race history,
during the 14-day event.
America has fielded 10 sailing entries,
The Beyond Water Festival will feature dynamic entertainment with international performance with 94 U.S. athletes competing.
partners and, throughout the entire two-week stretch, interactive pavilions and wrap-around Paul Cayard/EF Language in 1997-98,
events will complement the public’s enjoyment of racing amidst the sheer power of the Volvo and John Kostecki/illbruck Challenge
Open 70s. in 2001-02 are both winners of the
Filling the dance card at the festival will be a series of youth sailing regattas, including event.
an Optimist Nationals and Collegiate Nationals competition. A multitude of aquatic activities PUMA’s Mar Mostro is America’s
is scheduled to include water sports exhibitions, sail boarding, kite sailing, wakeboarding, entry this time with a boat built in the
community cardboard-canoe racing and the eagerly awaited classic steamboat races. With U.S. and a team led by an American.
Designed by Juan Yacht Designs and
Miami’s proximity to unparalleled entertainment attractions, guests can also take in a day at Walt
built at New England Boatworks in
Disney World Resorts, dive in the famous Florida Keys Aquatic Preserve, and shop and dine in
Portsmouth, R.I., PUMA’s Mar Mostro
Downtown Miami and along Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive. will be skippered by Ken Read, who
A renowned championship-event city, Miami’s perennial glamour, excitement, sun and was at the helm of PUMA’s Il Mostro
beaches are heightened by hosting NFL Super Bowls, the Sony Ericsson International Tennis as it finished second in the previous
Tournament, MTV Music Awards, Billboard Latin Music Awards and premiere motorsports edition of the race in 2008-09.
championships, including NASCAR and IndyCar. Next up on the docket is a year-round regatta In addition to Read, American
schedule of 50-plus races building on the rich history of sailing in the South Florida community. sailors on PUMA’s Mar Mostro include
The Port of Miami – recognised as the ‘cruise capital’ of the world in welcoming more than Rome Kirby and Arden Oksanen. At 22
3.5 million passengers annually – will mark the entrance point for the Volvo Ocean Race fleet. years old, Kirby is the youngest sailor
in the race and truly gives an accurate
The largest container port in the State of Florida, the port is currently working on significant
meaning to the term ‘natural-born
infrastructure improvements that include deepening the harbour and constructing a $1billion
sailor’. He has been sailing since the
tunnel that will provide direct access to the interstate highway system. age of three and has competed in the
In conjunction with the festival, the Volvo Ocean Race Academy will provide activities for junior circuit in his Volvo veteran
young visitors. The academy will partner with local Miami sailing associations to increase interest father Jerry’s footsteps.
in youth sailing, provide participation opportunities for people with disabilities, and to promote Oksanen will be the media
the preservation of our most precious resource, water. crewmember on the PUMA Mar
Mostro, documenting the team’s
www.volvooceanracemiami.org life throughout the competition.
An award-winning documentary
filmmaker, Oksanen has more than
14 years of experience in producing,
directing, shooting and editing action
sports films.
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DAN ARMSTRONG
A perfect mixture of
sails and sales
It’s the car you
drive. The shoes
I f it weren’t for sponsorships, the race
wouldn’t be going anywhere, let alone all the
way around the world. Volvo. PUMA. Camper.
Groupama. Telefónica. Even exotic locales are
you wear. The parts getting into the action, like Abu Dhabi and Sanya
in China, both of which are backing a team and
you buy for your hosting a stopover. where tactics and skills combined with teamwork
See the big picture? Sponsorships bring in and courage creates a winning formula. The
boat. The Volvo big money to sailing, the kind that’s needed to differences, well, that would be the icebergs and
Ocean Race is build the boats, pay the crews and designers, and
help with the logistics of getting around the world
wet clothes.”
There you have it. The guys getting splashed
powered by far one leg at a time.
Ken Read, who’s giving the Volvo another
on deck in the frozen ocean wouldn’t be getting
the adventure of a lifetime without the executives
more than the go as skipper of PUMA’s Mar Mostro, has run sitting safe and warm behind desks.
companies before. To him, heading up a sailing The Volvo Ocean Race has done well to grab
86 sleek, high-tech venture is the same as running a business. In this a significant piece of the global sponsorship
case, it’s all about giving value to the sponsors. pie. It is the premier round-the-world race and
boats that race on It’s just that sailing around the world comes with generates tremendous interest, whether it’s fans
a 39,270-nautical different kinds of risks.

The Volvo Ocean Race is a perfect mixture
following the race online or flocking to the docks
when the boats have arrived safely in port.
mile voyage that of sails and sales. “The day that anybody is ever
hired here, I tell them that they’re going to make
“The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the world’s
most prestigious sports events,” Stefan Jacoby,
ends nearly nine it far within our operation if they realise this has CEO of Volvo Car Corporation said. “Being
nothing to do with a sailboat race,” said Read, the owner of the race, of course, offers several
months later. who once again has been granted a sabbatical benefits, the obvious being brand-building
from his job as vice president of North Sails. qualities. Then add a fantastic environment for
“This has everything to do with making our building customer relations, supporting sales
WORDS: BERNIE WILSON
sponsors happy and getting around the world, and engaging our hard-working, committed
from port to port, to how our sponsors are going colleagues.”
to figure out where to make their money at each
port, and how we’re going to help them. But the THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE that your average
fact is, sailing is the secondary part of what we American Baby Boomer wore PUMAs while
do. growing up. PUMA, Read said, likes to call itself
What we do is make sure that PUMA and a sports lifestyle company. When it comes to
BERG Propulsion sell sneakers and propellers. sailing, its competitors have missed the boat,
“Now, don’t get me wrong. The best way for so to speak. But sailing fans won’t miss Mar
them to get a bang for the buck, by the way, is for Mostro, the boat with the graphics of the scary
us to win, which is why we take the sailing part sea monster and the distinctive black cat on the
so seriously. For a single-boat programme, we sails and hull.
had the most marketing exposure in the last race. “PUMA made an aggressive jump into a sport
And it would have been geometrically more if we they felt they could own in their category. I always
actually had won. Second is the worst result to tell people if I die and my legacy is getting the
ever have in anything. It annoys you enough to company into the sport of sailing, I think I’ve done
have to come back and do it again.” all right,” Read said.
Olof Persson, incoming CEO of AB Volvo, “It’s such a cool brand. The best thing about
knows exactly what Read is talking about. “The PUMA that I learned in the last race is that our
similarities are obvious,” he said, comparing sport became so much more understood and
running a major corporation with running a sailing appreciated by such a wide audience of people
team. “We all compete in a tough environment that were non-sailors, that it’s just incredible.
Success Breeds Success
87
The number of people from many countries who Persson said the race, which drew four
saw sailing for the first time during the stopovers million visitors to the stopovers last time, takes
is just off the charts. It’s immeasurable. It’s why 35th place on the SportsPro Magazine list of
we need more sponsors like this in our sport, the commercially most valuable properties in
because that’s the way to make it grow,” he adds. the world of professional sports. “It is the only
Say no more. Across the pond, Camper is corporate event that makes it onto the list. That
a family-owned company from Mallorca, Spain, says a lot”.
which is collaborating with Emirates Team New “The Volvo Ocean Race engages people on
Zealand to manage its first Volvo Ocean Race so many different levels and reaches billions of
campaign. readers, listeners and viewers all over the world,”
“Being that we are from an island, our brand Persson said. “Being a part of it is about sending
has been influenced from the start from the a confident message to a truly global audience
sea that surrounds us,” says Dalia Saliamonas, that you are about competing hard as a team and,
Volvo Ocean Race project director for Camper. if skilled enough, about winning.”
“Nautical sports are not new to Camper,” she “It also builds business for the company
said. “So, while the Volvo Ocean Race is our in the long term and that is important for both
biggest activation until now, and the most global, companies”, explained Stefan Jacoby. He pointed
we are following a tradition that began quite out that the event provides an unparalleled brand
a while back and is a natural for a brand like and marketing platform. “The extreme nature of
Camper, coming from Mallorca and true to our the race and the focus on human drama lends
roots and relationship with the sea.” itself well to association marketing, which is
Lars Ardarve
“ Being the owner of the race, of course,

offers several benefits, the obvious being
brand-building qualities. Then add a fantastic
environment for building customer relations,
supporting sales and engaging our hard-working,
”
committed colleagues.
Stefan Jacoby
CEO, Volvo Car Corporation
important in developing the perception of the solid brand awareness globally whilst also
Volvo Cars brand,” serving as an inspiration to the local
The same holds true for PUMA, sailing community, which we believe
acknowledged chief marketing officer Antonio will help create future sailing
Bertone. “It’s hard to ever quantify what makes heroes from the emirate,” said
sense. It was the global reach of the race that His Excellency Mubarak Al
really intrigued us, and it has a lot to do with each Muhairi, director general of
of the stopovers. The sponsorship wouldn’t have Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
been nearly as effective if the markets didn’t fit. It “Our ultimate business aim
88 is key for us to be in each of the stopovers and is to press the case for Abu
to really engage the consumers – we get a lot of Dhabi as a winter sailing
feedback and response.” destination. On a social
Bertone said companies can hedge their bets level, we want to build a much
where consumer interest is. “Or, you try to create greater sailing following within
interest the way we do with Formula 1 in Europe the local community so that
– we’re trying to create a market because we felt the benefits of the sport –
the field was uncluttered.” which are both physical
Abu Dhabi has both an entry, Azzam, with its well-being and strength
striking graphics of a falcon, and a stopover. of character – are
“Having a team – Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing available to our
– competing in this Everest of sailing gives us residents.”
“ We all compete in a tough environment

where tactics and skills combined with
teamwork and courage creates a winning
Lars Ardarve/Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race
formula. The differences, well, that would
”
be the icebergs and wet clothes.
Olof Persson
CEO, Volvo AB
Shining city
Lisbon
P ortugal combines a long and historical nautical tradition with over 800 kilometres of
coastline, numerous rivers and lakes and excellent weather conditions. All that has helped
the country establish itself as one of the major centres for sea related sports events throughout the year.
After Expo 98, Tennis Masters Cup Lisbon 2000, Euro 2004 and the Dakar departures in
2006, 2007 and 2008, the transatlantic stage of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 once again
90
brings Portugal to the forefront in the hosting of first class world sports events.
As one of the host ports, Lisbon is a multi-faceted shining city. The almost constant presence of
sunshine and the Tagus River transform the Portuguese capital into a mirror of a thousand colours,
which highlight the city’s unique architecture and natural beauty.
There are so many things to see and do in Lisbon that all visitors will have access to a wide
array of different experiences.
Lisbon’s Tagus riverfront is dedicated to leisure activities and links the cultural and historic Walk through Lisbon, a city with
zone of Belém with the modern area of the Parque das Nações. The city also has extensive a history that spans thousands of
beaches, ideal for sunbathing or water sports, fields and farms used for breeding horses and years, to find streets filled with
heritage, monuments and traditional
bulls, monuments classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites, and picturesque rural landscapes.
neighbourhoods where the city
The World Heritage site of Sintra is one of Portugal’s most luxurious and romantic towns and has
first developed and can still be
served as a great source of inspiration for poets and writers.
experienced in a historic way.
It is more than appropriate that the Volvo Ocean Race fleet should sail into Lisbon in 2012.
After all, this is the city from where Vasco da Gama began his voyage to India in 1497 and a city
that would later become the European hub of commerce between Africa, India, the Far East and
Brazil, trading everything from spices to art. The city has a long sailing history, while Cascais, some
30 kilometres west of Lisbon, has hosted some of the world’s largest sailing regattas and was also
where the Pirates of the Caribbean entry in the 2005-06 race pulled in for emergency repairs after
being damaged on the first night out of Vigo.
“It is very important to have Lisbon as a city in our stopovers,” Knut Frostad, CEO of Volvo
Ocean Race, said when Lisbon’s place among the host ports was confirmed. “It has excellent
conditions for practice sailing and the in-port race will certainly be spectacular. After the rigours of
crossing the Atlantic, it will be a pleasure to arrive in the Portuguese capital.”
In the exhibition area of the race village, situated at the Doca de Pedrouços, there will be
promotional tents, stands, plus hospitality areas where race partners and sponsors will be able to
engage with all stakeholders and entertain their own guests.
On 10 June, the boats will leave Lisbon for the short sprint to Lorient in France, with the fleet
rounding the Portuguese Azores islands, a magnificent tourist destination known for its high quality
services related to nautical and leisure activities.
For more information visit: www.volvooceanracelisbon.com

www.facebook.com/volvooceanracelisbon
In your elemeNt,
Chasing perfection.
Cruising in a high powered truck on the motorway, or rushing
along at 23 knots, surfing down the mountainous waves. Driver
and skipper – separate worlds. Still they put the same extreme
demands on their gear to always perform on top.
VOLVO TRUCKS. DRIVING PROGRESS

Welcome. We look forward to

celebrating with you!
Lorient
FANCH GALIVEL
YVAN ZEDDA
The new and iconic museum Cité

de la Voile Eric Tabarly is dedicated
to the sailing world. It was named
W
after one of the most famous French
ith more than 200,000 inhabitants, Lorient is the third largest city in Brittany, with skippers and the museum retraces
an identity built around its marine heritage. The city is located in a well-preserved his adventures around the world
region, surrounded by beautiful landmarks and filled with history. The landscapes consist and the way in which he helped to
of beaches, well-known islands such as Groix and Belle Ile, mystic forests such as Merlin’s develop the sport of sailing.
Brocéliande and many rivers and valleys. Between land and sea, Lorient has also developed a The innovations visible on his
94
dynamic economy while preserving its past. Pen Duick series of boats were
The city was created in 1666 when the East India Company, founded by Colbert, set up revolutions at the time and you can
now see them at the pontoons in
by the sea in a place that would be named L’Orient. Since then, the town has always been
front of the museum.
involved with shipbuilding. Besides its naval activities, Lorient has a very important Celtic
heritage that is highlighted each year with the Interceltic Festival.
YVAN ZEDDA
This event gathers bands from all over Europe and more than 800,000 visitors for two
weeks in August. The city is now a popular holiday destination in the western part of France.
A centre of excellence in the naval field, Lorient and its suburbs boast marinas and
commercial harbours and the city is one of the most important fishing ports in France.
Lorient is also a centre for offshore racing, with many professional teams based at Keroman’s
old Second World War German submarine base. It has now been transformed to welcome
racing boats. In the ‘Sailing Valley’, from Vannes to Brest, over 90 companies work directly in
In June 2012 Lorient will host the
offshore racing. Volvo Ocean Race and its local hero,
Today more than 70 skippers from all classes of boat train and prepare their boats in Franck Cammas and his team on
Lorient. In less than 10 years, the town has become the European centre for offshore racing Groupama 4. The only French boat in
with renowned teams from France and abroad. Seven skippers out of 30 participants the race, she was christened at her
in the last Vendée Globe and 23 from the 80 sailors who took part in the last Route du base in Lorient on June 11, 2011.
Rhum (including Sidney Gavinet and his team Oman Sail) were based in Lorient. The city Pen Duick VI, Eric Tabarly’s
was also proud to have welcomed Ellen MacArthur when she was preparing for her solo monohull was next to her that day,
circumnavigation record on a multihull in 2005. providing an interesting parallel
between the brand new Volvo Open
Professional skippers like the environment and the proximity of all the specialised
70 and a boat that was built for the
companies: composites, sail making, rigging, electronics. Easy access to the harbour is
1973-74 Whitbread. Groupama Sailing
another important component. For all these reasons, the demand for berthing is very high Team is located in the Batiment des
in the area. Luckily, the local harbours can host 3,000 boats on their pontoons. Thanks to Défis (the challenges’ building),
this infrastructure, famous offshore sailors are based here all year long: Franck Cammas where the French team participating
(Groupama 4) and Alain Gautier since 1997, Armel le Cléac’h and Loïck Peyron (Banque in the America’s Cup was established
Populaire), Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac), Yann Elies (Generali) and Jérémie Beyou many years ago.
(Delta Dore). Today, 45 people work towards
one common goal: performance. A
For more information visit: www.volvooceanracelorient.com great example of Lorient’s know-
how in the nautical field lies in its
ambitions for the Volvo Ocean Races
2011-12 and beyond.
Feel the energy!
Come to Bretagne!
Visit Lorient for the 9th stage of the
Volvo Ocean Race

From June 17th to July 1st 2012,
meet Bretagne’s most creative and
most innovative companies at the
Business Club.
www.invest-in-bretagne.org
www.volvooceanracelorient.com
© Création : www.pollenstudio.fr - Photo : E. Pain
Voyage of discovery
Galway
FAILTE IRELAND
DEREK CULLEN FÁILTE IRELA ND
G alway is a city, a county and an experience to be savoured and remembered. The historic city
of the tribes dances to a beat uniquely its own. There is a certain chemistry and vibrancy to
this friendly university city which many delight in and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs,
restaurants, shops, theatres, and most of all Galway people combine to create this atmospheric medieval
city of culture.
96
At the mouth of Galway Bay, the city is both picturesque and lively, with a wonderful avant-garde
culture and a fascinating mixture of locally owned specialty shops, often featuring locally made crafts.
A spectacularly beautiful county, it is a medley of contrasts – the wildest and remotest of countryside
teamed with one of Europe’s most vibrant and popular cities. Drawn as if by a magnet, visitors come again
and again, captivated by this most special of Irish counties.
As you would expect, Galway has a huge range of activities for the holidaymaker to enjoy. Golfers will
find themselves spoilt for choice between excellent links and parkland courses, the equal of any in the
world but without the sting of exorbitant green fees.
Horse riding and trekking is another popular way to unwind in this, the native county of the Connemara
pony. Walking trails to suit all tastes are available both around the city and in the countryside. Hill walkers
will find many fine routes in Connemara and the Twelve Pins.
In the heart of a contrasting landscape, where the mountains meet the sea, and green land surrounds
No one who was there will ever
the lakes, you will find one of Ireland’s most unusual regions. Connemara is a land both wild and tame.
forget the arrival of the Volvo Ocean
The Connemara Trail is not just for riders but for anyone who enjoys other activities in a peaceful Irish
Race fleet into Galway in 2009. This
atmosphere. time the city will also witness the
Our coastline lends itself to a variety of water sports. Fishing is always a popular option in Galway and winner of 2011-12 race receiving the
every visitor to the city will have visited the famous Salmon Weir Bridge. Coarse fishing, river angling and newly-designed trophy after what
sea angling are also available locally. will in effect be a double finish – the
The Claddagh (Irish: An Cladach, meaning, “a stoney beach”) is a beach area in the western part last ocean leg from its twinned city
of Galway. People have been gathering seafood and fishing from the area for millennia. Historically, its Lorient, and then the finale of an in-
existence has been recorded since the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century. It is one of the oldest port race to decide the final points.
former fishing villages in Ireland.
FAILTE IRELAND
Anyone who knows the song ‘Galway Bay’ will be familiar with the Claddagh, previously a fishing
village of thatched cottages, now an area just outside the city centre. Here is the birthplace of the world
famous Claddagh ring, a souvenir many bring home, just to keep a little piece of Galway with them always.
Eyre Square is the centrepiece to Galway City and was officially presented to the city in 1710 by
Mayor Edward Eyre, from whom it took its name. Originally surrounded with a wooden fence, it was
enclosed with iron railings in the late 1700s. These were removed in the 1960s, and subsequently
re-erected around St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. In 1965, the square was officially renamed
“Kennedy Memorial Park” in honour of US President John F. Kennedy, who visited here shortly before his
assassination in 1963.
For more information visit: www.volvooceanracegalway.com

Glamour Ashore
Academy
will take
thousands
afloat
Thousands of young people around
the globe will be able to experience
sailing for themselves as the Volvo
Ocean Race organises one of its
biggest ever youth programmes –
and youth can even extend to parents
and grandparents.
97
Matias Capizzano/capizzano.com
F rom the sport’s world governing body,

the International Sailing Federation, to
schools and local sailing clubs, a programme
In years to come, there could be top crews
racing round the world who were first inspired
by a hands-on experience in one of the Volvo
The Academy team racing will feature
up to eight teams at each stopover racing
Optimists over short courses, perhaps just six
of teaching, sailing for beginners, and racing for Ocean Race villages. to eight minutes, allowing dozens of races per
the visitors to watch has been gathering force. The Academy is for aspiring youth sailors. day. There will also be live commentary and a
Volvo Ocean Race used to support the There will be clinics ashore and on the water, prizegiving at the end. And, yes, the teams of
youth world championships at the top end but led by Chris Atkins, international umpire and four will have to have both boys and girls.
this edition sees more emphasis on the grass coach, which will also take in courses on race “The Academy Optimist team racing
roots. management and umpiring. events to be held in every stopover will be
As organiser Katie Hearsum says: “We These will be ahead of two series of an unforgettable experience for the Optimist
want children on the water, having a first fun regattas in the race villages, one which will sailors that will take part ” said a spokesman for
experience of sailing, and to foster future feature the Optimist dinghy, a class with which the International Optimist Class.
sailing talent, leaving behind a tangible, lasting Volvo has long been involved, and one on the There will also be two days of windsurfer
impact.” current Olympic windsurfer, the RS:X. racing with fleet races for both boys and
The race village schools

programme will invite local children
to try sailing and will be aimed at
98
10 to 11-year olds.
MATIAS CAPIZZANO/CAPIZZANO.COM
Glamour Ashore
girls leading up to a final. That should give the chance to go afloat and learn about an
race village visitors, fellow club members and environmental project.
families something to cheer. The Volvo Ocean Race has also bought six
“We believe this partnership will provide Ludic dinghies from France. These can take
the RS:X Class with a tremendous opportunity at least six children plus an instructor, or four
aimed at youth in the many developing adults plus an instructor and will be shipped in
countries where the Volvo has stopovers,” said two groups of three, leapfrogging each other
a spokesman for Neil Pryde. round the world.
“The RS:X Class takes great interest in So, book a place, grab a lifejacket, step
its worldwide youth training programmes and aboard and try a sport that has inspired
shares the philosophy with the Volvo Ocean explorers and athletes for hundreds
Race of encouraging young sailors of today to of years.
follow their dream and become the Volvo sailors
of tomorrow,” added Mike Dempsey, chairman
of the class association.
The race village schools programme will
invite local children to try sailing and will be
aimed at 10 to 11-year olds. They will be offered
99
The Volvo
volvooceanrace.com
100
Glamour Ashore
The roar
of the crowd
They came in their thousands to decision to make prizegiving
ceremonies a public affair. “They
– like everything else they will be
free of charge – and a warts-and-
stare in wonder in India and to roar used to be private, but they will
be open air and free of charge
all insight into life onboard a Volvo
Open 70, which is where the
them home in Galway, while in this time,” Ola says. “The athletes Volvo Ocean Race Experience
will be going on stage to collect comes into its element. This is
Alicante they flocked to a new focal their awards and the public will be Patrik Larsson’s department,
there and part of it.” overseeing the corner of the race
point for the town. The race villages If the plan is to immerse the village devoted to sucking land-
are a very special meeting place. public into the race, then the
new stopover structure will help.
lubbers into the world of the Volvo
Ocean Race sailor.
Gone are the month-long breaks There is a 3D cinema, a
Words: Riath al-Samarrai between legs, replaced by a set, structure of nine 40ft shipping
T
two-week formula. Stopovers containers that will swamp viewers
imes have changed and the public, allowing fans to watch will commence with emotional with 10 minutes of thrilling clips
Volvo Ocean Race port master boat-builders and design arrivals as the sailors greet their from the race’s archives; there is
manager Ola Astradsson knows experts do their thing. The yachts families after a hard slog at sea a simulator designed to mimic the
it. “Four or five races ago, the themselves will be closer to hand and the prizegiving ceremony violent motion of a carbon fibre
situation with stopovers was very, too, with access granted to the will take place on the second racing yacht on the charge; then
very different,” he says. “Back pontoons. “People will be able to Thursday. A pro-am race will be there’s the bouncy castle for kids
then it was all about berths for reach out and touch the boats,” held the following day and then and a grinding challenge that
101
the boats and not much else. You Ola says. on Saturday points will be up replicates the lactic-acid agony of
would call around the marinas Most impressive will be the for grabs in the in-port races. hoisting sails.
maybe a month in advance of an racing itself. As part of far- On Sunday afternoon, the fleet “We want to give the public an
arrival and ask if they could hold reaching changes to the structure will wave goodbye and, amid an idea of what life is like on these
10 boats.” of the stopovers, the in-port races atmosphere of expectation and boats,” Patrik says. “Our intention
Today, Ola’s remit includes will be much closer to land. In apprehension, leave for the next is to show how extreme it can be.”
laying on stopovers with a little the 2008-09 edition, when Team leg. “By making things more In between the big occasions
more pizzazz. In short, there will Russia collided with Team Delta compact it sustains the excitement and sailing lessons, there will
be a lot more going on than the Lloyd in the opening in-port race and allows us to build up to the be regular performances and
gentle rocking of boats in a line. in Alicante, it was still too far climax of the leg start,” Ola says. entertainment. “In Miami and
At the 10 host ports around offshore for most naked eyes on Part of that effort will revolve Abu Dhabi we are lining up big
the world there will be concerts the beach. This time, the close- around developing knowledge of concerts,” Ola says. “In Miami
– Bryan Adams and UB40 raised quarter combat of the world’s the sport, enabling casual there will be a stage and an area
the curtain on the 2008-09 race fastest monohull yachts will be visitors to understand what for 25,000 people. They will be
at Alicante – exhibitions, rides and as near to the dock as is safely goes on when the sails big occasions.
fireworks on show for an audience possible. go up. On that “And each port will
that is estimated to be in excess “We want the race to be felt by score, there arrange performances
of four million people. the public,” Ola says. “This time will be and shows that fit their
For the ports, it is a major we really want to bring the race regular sailing culture. There is a lot
opportunity to gain global closer. The in-port races will not clinics and planned.”
exposure; for the organisation it be on a typical windward-leeward exhibitions Times really have
is a chance to spread the word. course; they will be configured changed.
For the public, it is a chance to so that the races will be closer
all photos: Rick Tomlinson/Dave Kneale/
see a unique sporting event in to shore, with mark roundings

vivid detail. Never before have the right there in front of you. In some
doors been opened so wide. locations there might also be
Visitors to earlier race villages downwind starts so the public
could certainly see the yachts or can see the dramatic action, with
spot the athletes, but now they teams racing under spinnakers.
Volvo Ocean Race
are much closer to the action. The We really want to involve the
container parks – the equivalent public.”
of pit garages in Formula 1 – will This is also the chief
be opened for the first time to motivation behind the
In the
making
Thirty-eight years and 10
rolls of honour for the race winners.
1973-74 27,000 nautical miles • 19 starters
BARRY PICKTHALL/PPL
Pos. Yacht Flag Skipper(s)

1 Sayula II Mexico Ramón Carlin
2 Adventure UK Patrick Byans, Malcom Skene, George Vallings, Roy Mullener
3 Grand Louis France André Viant
4 Kriter France Jack Grout, Michel Malinovsky, Alain Gliksman
5 Guia Italy Giorgio Falck
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Sydney Leg 3 Sydney to Rio de Janeiro
Sayula II
Leg 4 Rio de Janeiro to Portsmouth
102
ALASTAIR BLACK/PPL
Pos. Yacht Flag Skipper

1 Flyer Netherlands Cornelis van Rietschoten
2 King’s Legend UK Nick Radcliff, Mike Clancy
3 Traite de Rome EEC Philippe Hanin
4 Disque d’OR Switzerland Pierre Fehlmann
5 ADC Accutrac UK Clare Francis
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Auckland Leg 3 Auckland to Rio de Janeiro
Cornelis Van Rietschoten
Leg 4 Rio de Janeiro to Portsmouth

ONNE VAN DER WAL/PPL

1 Flyer II Netherlands Cornelis van Rietschoten
2 Charles Heidseick III France Alain Gabbay
3 Kriter XI France André Viant
4 Disque d’Or Switzerland Pierre Fehlmann
5 Outward Bound New Zealand Digby Taylor
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Auckland Leg 3 Auckland to Mar del Plata
Flyer
Leg 4 Mar del Plata to Portsmouth

1 L’Esprit d’Equipe France Lionel Péan
2 Philips Innovator Netherlands Dirk Nauta
3 Fazer Finland Finland Michael Berner
4 UBS Switzerland Switzerland Pierre Fehlmann
5 Rucanor Tristar Belgium Gustaf Versluys, Ann Lippens
Leg 1 Portsmouth to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Auckland Leg 3 Auckland to Punta del Este
L’Esprit D’Equipe
Leg 4 Punta del Este to Portsmouth
Success Breeds Success

1 Steinlager 2 New Zealand Peter Blake
2 Fisher & Paykel New Zealand Grant Dalton
3 Merit Switzerland Pierre Fehlmann
4 Rothmans UK Lawrie Smith
5 The Card Sweden Roger Nilson
Leg 1 Southampton to Punta del Este Leg 2 Punta Del Este to Fremantle Leg 3 Fremantle to Auckland
Steinlager 2 Leg 4 Auckland to Punta del Este Leg 5 Punta del Este to Fort Lauderdale Leg 6 Fort Lauderdale to Southampton
1993-94 32,000 nautical miles • 14 starters in two classes

MIKE HEWITT/ALLSPORT
Maxi Class Whitbread 60 Class
Pos. Yacht Flag Skipper Pos. Yacht Flag Skipper
1 NZ Endeavour New Zealand Grant Dalton 1 Yamaha Japan Ross Field
2 Merit Cup Switzerland Pierre Fehlmann 2 Intrum Justitia Europe Lawrie Smith
3 La Poste France Eric Tabarly 3 Galicia 93 Pescanova Spain Javier de la Gandara
4 Uruguay Natural Uruguay Gustavo Vanzini 4 Winston USA D. Conner, B. Butterworth
Leg 1 Southampton to Punta del Este Leg 2 Punta Del Este to Fremantle Leg 3 Fremantle to Auckland
Grant Dalton Ross Field
Leg 4 Auckland to Punta del Este Leg 5 Punta del Este to Fort Lauderdale Leg 6 Fort Lauderdale to Southampton

CLIVE MASON/ALLSPORT

1 EF Language Sweden Paul Cayard
2 Merit Cup Monaco Grant Dalton
3 Swedish Match Sweden Gunnar Krantz
4 Innovation Kvaerner Norway Knut Frostad
5 Silk Cut UK Lawrie Smith
Leg 1 Southampton to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Sydney Leg 3 Sydney to Auckland Leg 4 Auckland to São
EF Language Sebastião Leg 5 São Sebastião to Fort Lauderdale Leg 6 Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore Leg 7 Baltimore/Annapolis to
La Rochelle Leg 8 La Rochelle to Southampton
103
DANIEL FORSTER
1. illbruck USA John Kostecki

2. Assa Abloy Sweden Neal McDonald
3. Amer Sports One New Zealand Grant Dalton
4. Tyco USA Kevin Shoebridge
5. News Corp New Zealand Jez Fanstone
Leg 1 Southampton to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Sydney Leg 3 Sydney to Auckland Leg 4 Auckland to
Rio de Janeiro Leg 5 Rio de Janeiro to Miami Leg 6 Miami to Baltimore Leg 7 Baltimore/Annapolis to La Rochelle
illbruck
Leg 8 La Rochelle to Göteborg Leg 9 Göteborg to Kiel

JON NASH/VOLVO OCEAN RACE
1 ABN AMRO One Netherlands Mike Sanderson

2 Pirates of the Caribbean USA Paul Cayard
3 Brasil 1 Brazil Torben Grael
4 ABN AMRO Two Netherlands Sebastien Josse
5 Ericsson Sweden Neal McDonald
Leg 1 Vigo to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Melbourne Leg 3 Melbourne to Wellington Leg 4 Wellington to Rio
ABN AMRO ONE de Janeiro Leg 5 Rio de Janeiro to Baltimore Leg 6 Baltimore/Annapolis to New York Leg 7 New York to Portsmouth
Leg 8 Portsmouth to Rotterdam Leg 9 Rotterdam to Göteborg


1 Ericsson 4 Sweden Torben Grael
2 PUMA Ocean Racing USA Ken Read
3 Telefónica Blue Spain Bouwe Bekking
4 Ericsson 3 Sweden Magnus Olsson
5 Green Dragon Ireland Ian Walker
Leg 1 Alicante to Cape Town Leg 2 Cape Town to Cochin Leg 3 Cochin to Singapore Leg 4 Singapore to Qingdao
Leg 5 Qingdao to Rio de Janeiro Leg 6 Rio de Janeiro to Boston Leg 7 Boston to Galway Leg 8 Galway to Göteborg
Leg 9 Göteborg to Stockholm Leg 10 Stockholm to St Petersburg
We would like to thank our Partners,

Sponsors and Suppliers
Race Partners
Official Satellite Communications Official Management and Strategy

Partner Consulting Partner
Official Partner of the Volvo Ocean Official Logistics Partner

Race 2011-12
104
Race Sponsors
Official Sponsor of Satellite & Radio Official Timekeeper

Communications Equipment
Race Suppliers
Official supplier of Official Supplier of Official Supplier of Official Supplier Official Supplier of
Footwear, Clothing and Marine Power Systems Information Technology Next Generation IP
Accessories Networks
Shaping the Future. Together.
The Volvo Ocean Race and BCG have partnered to
set the future course for the Race. Together we are
building the strategy for the Volvo Ocean Race to be
the undisputed leading global event in sailing and the
most attractive sailing event for sponsors, business
communities, spectators, and sailors. We at BCG
are inspired to collaborate with the toughest, most
global offshore race. The dedication of the teams and
individuals involved are of great inspiration to us all.
Official Management Consulting and Strategy Partner
to the Volvo Ocean Race.
Finally, a navigation system
without that annoying voice.
Always on course.
Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph. Ref. 3902 : “Please make a U-turn if Mechanical IWC-manufactured movement (figure) |
possible.” The instruments used by sailors in the tradition of Vasco da Gama Flyback function | Automatic IWC
are less intrusive. One of the legends of navigation is the Portuguese
double-pawl winding system |
Yacht Club Chronograph. Its IWC-manufactured movement with fly-
Date display | Antireflective
back function and automatic double-pawl winding guarantees precise
landings. And even if you happen to head off in the wrong direction, sapphire glass | Sapphire-glass back
no one’s going to start nagging you. IWC. Engineered for men. cover | Water-resistant 6 bar | Stainless steel
IWC Schaf f hausen, Swit zerland. w w w.iwc.com

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THe guidE

Your Volvo XC60

Volvo Ocean Race at Volvocars.com

04 Men of oak bludgeon cruel seas

Hearts and Minds

20 Killer coffee and the graveyard watches

Preparing for the physical demands

56  arning: stress kills

Keeping the team together

82 Three kids, eleven suitcases

ABU DHABI OCEAN RACING

N ever before has the Volvo Ocean

Men of oak bludgeon

T hey’re bound for the most treacherous waters

SANDER PLUIJM/TEAM DELTA LLOYD/VOLVO OCEAN RACE

Abu Dhabi Ocean “ Memories

• Brand new Farr design

• Experienced multi-national crew

United Arab Emirates

CAMPER with Emirates “ There were

• The French are back

• New Juan K boat

PUMA Ocean “ I was so

Racing powered by whole thing

Team Sanya “ I love the

IAN ROMAN/VOLVO OCEAN RACE

Team Telefónica “ Sailing is

• New Juan K boat

MARÍA MUIÑA/TEAM TELEFÓNICA

In-Port Race 29 Oct 2011 10 Dec 2011

Racing to Cape Town Abu Dhabi

Leg Distance 6,500 nm 5,430 nm

Cape Town Indian Ocean

SCREAMING SIXTIES ANTARCTICA

Abu Dhabi Sanya Auckland Itajai Miami Lisbon Lorient Galway

Sanya Auckland Itajai Miami Lisbon Lorient Galway -

4,600 nm 5,220 nm 6,705 nm 4,800 nm 3,590 nm 1,940 nm 485 nm -

Pacific Ocean WHALES

Traps, trials and

“ Anyone who turns upwind initially will likely be

Now it’s round the Cape of Leaving Cape Town, it’s

confined waters of the Gulf to Oxley says, “anyone who turns

This demanding leg will be sailed

“ Do you sail high of the rhumb line for a possible

“ The weather routing software we use does not

Although the North Atlantic

“ ” If you want to be a good navigator, sail

Juggling the options

TEN HosT citIeS 17

Where glamour meets grandeur. Where majesty meets mystery.

The Yas Hotel

Killer coffee and the graveyard

Guo Chuan/Green Dragon Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

to take over. Standing at the helm I am

No mercy medical clinic

Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

It’s like driving in the Paris

After two hours of trying to rest, it’s

To understand the role of

Guy Salter/Ericsson 4/Volvo Ocean Race

Brad Marsh 28 years 1 month Groupama Sailing Team

Oskar Kihlborg/Volvo Ocean Race

Zane Gills 28 years 8 months Team Telefónica

04 Men of oak bludgeon cruel seas

20 Killer coffee and the graveyard watches

56 arning: stress kills