VOR: PUMA - We'll Get There

PUMA Ocean Racing, on leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Rio de Janeiro to Boston. Image copyright Rick Deppe/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race.

by Rick Deppe

With around 750 miles to the gate at Fernando, I'm amazed at the way the race has changed my sense of time and distance. Capey and I were idly chatting this morning about the way we can just walk down the dock, throw some gear on the boat and set off on a 5000 mile leg with very little fuss. Of course we want to do well in the race and we must be sure that everything is taken care of in our own particular area, but pretty much we take this leg on as though we were going out on an overnight trip.

A big part of it has to be trust. Trust that our support team has taken care of all the technical and race preparation tasks required during the stopover, trust that our team-mates have each taken care of their responsibilities and are ready to take on the challenge alongside one another. The race hardens you up and teaches what's important.

We don't worry too much at this stage of the game about having all the fancy stuff the same way we did at the start. Its just head down in the trenches trying to get the job done with what you have in hand. But most of all, you become more patient- 750 miles to the gate, then another 3000 to the finish. No biggy, we'll get there.

PUMA Ocean Racing
Volvo Ocean Race