Telefonica Blue blasting through Oresund between Denmark and Sweden. Approximate speed: 18-20 knots when hit by strong wind. Image copyright Joakim Rechnitzer/baadmagasinet.dk
by Bouwe Bekking (skipper)
What should have been the leg for which I had high hopes and with some very close racing, has turned into a ‘cruise’.
We left Marstrand last night around 2100, and yes, the wind was coming exactly from the direction where we had to go. So several tacks were necessary. It was freezing cold, raining hard and 25-30 knots of breeze. Of course, some nasty comments were made about my home country Denmark and its beautiful weather.
But since we hit the small gap at Helsingor, the breeze has swung around to the west and we are ripping off the miles. A couple of boats have come out, and we have seen lots of familiar faces. No close race, but at least they get some good pictures.
Telefonica Blue blasting through Oresund between Denmark and Sweden. Approximate speed: 18-20 knots when hit by strong wind. Image copyright Joakim Rechnitzer/baadmagasinet.dk
It is very quiet onboard, not much talking is going on, and everybody is trying to catch as much as sleep as possible. SiFi (Simon Fisher – navigator) and I don’t have a bunk for this leg, as we had taken that one off before the leg start, as we expected no sleep at all. During our forced stop, we were not allowed to bring anything back onboard, so we are laying in our foulies on a spinnaker downstairs, but since the spinnaker is dry, it is actually very comfortable.
We are now next to Copenhagen airport, so a different view of the water, as normally I am flying over this area. Having 22 knots of breeze, hopefully we keep it for another day, as that will mean an early afternoon arrival in Sandhamn.
Volvo Ocean Race
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