VOR: Ericsson Racing Team's Yachts Solid at Start of Leg 4

Ericsson 4, with Torben Grael at the helm, leads away from the start of Leg 4. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.

by Victoria Low

Ericsson Racing Team's two yachts put forth a strong showing today in a short circuit off Singapore before embarking on Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, a 2,500-nautical-mile passage to China.

Although much of the leg is expected to be upwind, the first four-plus hours have seen the fleet tight reaching at speeds between 12 and 13 knots. At the 1000 GMT position report, Torben Grael's International crew shared the fleet lead, with 2,414 nautical miles to the finish. Magnus Olsson's Nordic crew was pacing 2 miles behind.

Pre-race talk has speculated on the severity of the conditions the fleet might experience on the way to the finish port of Qingdao, China, but today's start was contrary to those expectations. A north/northeasterly wind around 12 knots, with gusts up to 15 knots, and flat seas propelled the fleet around a 6-mile triangle off the coast of Singapore.


Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 soon after the start of Leg 4. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.

Ericsson 4 and Ericsson 3 were first and third at the first mark after working the right side of the initial leg. Grael and the International crew sailed strong, winning the boat end of the start line and working the right side of the beat.

On starboard tack and halfway to the first mark Grael and mates forced Puma to tack on their lee bow, and then lifted off their rival to secure the lead. The International crew held the lead around the triangle and onto the open course.

Ericsson 3 also sailed strongly. Olsson's Nordic crew worked the middle right of the beat and rolled over Green Dragon at the top mark for third place. The Nordic crew's energy was evident when it pulled off a flawless set to the asymmetric gennaker.

The second leg was a run, followed by a jib reach back to the race committee boat at which time the boats were freed onto the course. The order at the committee boat was Ericsson 4, Puma, Green Dragon, Ericsson 3, Telefónica Blue, Telefónica Black and Delta Lloyd.

Leg 4 is expected to last between 12 and 14 days, depending on the severity of the conditions and how much the crews must throttle back to prevent damage to their boat.

The first tactical hurdle will come in two or three days, when skippers and navigators have to decide whether to pass to the west or east of Dangerous Grounds, an area of shoals and atolls to the west of the Philippine island of Palawan. It's a shorter distance to the west, but the conditions to the east might be less damaging.

"Basically, we can't sail into Dangerous Grounds," said Tony Mutter, trimmer and helmsman for Ericsson 4. "It depends on a shift whether we tack before it (and go west) or have to go east of it. That could be the first split. If the tail-enders split west and the leaders go east, they could catch up again."

Leg 4 takes the fleet from the tropical luxuries of Singapore (at 1.4 North latitude) to Qingdao (at 36.1 N), host last summer to the Olympic Regatta but now in the grips of winter.

As the fleet progresses across the South China Sea, past Taiwan, into the East China Sea and then the Yellow Sea, the air and sea temperatures are expected to fall to freezing levels or colder. Additionally, the wind and wave states at Luzon Strait, between southern Taiwan and northern Philippines, could be brutal.

"For the first five days it's fine, followed by two bad days, and then fine the rest of the way to China," said Olsson. "The two bad days in Luzon Strait will decide the outcome of the race. It's going to blow like stink, and there'll be lots of current with us and against the wind. The sea state will be really crazy."

VOLVO OCEAN RACE LEG 4 LEADERBOARD
(Jan. 18, 2009, 1000 GMT)
1. Ericsson 4, 2,414 nautical miles to finish
1. Puma, same
3. Telefónica Blue, +1 NM
4. Ericsson 3, +2 NM
4. Green Dragon, same
4. Telefónica Black, same
7. Delta Lloyd, +3 NM

Ericsson Racing Team

Volvo Ocean Race

VOR: Ericsson 4 and PUMA lead at start of Leg 4 to Qingdao

Ericsson 4 leads the way out of Singapore at the start of Leg 4. Image copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team.

by Volvo Ocean Race media

The Volvo Ocean Race returned to the race track on 18th January in Singapore when the gun fired signifying the start of the 2,500 nautical mile leg to Qingdao in China, the leg most crews consider will be one of the most difficult and brutal legs of the race. Never in this history of the race has there been a leg like this, where the fleet will be sailing upwind for such an extensive distance. The difference between racing and surviving is taken very seriously and all skippers are predicting the need to ease back when conditions worsen.

After the blessing of the fleet, the start got underway in ideal conditions of 10 – 15 knots. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) and PUMA (Kenny Read/USA) immediately commenced battle and both had their bows ahead of the rest, opting for the middle of the line, while Delta Lloyd, with new navigator Frits Koek/NED in the navigator’s chair, chose the pin end. Both Telefónica boats and Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR) were in the second row as the gun fired at 1300 local time (0500 GMT) and the fleet pounded up the first two-mile beat.

At windward mark, Ericsson 4 led, with some smart sail handling, with PUMA right on her heels. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE) performed an outstanding spinnaker hoist and took third place, while Green Dragon struggled with their huge gennaker in fourth position.

The match racing continued between the two leaders, as they approached the next mark, Ericsson 4 proving to be the class of the fleet. PUMA was just a couple of boat lengths behind; Green Dragon rolled Ericsson 3 and was followed by the two Telefónica boats and Delta Lloyd.

The committee boat formed the last rounding mark before the fleet sheeted in and headed upwind to China. Ericsson 4 was the clear leader, followed by PUMA. A gap opened up to Green Dragon with Ericsson 3 right on her tail. Telefónica Blue was fifth, a disappointing position for Bouwe Bekking and his men, and Telefonica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP), taking a penalty of three points for swapping to new rudders, were sixth. Delta Lloyd brought up the rear.

It will be an interesting first 10 hours of this leg as the positions begin to establish.

Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA): 39 points
2. Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED): 33.5 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read/USA): 31 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE): 24 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR): 22.5 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP): 19 points*
7. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT): 10.5 points
8. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP): 10 points
For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:

*Penalty of three points applied for rudder change

Volvo Ocean Race

Vendée Globe 2008-9 Update

Roxy with spray flying over her bow at sunrise. Image copyright Sam Davies/Roxy/Vendée Globe.

by Véronique Teurlay and SailRaceWin

Jury Decisions on Redress for PRB and Brit Air


PRB arriving in Puerto Williams, Chile, in tow from the Chilean navy. Image copyright Chilean Navy/Vendée Globe.

The international jury has made its decision concerning the redress requested by Vincent Riou (PRB) and the redress claim for Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) for the rescue of Jean Le Cam.
Armel Le Cléac’h is awarded 11 hours for taking part in the rescue of Jean Le Cam. These eleven hours will be subtracted from his final finishing time.

Vincent Riou, in third place when he was called to the rescue of Jean (taking into account that Jean was already out of the race following his capsize), will be ranked third equal in the Vendée Globe with the competitor, who finishes third.

Jean-Pierre Dick reaches Auckland

"I've just reached Auckland after more than 1800 miles (3333 km) of sailing in the Indian Ocean with a damaged rudder. It made the sailing very tricky. After my second rudder broke on 31st December 2008 following a collision with a UFO, my goal was to take my boat to a safe harbour. So now I have done that, even if it feels very strange being here in New Zealand. 13 days ago, I was racing in the Vendée Globe, and now I'm stepping ashore on the other side of the world, where the boat was built."

Sail Woes for Dee Caffari on Aviva






Delamination of the mainsail on Aviva. Images copyright Dee Caffari/Aviva/Vendée Globe

"It is the stuff nightmares are made of. I woke from my slumber and saw a slow boat speed and immediately dropped the ballast tank. I couldn't decide if south was better than heading east, but one thing was for sure, I couldn't actually head the direction I wanted to go in. "I went on deck to take a look around. The dawn was just breaking so it was light enough to see everything. I was looking at my mainsail, which has been a concern for the whole of the Southern Ocean, and I noticed some more sail flapping in the breeze. My shoulders slumped and as I continued to look I realised with horror that it wasn't the layer that is blowing away daily but the layer on the good side of the mainsail. In fact the only layer of mainsail left! I cursed, gybed quickly and dropped the mainsail to the third reef. I grabbed my sail repair kit, which is now running extremely low, and spent an hour patching the tear in the cloth. With the forecast set for the winds to increase and knowing that moving the sail up and down cannot be good for the cloth I have elected to remain at three reefs and keep my fingers crossed. If it can just get me to the Atlantic then I can choose a route with no scary wind and nurse my sail home. My biggest fear now is will the sail last the final big blow from the Southern Ocean depression before I turn left? So miles won and miles lost, the important thing for me is to stay in the race."

If Dee Caffari is able to finish the race then she will be the first woman to have sailed around the world in both directions single-handed.

Norbert meets Raphaël in the south Pacific Ocean


Norbert Sedlacek in the south Pacific Ocean. Image copyright Norbert Sedlacek/Nauticsport Kapsch/Vendée Globe

"In the last few hours I had a great situation finding Dinelli in the middle of the South Pacific. We got contact with iridium and then later with VHF and came very close to make some pictures and videos. It is really sensational how the different situations are developing in an adventure like that. Raphael and I will see that we sail the southern Pacific together, then after Cape Horn maybe Raphael will stop to do some repairs. So in the end it was one of the most beautiful days during the race and I am very very happy about the date with Raphael and wish for the day when we have a drink in les Sables together to talk about this great moment!"

Bilou (Roland Jourdain) finishes his repairs








Images of the damage to Veolia Environnement after hitting a whale. Images copyright Roland Jourdain/Veolia Environnement/Vendée Globe.

Two and a half days after a chance encounter with a sea mammal, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) has finished repairing the damage that was done to his boat, in particular to the mast bulkhead. Roland Jourdain contacted by his shore team today:

"I'm pleased about my night and this final piece of work using bunches of battens from the mainsail, which I stuck together to form a solid bar, and then stuck onto the bulkhead at the foot of the mast to consolidate everything. It should be as solid as concrete to ensure we get home, unless there is something I haven't seen of course. Now I'm going to have to get the speed back up. I'm going to try to clean up a bit, as there's dust everywhere. It makes you itch all the time. It's hell!"

Roxy (Sam Davies) has an attack of the cling-ons, and a visit from a fighter jet




Roxy suffers an attack of the cling-ons from a veritable forest of kelp. Images copyright Sam Davies/Roxy/Vendée Globe.

"Well, yesterday evening was hard work! I was just thinking that now the upwind work has started, things will become quieter - I may even get bored.... That was a mistake to think that, because just as I picked up my book, Roxy lurched and slowed instantly from 10 to 8 knots.... So, I got out my endoscope to inspect what "cling-ons" we had picked up, and discovered that we had been attacked by a forest of giant Kelp! I spent an hour doing back downs (after four years of Figaro I'm good at that) but to no avail. The kelp was probably as long as Roxy as the branches trailed beyond the transom (from around the keel!) I managed to wrestle a bit of it off with the boathook and my hands (disgusting!) So, I realised that I may have to take an earlier bath than planned to free us from our "cling-on"! I stopped Roxy by dropping all the sails - the first time since the two months of the race that Roxy has stopped! I waited to see if this would clear the kelp and had another look with the endoscope - Yes! The forest has gone - thank goodness - no swimming for me today. So, after a lot of exercise (and 2 hours of down-time), I got Roxy up and running again - kelp-free and 2 knots faster! I was totally knackered, I managed to eat an 800 calorie meal, a bar of chocolate and drink pretty much an entire bottle of water! Hopefully today I will not have so many adventures - in fact I am actually quite looking forward to being bored..."

Earlier...

"Since Cape Horn, we keep having islands spring up right in our path! The closest one was a little tiny island 30 miles South of the Falklands called Beauchene Island. We actually had to swerve to avoid it, and I passed about a mile and a half to leeward. It was a bird-heaven, and Roxy was surrounded by all kinds of sea birds, and passing to leeward of the island was a smelly mistake as it smells of bird poo! I even had a duck (or what looked like a duck) flying round Roxy. It was so funny because it was trying to do what the albatrosses do and play in the updraft of Roxy's sails, but the duck doesn't glide, she had to keep flapping her wings, and she nearly ended up crash landing on the foredeck! I guess Lucky would have been happy to find a real friend on board! I was down below and I heard a really scary noise - like the daggerboard was breaking - and I shot up on deck to see what it was.... and there, zooming past my head was a fighter jet! Maverick and Goose came to see me! The jet did a couple of circles around Roxy, really low altitude, to say hi... they must have seen me in the cockpit so then they sped off in front of Roxy and gave me a show-off display by doing a vertical climb terminating in a barrel roll right in front of us! As you can imagine, the little girl in her pink boat stood there wide-eyed, HUGE smile, totally bewitched by these Top Gun heroes who just made her day!"

Is the Professor's work done?


Sunset from Foncia. Image copyright Michel Desjoyeaux/Foncia/Vendée Globe.

Michel Desjoyeaux leads by over 450 miles and confirmed this morning that he feels he has done a good enough job to win this Vendée Globe.

He has no plans to sail especially conservatively, but what happens now will be down to luck. While the Doldrums ahead look quite wide and active, so they should remain the same for second placed Bilou, Roland Jourdain.

With a ‘classic’ weather situation in the North Atlantic, mainly westerly airflow, he should regain the Vendée Globe course record, despite it being a longer course and him re-starting 40 hours after the fleet.

Vincent Riou’s record of 87 days 10 hours, 47 minutes looks certain to fall.

Latest news from the front-runners:

1st: Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia): Busy tidying up inside. Mathematical calculations don’t mean that much as you have to consider other elements, so he was right the other day about his lead over Bilou of around 400 miles. Doldrums look more complicated than usual. Has been getting satellite info directly. Thinks he will be slowed a bit but should get through. Strong winds after the Doldrums. Should have a westerly flow in North Atlantic, so an arc to the west. Not a lot to do in terms of strategy. Needs to remain concentrated, but no complex situations to worry him. ETA 1st or 2nd Feb.

Main problem since being in the lead is the pressure to stay in the lead, but doesn’t feel increased pressure now. It’s lasted a long time already so is getting used to it. There is the possibility of not winning, but everything is fine on the boat.

2nd: Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement): Squally weather and calms as if he was in the Doldrums. Thought he’d got out of those conditions at yesterday. Can see Mich Desj getting away. A bad Sunday. “ As long as there’s life, there’s hope.” It’s going to be tough as distance is growing, but there are the Doldrums, which may slow Michel down. In it until the finish and racing as if he can still win. Wind up to 30 knots in squalls, then very light outside of them. Hot out on deck doing manoeuvres. Sea temperature 26°C - Air temperature 29.1° this morning. A couple of rainbows in sky as sky seems to be clearing. Some flying fish. The hunting season, as far as Desjoyeaux is concerned, is open until early February.

Vendée Globe

Shosholoza Prepare for Louis Vuitton Pacific Series by Training in Valencia

Team Shosholoza. Image copyright Sally Collison.

Europe's icy cold spell doesn't stop first sail for yacht Shosholoza RSA in 2009

by Di Meek

South Africa’s Team Shosholoza plan to start 2009 on a high “down under” in New Zealand when they come up against nine crack international teams from eight countries competing in the first ever Louis Vuitton Pacific Match Racing Series starting on 30 January in Auckland.

The new series has attracted the cream of the America’s Cup including 2007 winners the Swiss Team Alinghi, runners up Emirates Team New Zealand, Italy's Luna Rossa and the USA's BMW Oracle Racing. Britain's Team Origin, France's K-Challenge, China Team, the new Damiani Italia and a recently formed Greek Challenge make up the rest of the contesting fleet.

The teams will take turns in racing one-on-one on Team New Zealand's yachts NZL 92 and NZL 84 and BMW Oracle Racing's yachts USA 87 and USA 98. There will be six races each day in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and a daily draw to decide which yacht competing teams will sail that day.

Meanwhile despite the icy cold spell in Europe, the Shosholoza team selected for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has arrived at the South African base in Valencia, Spain,where they are holding an intensive 10 day sail training session aboard yacht Shosholoza RSA 83 before heading south to New Zealand.

"Our first day back on Shosholoza was a little tough because the sea was bouncy and choppy and very very cold! We left the dock in miserable seven degree gloom and rain but the guys were eager to get going and the weather has improved daily since then," said Shosholoza skipper and helmsman Paolo Cian.

The training session in Valencia will also include practice races against Damiani Italia, Luna Rossa and Team Alinghi who are also in Valencia for sail training. There will be a further week's practice racing for all the teams from 24 - 29th January in New Zealand.

Shosholoza is at the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series after making her debut at the 2007 America's Cup. The team was the first ever challenger from the African continent in the 156 year history of sailing's most prestigious contest. Celebrated for their gutsy, "can do" attitude the team, comprising mainly amateur club sailors with no previous America's Cup experience, felt victorious as first timers to bow out of the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup in 7th place ahead of the French, Italy's +39, the Germans and China.

Italy's Paolo Cian and Tommaso Chieffi were among those who brought America’s Cup expertise and international professional experience to the fledgling South African team in Valencia and they will be on board again in Aucklandas skipper and tactician respectively. Shosholoza's make-up in New Zealand is hence more international with South African and Italian sailors making up the rest of the team.

Cian and his crack match racing team who ensured a high profile presence for Team Shosholoza on the 2008 World Match Racing Tour form the core of the Shosholoza crew in Auckland. Cian is No 4 in the Open Ranking of the ISAF world match racing rankings after holding the no 3 spot throughout 2008 - only slipping to 4th with the final rankings release on 17th December. He is currently 7th on the 2008 World Championship Leaderboard of the World Match Racing Tour.

Shosholoza sailors from the 2007 America’s Cup on board for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series include Charles Nankin (mast man), David Rae (main trimmer), Solomon Dipeere (pitman) and grinders Reinhardt Rauscher, Camron Wills and Moctar Fall. Jo Lees will manage the shore activities. New to the team is Zimbabwean born Vernon Neville, a top athlete who grew up in South Africa and later became a professional sailor. Neville was a grinder with Italian Louis Vuitton Cup finalists Luna Rossa in the 2007 America's Cup and previously with the America's Cup challenger, Team Prada.

Shosholoza founding managing director Captain Salvatore Sarnosaid Shosholoza had a tremendous 2008 even though continued court action between Alinghi and BMW Oracle keeps the America's Cup on hold.

“We should have already been well into preliminary regattas for the 33rd America’s Cup. But new and unexpected opportunities such as the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series have come our way. They have allowed us to bring some members of the 2007 America’s Cup team together again and still generate excellent exposure for our sponsors MSC Crociere and Breil Milano.

"We are deeply grateful to them for remaining loyal to their investment in us and we are confident 2009 will bring more great opportunities for Team Shosholoza.,” said Captain Sarno.

Team Shosholoza raced as a VIP guest entry in the Naples Velalonga in Southern Italy in June 2008 and at the Trieste Barcolana in Northern Italy in October last year. Both events brought extensive headline coverage around the world for the South African team and were important in terms of exposure for the team's sponsors both of which have their headquarters in Italy.

Team Shosholoza crew list for Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

1 Pietro Mantovani: Bowman
2 Giuseppe Leonardi: Mid-Bow
3 Charles Nankin: Mast Man
4 Antar Vigna: Pit Man
5 Solomon Dipeere: Pit Ass.
6 Giuseppe Brizzi: Pit asist
7 Massimo Gherarducci: Back Up Pit Area
8 Massimo Paradiso: Starboard Grinder
9 Reinhardt Rauscher: Port Grinder
10 Salvatore Pavoni: Up-wind Trimmer
11 Pierluigi De Felice: Down-wind Trimmer
12 Camron Wills: Mid Grinder
13 Pierluigi Fornelli: Traveller
14 David Rae: Main Trimmer
15 Paolo Cian: Helmsman/Skipper
16 Tommaso Chieffi: Tactician
17 Cameron Appleton: Strategist
18 Francesco Mongelli: Navigator
19 Andrea Pavan: Aft Grinder
20 Moctar Fall: Back up Grinder
21 Vernon Neville: Back up grinder

22 Salvatore Sarno: Team Principal
23 Jo Lees: Shore Team Manager

Team Shosholoza

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

TEAMORIGIN to Compete in Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Ben Ainslie to lead the British charge

by Leslie Ryan

TEAMORIGIN, the British Challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup, is one of 10 teams preparing to compete in the new ‘Louis Vuitton Pacific Series’ event taking place in Auckland, New Zealand, between 30th January and 14th February 2009. This will be the team’s second regatta in version 5 America’s Cup racing boats, having already competed in the CNEV regatta in Valencia, Spain in November 2008.

This new event has been introduced by Louis Vuitton in partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand. Louis Vuitton is a long time sponsor and supporter of the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup event. The initial aim was to gather six teams for the inaugural event, but the organizers have had interest from an impressive 24 teams. The final entry list for the regatta comprises 10 teams representing nine countries.

Crews will take turns match racing one-on-one in four boats – two from Emirates Team New Zealand (current holders of the Louis Vuitton Cup) and two borrowed from BMW Oracle racing. The racing will be held close to shore and event organizers aim to provide competitive, action packed racing with plenty for spectators to see, as well as an event village open to the general public.

TEAMORIGIN Skipper and Helm, Ben Ainslie, currently racing Etchells in Adelaide, Australia, commented: “Given the delays we have experienced in America’s Cup matters during 2007 and 2008, it will be very refreshing to get out on the water and race again! It’s good to see so many teams active and ready to compete, and such a great mix of existing and new teams together, which bodes well for the future of America’s Cup racing. For TEAMORIGIN, it will be a chance to get our sailors together and race against some top teams which I am very much looking forward to.”

TEAMORIGIN announced their sailing and support team for the event as follows:

Sailing
Matt Cornwell (GBR) - Bowman
Julian Cressant (FRA) - Mid Bow
George Skuodas (GBR) - Mast
Barry McKay (NZL) - Pit
Craig Monk (NZL) - Grind 1
Pawel Bielecki (POL) - Grind 2
Chris Brittle (GBR) - Mid Grind
Robbie Naismith (NZL) - Trim up
Christian Kamp (AUT) - Trim down
Chris Salthouse (NZL) - Main
Chris Draper (GBR) - Traveller
Ben Ainslie (GBR) - Helm & Skipper
Iain Percy (GBR) - Tactician
Peter Isler (USA) - Navigator
Andrew Simpson (GBR) - Strategist
Mike Sanderson (NZL) - Runner & Team Director
Anthony Nossiter (AUS) - Runner/pit assist
Mike Mottl (AUS) - Back-up trimmer
David Carr (GBR) - Back-up grinder
Stevie Erickson (USA) - Sailing Team Manager
Kelvin Harrap (NZL) - Afterguard Coach

Shore/tender
David Duff - Shore Operations Director
Alistair McRae - Tender driver

Shore support
Charlotte Kootstra - PA to Team Director / Shore support
Leslie Ryan - Marketing & Events Director
Sir Keith Mills - Team Principal

Teams entered for the event
Alinghi, Switzerland
BMW Oracle Racing, USA
China Team, China
Damiana Team, Italy
Emirates Team New Zealand, New Zealand
Greek Challenge, Greece
K Challenge, France
Luna Rossa, Italy
TEAMORIGIN, Great Britain
Team Shosholoza, South Africa

TEAMORIGIN

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

VOR: Leg 4 - Cold and Dangerous Waters Ahead

The fleet of Volvo Open 70s battle around the short course for the Singapore In-Port Races. Image copyright David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race.

by Volvo Ocean Race media

Leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Singapore to Qingdao (2,500 nm), promises to be among the hardest sections of this edition of the race. Before the finish in China, the crews are expected to encounter difficult upwind conditions, freezing temperatures, and boat-breaking sea states caused by strong winds battling fierce currents.

On Friday, the pre-start press conference with the seven skippers in Singapore featured the unusual sight of these highly competitive sailors speaking not of winning the leg, but of how it might be necessary to ease off, to preserve their crew and equipment to ensure safe arrival in Qingdao, China.

“We want to come first like everyone else, but we want to get there more than we want to get there first,” said Torben Grael, skipper of the race leading Ericsson 4.
The others on the stage agreed: “Fast or slow, we need to get there in one piece. We have to look out for each other," added Ken Read, skipper of PUMA. "We could get into situations where others need our help so it is a challenge for everyone, not just individually but as a fleet. We've got to get there. We just have to get there.”

“You need to be fast and smart but most important, you need to get there in one piece,” said Ian Walker, who will be sailing the Green Dragon into its home waters as the boat was built in China.

Leg four is nominally a 2500 nautical mile battle; one of the medium length legs in the race. But, in reality, the teams are expected to sail much further, as the prevailing conditions would typically make much of the leg an upwind beat.

After spending the better part of a month on Sentosa Island in Singapore, it is hard to imagine what lies ahead. The leg will start on Sunday in winds forecast to be near 15 knots and temperatures approaching 30-degrees.

The first half of this leg should be straightforward; sail the fastest up the race course, utilising the shifts to strike off the miles efficiently. Boat speed and weather analysis will be the keys to success here. Then, a tactically difficult decision comes; whether to go inside or outside Taiwan. The current and sea state will be major factors in making this call.

The final obstacle will be the winter storms that often sweep off the mainland of China at this time of year. They can bring strong winds, thick clouds and rain, or snow and will doubtless provide a very stern test.

When the teams arrive in Qingdao, they will be hosted at a first-class facility. The Race Village is in the same location as the sailing events in the 2008 Olympic Games. The first boats are due to arrive on the 30 January.

The race start in Singapore is scheduled for 1300 local time (0500 GMT). The teams will sail around a triangle-shaped course after the start before proceeding out to sea.

Crew Lists for Leg 4

DELTA LLOYD
1. Roberto Bérmudez de Castro/ESP – skipper
2. Frits Koek/NED - navigator
3. Sander Pluijm/NED -MCM
4. Stuart Wilson/NZL – watch captain
5. Guillermo Altadill/ESP – watch captain
6. Andre Fonseca/BRA - helmsman
7. David Pella/ESP – trimmer/pitman
8. Edwin O’Connor/IRL – trimmer
9. Martin Watts/GBR – trimmer
10. Gerd-Jan Poortman/NED – bowman
11. Morgan White/AUS - bowman
On: Frits Koek/NED – navigator
Guillermo Altadill/ESP – watch captain
Andre Fonseca/BRA – helmsman
David Pella/ESP – trimmer/pitman
Off: Matthew Gregory/USA - navigator
Ryan Houston/NZL – watch captain
Peter Van Nierkerk/ NED – helmsman
Eduard van Lierde//NED – helmsman

ERICSSON 4
1. Torben Grael/BRA - skipper
2. Jules Salter/GBR - navigator
3. Guy Salter/GBR - MCM
4. Brad Jackson/NZL – watch captain
5. Stu Bannatyne/NZL – watch captain
6. Dave Endean/NZL - pitman
7. Horacio Carabelli/BRA - trimmer
8. Tony Mutter/NZL - trimmer
9. Joao Signorini/BRA - trimmer
10. Ryan Godfrey/AUS - bowman
11. Phil Jameson/NZL – bowman
No changes

ERICSSON 3
1. Magnus Olsson/SWE – skipper
2. Aksel Magdahl/NOR - navigator
3. Gustav Morin/SWE MCM
4. Richard Mason/NZL - watch captain
5. Thomas Johansson/FIN - helmsman
6. Claes Nylof/SWE - helmsman
7. Martin Strömberg/SWE – trimmer
8. Jens Dolmer/DEN - pitman
9. Jann Neergaard/DEN
10. Anders Dahlsjö/SWE - mastman
11. Martin Krite/SWE - Bowman
On: Claes Nylof/SWE – helmsman
Jann Neergaard/DEN
Off: Anders Lewander/SWE
Eivind Melleby/NOR – helmsman

GREEN DRAGON
1. Ian Walker/GBR - skipper
2. Ian Moore/IRL – navigator
3. Guo Chuan/CHN - MCM
4. Neal McDonald/GBR – watch captain
5. Anthony Merrington/AUS – watch captain
6. Ian Budgen/GBR helmsman/trimmer
7. Phil Harmer/AUS – helmsman/trimmer
8. Tom Braidwood/AUS – pitman/trimmer
9. Andrew Mclean/NZL – pitman/trimmer
10. Freddie Shanks/GBR - bowman
11. Justin Slattery/IRL – bowman
On: Ian Moore/IRL – navigator
Tom Braidwood/AUS – pitman/trimmer
Ian Budgen/GBR helmsman/trimmer
Off: Steve Hayles/GBR – navigator
Damian Foxall/IRL – watch captain
James Carroll/IRL – pitman

PUMA OCEAN RACING
1. Ken Read/USA - skipper
2. Andrew Cape/AUS - navigator
3. Rick Deppe/GBR MCM
4. Sidney Gavignet/FRA – watch captain
5. Robert Greenhalgh/GBR – watch captain
6. Rob Salthouse/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
7. Justin Ferris/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
8. Erle Williams/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
9. Shannon Falcone/ANT – trimmer/pitman
10. Casey Smith/AUS – bowman
11. Michael Müller/GER – helmsman/bowman
On: Erle Williams/NZL – helmsman/trimmer
Off: Chris Nicholson/AUS – watch captain

TELEFÓNICA BLUE
1. Bouwe Bekking/NED - skipper
2. Iker Martinez/ESP - co-skipper/helmsman
3. Simon Fisher/GBR- navigator
4. Gabriele Olivo/ITA - MCM
5. Jonathan Swain/RSA – watch captain
6. Tom Addis/AUS – meteo
7. Jordi Calafat ESP – helmsman
8. Xabier Fernandez/ESP - trimmer
9. Pablo Arrarte/ESP Spanish - trimmer
10. Daryl Wislang/NZL - bowman
11. Pepe Ribes/ESP - bowman
No changes

TELEFÓNICA BLACK
1. Fernando Echávarri/ESP- skipper
2. Roger Nilson/SWE - navigator
3. Mikel Pasabant/ESP - MCM
4. Gonzalo Araujo/ESP – watch captain
5. Jaime Arbones/ESP – watch captain
6. Francisco Rivero/ESP - bowman
7. Pablo Iglesias/ESP - helmsman
8. Javier De La Plaza/ESP - helmsman
9. David Vera/ESP - trimmer
10. Antonio Cuervas-Mons/ESP - trimmer
11. Michael Pammenter/RSA - bowman
On: Francisco Rivero/ESP - bowman
Off: Santiago Lange/ARG – watch captain

UBS Challenge for the In-Port Race in the Volvo Ocean Race Singapore
1. Ericsson 4: (4 points)
2. PUMA: (3.5 points)
3. Telefónica Blue: (3 points)
4. Telefónica Black: (2.5 points)
5. Green Dragon: (2 points)
6. Ericsson 3: (1.5 points)
7. Delta Lloyd: (1 point)

Overall Leaderboard
1. Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA): 39 points
2.Telefónica Blue (Bouwe Bekking/NED): 33.5 points
3. PUMA (Ken Read/USA): 31 points
4. Ericsson 3 (Magnus Olsson/SWE): 24 points
5. Green Dragon (Ian Walker/GBR): 22.5 points
6. Telefónica Black (Fernando Echavarri/ESP): 22 points
7. Team Russia (Andreas Hanakamp/AUT): 10.5 points
8. Delta Lloyd (Roberto Bermudez/ESP): 10 points

Volvo Ocean Race

Flying Fifteen Worlds 2009: Victory for the Aussies; Kiwis Fourth

FF Australian National Champions are the World Champions too. No Bull, the victors, chased by ****, who finished second overall. Image copyright Bernie Kaaks.

by David Seaman

Racing was cancelled on Day 5 due to strong winds.

Wednesday, 14th January, was a great last day for the Regatta, with two boats tied on equal points in first place, but it was Grant Alderson and Dean McAullay in 3833 who came up trumps.

After a poor start, they managed to get into fourth place to clinch the title.

They had to beat **** (Barry Parkin) to win, and they did it by one place.

This was a tremendous result for the West Australians, backing up their National Title from the previous week.

The best Kiwis were Aaron Goodmanson and Alister Rowlands in Ffortune, who finished fourth overall.

Well done to the locals, and congratulations to all who competed who made this a great event!


Flying Fifteen Worlds trophy. Image copyright S. Nowicka.

Final Overall Results (top ten):

1. 3833 No Bull Grant Alderson/Dean McAullay (AUS) 2-2-12-(12)-1-1-3 21pts
2. 3911 **** Barry Parkin/Tim Hall (GBR) (6)-1-5-3-4-5-4 22pts
3. 3821 TBA Steve Goacher/Phil Evans (GBR) 1-3-13-6-3-(16)-2 28pts
4. 3739 Ffortune Aaron Goodmanson/Alister Rowlands (NZL) 5-6-(11)-7-6-8-1 33pts
5. 3905 Secret Ingredient X David McKee/Chris Hewkin (GBR) 9-(18)-8-8-5-11-6 47pts
6. 3917 Art Gekko Mike Hart/Tichard Rigg (GBR) 3-36-(81)-1-2-2-5 49pts
7. 3781 16 David Tucker/Matt Summers (NZL) 15-5-1-5-11-(33)-13 50pts
8. 3840 Ffrenetic Murray Gilbert/Jonathan Burgen (NZL) 11-17-3-4-16-4-(18) 55pts
9. 3931 N/a Alan Bax/Bill Masterman (GBR) 8-4-(40)-2-9-23-10 56pts
10. 3923 Ff Charles Apthorp/Alan Green (GBR) 4-7-(81)-34-14-3-7 69pts

Flying Fifteen Worlds 2009