VOR: A different type of stopover

by Victoria Low

The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 considers Marstrand a "pit stop" style stopover. The crews will be shoreside for less than 80 hours before embarking on Leg 9 at 1300 local on Sunday. Teams are restricted from their normal stopover activities in Marstrand. That means the shore crews aren't allowed to work on the yachts. Nor are teams permitted to add additional sails or other supplies before the start of Leg 9 to Stockholm, where normal stopover rules apply.

For Ericsson Racing Team that means the sailing crews are performing the work on the yachts and the shore crews, well accustomed to receiving input from many channels, will be observing and instructing from the shore with a cold bevy in their hand. In Ericsson 4's case, the list includes a bit of carbon-fiber work.

Ericsson 4 had a spectacular broach early on Leg 8 when it had too much sail up in a 40-knot squall. The crew was pushing hard and couldn't keep the yacht under control. It spun into a broach that nearly cleaned out the port-side helmsman's station.

"The first night out of Galway we got caught out in a couple squalls," said Ericsson 4 boat captain and pitman David Endean. "In the process we caused a bit of damage."

The damage list from includes a broken steering wheel and guard rail around the steering station.

Luckily none of the damage was structural, but Endean has his work cut out. Not only is there a short amount of time to make the repairs and let them cure, but he's also limited in his resources. He may only use spares that were loaded on the yacht in Galway. Nothing may be obtained shoreside to help with rebuilding the wheel and guard rail.

The spares kit includes, among other things, about three-square-meters of carbon-fiber, 1.5 liters of resin, a 1.5-square-meter carbon plate, some glue and other assorted fasteners.

Ericsson Racing Team
Volvo Ocean Race