Telefonica Blue, passing through Copenhagen, on leg 9 from Marstrand to Stockholm. Image copyright Gabri Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race.
by Bouwe Bekking (skipper)
Finally, we have finished, but not easy. Five miles out, absolutely no breeze for a couple of minutes.
No cheers, no handshakes, as soon we crossed the line. We know we had an absolute shocker and have given a better podium place away. On personal note, this was the leg I have been looking forward to so much: sailing through home waters, going around a lot of corners, a leg, which suited us well on paper, but the opposite, happened.
Now we will focus on the inshore, where we have the best track record by far, and then it will sweet to finish on top in St Petersburg.
We have picked up some family members, who will sail with us through this nice area back into Stockholm; I know they will enjoy it.
Laurent Pages with the Oresund bridge on the background, on leg 9 from Marstrand to Stockholm. Image copyright Gabri Olivo/Telefonica Blue/Volvo Ocean Race.
by Gabri Olivo
We just crossed the finish line of this ninth leg from Marstrand to Stockholm. I have to admit that the mood on board is not the greatest. Knowing that all your competitors have already finished, makes it very hard for everyone sailing the boat back with no one to sail against.
Since we left, there was not much talking going on; everyone was pretty much into his own world, dealing with his theoretical philosophy of looking at what happened. We didn't talk much about it and it's over now.
What everyone is really in to and really keen on is winning the in-port and the next leg. This is the only way to finish this race on a decent note. There is a lot of talent onboard as well as lot of pride. We're a team and, as such, we want to show it to everyone. We will be back on the water as strong as never before, this is a must.
The good thing is that some of the wives and girlfriends have just joined us onboard for the trip to Stockholm, a good chance to have a little ‘family sail’ on a Volvo 70.
Tomorrow is another day.
Volvo Ocean Race
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