Volvo Ocean Race - No time for celebration aboard Dongfeng
by Yann Riou on 26 Oct 2014
Charles Caudrelier in wet conditions. Yann Riou / Dongfeng Race Team
We could have nicely crossed the Equator, celebrating the occasion for our four Southern hemisphere rookies. Then, we’d have taken two or three pics, and sailed happily to Fernando de Noronha, a cute little Brazilian island and waypoint on the Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
Yes, but that’s not how it happened.
It didn’t happen like that, because the last couple of days have been tough. Neptune didn’t spare us, leaving us unwilling to have fun with him today, a day we changed hemisphere. So we chose to do our own thing. Steering and trimming for some, sleeping in the bunks for others.
It didn’t happen like that, because ours boats, like other boats of his generation, tend to sail on its side in those wind angles, with a permanent spray that doesn’t encourage you to have a drink on deck. Our sense of self-mockery is rather strong, but not totally waterproof.
It didn’t happen like that, because that kind of celebration is not a Chinese tradition, and isn’t very strong either amongst French and Swedish sailors. We didn’t feel like we were hurting anyone by not doing anything.
That being said, we’re going to cross the Equator at least three more times in this race. So it may we’ll just save it for another Dongfeng Race Team
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