Volvo Ocean Race - Gerd-Jan 'Johnny' Poortman voices sailing ambition

by Stefan Coppers, Team Brunel on 30 Oct 2014 Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, day 18 on board Team Brunel. Stefan Coppers reports.

Day 18 - Position: first - Distance to Cape Town: 2442 nm

While the teams in the Volvo Ocean Race are voyaging ever further south and preparing themselves for a few freezing days in the Southern Ocean, Gerd-Jan 'Johnny' Poortman is voicing a sailing ambition. 'I would love to round Cape Horn,' says Team Brunel’s bowman. Rounding the most southerly point of South America is a milestone for many sailors. Yet in spite of two earlier races, Poortman has not yet rounded the Horn.

'When I crewed on the white ABN AMRO boat, I broke my back,' continues Gerd-Jan just before starting his four-hour watch. 'I was caught by a wave that threw me hard against a daggerboard. That put me out of the running for several legs and I missed out on rounding Cape Horn. The second time I was part of the Team Delta Lloyd crew. When the other teams were rounding Cape Horn, I was sitting in a plane with the rest of my team. A few days before, the boat had been badly damaged, which forced us to abandon the leg. So once again I missed out on rounding the Horn.'

'In the Netherlands, we have a book that records the names of all Dutchmen who have ever rounded Cape Horn. I’d like to be in it too. And there’s a myth that if you have rounded Cape Horn, you’re able to piss into the wind. That’s pretty handy for a Team Brunel website