Volvo Ocean Race - Team Alvimedica rounds Fernando de Neronha

by Amory Ross, Team Alvimedica on 26 Oct 2014 Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, Day 14 onboard Team Alvimedica.

Our boat smells a bit better this morning and I’m not sure if it’s because the gnarly concoction of freeze-dried brew in the bow has been sacrificed to the sea along with some of Mark, Charlie, and Alberto’s head hair, or if it’s because those three have had a complete bathing following said sacrifice to King Neptune. Either way—subtle improvements in smell-ability go a long way on day 14.

All joking aside, the Equator line-crossing ceremony is an honored tradition and the ritual of proving your worth in Neptune’s court is one that any seasoned sailor can appreciate. Simply meeting the King of the Sea doesn’t guarantee anything: graduation from Pollywog to Shellback must be earned and I’m happy to report the trio of newbies passed with flying colors (and fish). It’s a small moment in the scope of this very big race--we’ll sail across the equator three more times before it’s over--but it’s no less an achievement, the first crossing, and it’s an experience I doubt they’ll ever forget. It was a welcome bit of fun for the rest of us, too. After a couple of tough days everyone laughed hard and it seems the gang’s a bit refreshed with theatrics and imaginary ocean lines now behind us.

We’ve just rounded the little Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, a mandatory mark of the course, at about 2:30 AM UTC. A welcome sight in land, the third 'continent' of this leg so far, but nothing to dwell on; our sights are firmly set on Cape Town over 2,500 miles to the southeast. Of course we wish we were a little higher up the leaderboard and we know we have to find some boatspeed in certain conditions, but we’re learning all the time and barely half way to the finish. There are several areas of high-pressure between here and South Africa and those represent opportunities for us, compression zones on the racecourse where the leaders slow first. There’s also plenty of heavy air running in the forecast, conditions that offer very high speeds but the potential for damage, too. It goes without saying that this leg is far from over, the standings far from Team Alvimedica website