Volvo Ocean Race - A message from Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking

by Robbert-Jan Metselaar on 15 Jan 2015 Volvo Ocean Race - A message from Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking:

'Temperatures are soaring, not a single cloud in the sky and hardly any breeze anymore. The only company we have out here are MAPFRE and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, who we only can see behind us on the horizon. Sixteen hours ago we could clearly hear the cracking of the sheets on their winches and now if you wouldn't know to look in which direction you wouldn't spot them. Of course moments like this are good for the moral as the previous night we lost so many miles, just by bad luck.'

'You can see the team growing on that point, overcoming setbacks and they all have learned to speak about it. Our official team coach Anje-Marijcke van Boxtel, from our sponsor Schouten Global, can be proud of 'her' boys. If she only could have been aboard and see their reactions over these two complete different days. I am sure a smile would have appeared on her face.'

'The Dongfeng boys are doing a great job, but we all believe that there are still opportunities for this leg. The pressure is on Donfeng right now. Not only the fleet is chasing them, also an entire Chinese nation is following their every move as they are getting closer to home. It would be great for Chinese sailing if they could win this leg , but I am afraid for them that there are still some hungry wolves out there, trying to spoil the Dongfeng party. I remember two races ago, Ericsson 4 had a 50 mile lead over us, halfway down the Strait of Malacca. And with 150 miles to go they managed only to finish fourth into Singapore. Sailing can be harsh!'

'The next three days will be painstaking slow, with not more breeze than 2-3 knots. 1 knot more of breeze in these conditions means you go 2 knots faster than the opposition. Our navigator Andrew Cape is cool as ice and he knows the opportunities are out there. And the rest of the team love what they are doing and believe in themselves. The boys will keep on pushing until the finish line. A skippers dream!'