Volvo Race - Vestas Wind from Pearshaped onwards

by Rob Kothe on 7 Jun 2015 Australian Volvo Ocean Race skipper Chris Nicholson, sailed the 2011-2012 race as the skipper of the Kiwi entry Camper into second place behind Groupama.

Nico had been working during much of the first half of 2014 to stitch together an entry in the 2014 Volvo Ocean Race.
Late into the game came the world largest wind turbine builder, the Danish Vestas Wind.

It was a beautiful fit, a company totally devoted to wind power. Nico assembled a team and made it to the Alicante start line with just a few days to spare.

The boat had a great start winning the offshore practice race. They, as expected, had a much more difficult time into Cape Town but were mid-fleet off Mauritius in Leg 2 to Abu Dhabi, when it all went pear shaped.

Team Vestas Wind hit the Cargados Carajos Shoals at 19 knots. Nicholson, according to all reports, showed magnificent leadership in ensure his crew escaped safely from the reef.,

Most said 'Its all over, Red Rover'

But what happened next was in fact the start of another race, to get the blue boat back into the 23014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race.

Now the Team Vestas campaign is almost back on track, its Pearshaped to She's Apples, at least that is what everyone hopes.

Sail-World interviewed Nico in Lisbon earlier this week.