Volvo Ocean Race – Team SCA starts race back to Europe

by Volvo Ocean Race on 18 May 2015 Volvo Ocean Race – After a busy time in the City by the Sea, Newport, RI, USA, Team SCA and the five boats set sail at 1400h EST/1700hGMT on Sunday May 17, on the classic leg across the North Atlantic Ocean.

From this moment on the legs just get shorter and more intense. For leg seven it is a 2,800 nautical mile sprint across the Atlantic, which is expected to take around eight to nine days. Nevertheless, it’s a very tough leg where the teams can expect very cold conditions, rough seas and strong winds, big waves, big winds, as well as an area of high pressure. No one can be complacent; that shorter distance doesn’t mean it will be any less challenging.

Skipper Sam Davies, and the crew of Team SCA are no strangers to this leg, as they completed the route exactly a year ago in preparation for the race. “This leg is more of a sprint, which means we will have to push even harder. But for sure we want to stay in sight of the others to the end this time. The North Atlantic is dangerous, it is rough and anything can happen. It can throw up some challenges and I am sure this time it will be no different”.

“The atmosphere here has been amazing. It’s great for Newport and it’s great for the Volvo Ocean Race to see so many people out here today. Although I am sure the huge spectator fleet out there for the start will make life interesting for the sailors - it’s great news for the race and the teams. Thanks to everyone in Newport for a great stopover,” Sam Davies.

Follow Team SCA on website.

Crew list leg seven

Carolijn Brouwer (NED); Sally Barkow (USA); Dee Caffari (GBR); Sophie Ciszek (AUS/USA); Sam Davies (GBR); Abby Ehler (GBR); Libby Greenhalgh (GBR); Sara Hastreiter (USA), Elodie Mettraux (SUI); Justine Mettraux (SUI), Liz Wardley (AUS), Anna-Lena Elled (SWE) OnBoard Reporter.