Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Leg Two – Pole position Team Brunel

by Team Brunel on 9 Dec 2014 Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Leg two – 'Yes!' exclaims Gerd-Jan Poortman, who has just come up on deck after a short night’s sleep. 'We’re leading the pack and we are 5.8 miles ahead of Dongfeng Race Team.'

Our distance from the Chinese boat has been the subject of various bets for a few days now. It began with someone saying 'I’ll bet a roll of biscuits that we extend our lead by more than half a mile in the next two hours'. After that, the liquorice, Fruitellas and the chocolate mousse were also sacrificed and vanished from the snack box.'

'Just above the Equator, we made a golden tactical decision,' says skipper Bouwe Bekking from the Indian Ocean. 'On Saturday morning, I was woken up by our navigator Andrew Cape. He told me that a small low-pressure area had developed to the north west of our position and advised changing course by thirty degrees immediately. He had my full attention because this sort of change of course hardly ever happens. A bit later, I gave the order for a change of sail and a change of course.'

This more easterly route turned out to be the right choice. Together with Dongfeng Race Team, we overtook Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, which was sailing further to the west. In the first 45 minutes after the change of course, we also gained more than eight miles on Dongfeng Race Team. A few hours later, we were once again parked under a raincloud, but after that we again gained a few miles on the Chinese team. In the hours that followed, thanks to a lot of hard work, we were once again in the lead.'

Bouwe Bekking grins at the thought of a victory but warns, 'Just before we arrive in Abu Dhabi, we pass through the Straits of Hormuz, a stretch of water that’s surrounded by high mountains. That is perhaps the most difficult stretch of this leg. There’s a big chance that there’ll be no wind there.'

'We’re clearly faster than we were in the first leg, and sailing in the lead is always good for morale.'

On deck, the lads are not quite as reticent. 'We’re on fire!' someone shouts in the cockpit. 'I bet that we have a seven-mile lead by the end of the day,' laughs Pablo Arrarte. And within the hour a roll of chocolate biscuits will be joyfully shared out on Event website