Home 23 Nov 2011 If you have trouble reading this email CLICK HERE To respond to this email CLICK HERE Volvo Ocean Race - Newsletter - Leg 1 24 November 2011 Despair as Puma Ocean Racing is dismasted  Amory Ross/Puma Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race© Welcome to Sail-World.com's Volvo Ocean Race Newsletter for 24 November 2011 The Volvo Ocean Race has been turned on its ear since the crews round the major turning mark of Fernando de Noronha, 190nm off the Brazilian coast, and headed for the finish in Cape Town, South Africa, where they should finish in about three days time. Until early this week the race had been one of proving a few of old maxims. The dice were rolled for this first leg a couple of days after the start in Alicante, when the boats had exited the Straits of Gibraltar. The question of whether or not to go west and when had to be made at the juncture, and the two current leaders, Telefonica and Puma Ocean Racing took the west and put their stamp on the race. The maxim of 'West is Best' certainly paid on this leg, as it did for Green Dragon in the previous race on this same leg. The foredeck on Telefonica is reflected in the Kaenon sunglasses of Xabi Fernandez, onboard Team Telefonica during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa.   Diego Fructuoso/ Team Telefónica Camper hesitated, and as we know, 'He who hesitates is Lost'. The Spanish sponsored, New Zealand crewed entry lost heavily, but pulled back somewhat to round about 90nm behind. Groupama decided to hug the African coast - a move which gained them plenty of publicity in the first week, however a massive lead evaporated in just over a day, and their gamble didn't pay off. They lost close to 500nm in the process trailing by over 300nm at Fernando de Noronha. Since then the fleet have negotiated the Doldrums which proved to be less of a hurdle than in previous editions of the race, with Camper reporting they got through windless/squall ridden zone in just eight hours. Media Crew Member Yann Riou filming King Neptune onboard Groupama Sailing Team during leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa.   Yann Riou/Groupama sailing team © The boats have also been visited by King Neptune and the lovely Princess Codfish for the Equator Crossing ceremonies. Of which we have several picture and some great video in this edition of Sail-World.com's Volvo Ocean race newsletter. Now it is all eyes on South Africa, and after the second dismasting the race has shifted from the race crews to the shore teams, as they race to get their charges ready for the start of Leg 2 on 11 December. Puma loading diesel - Leg 1 Volvo Ocean Race  Amory Ross/Puma Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race© Until Puma dropped her rig, the interest centred on whether Puma and maybe Camper could have reeled in Telefonica, which has made all the running since about the fourth day of the first leg. For a time it seemed as though Camper might be able to work an edge as the two front runners deviated from the track recommended by the weather routers. But they both closed the door on the Spanish Kiwi entry, and the chapter closed on the leg with Puma's dismasting. Puma ponders their broken mast on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 in the southern Atlantic Ocean, about 2,150 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa.   Amory Ross/Puma Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race© From there another maxium came into play 'to finish first, first you must finish'. The three remaining yachts realised that it was better to make the finish line in one piece and take the leg points than push too hard, cause some damage, lose points. and drop their shore teams into a fortnight of no sleep. We have a full run down and video on the Puma situation, in this newsletter, plus images from the refueling rendezvous which took place with a large container ship ZIM Monaco - swapping diesel for Puma shirts in mid-Atlantic! Puma suffers a broken mast on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12  Amory Ross/Puma Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race© This newsletter is later than intended as we had to enhance our mail system to cope with the subscriber load. All going to plan we will be sending another newsletter after the finish in Cape Town predicted for the 27th November, and when the situation is clear with the three rebuilds. Salthouse Boatbuilders working on the new bow section for Team Sanya at Jaz marine. Cape Town, South Africa.   Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race© For the latest updates stay tuned to www.sail-world.com - and click on the Volvo Ocean Race button in the top header bar, to see all stories for all regions from this exciting race - all updated as the race unfolds. Good sailing! Richard Gladwell Editor@Large To subscribe a friend to Sail-World's FREE newsletter click here If you wish to come off our mailing list please click the unsubscribe button on this newsletter, or drop a line to sailworld@gmail.com or call (+649) 489 9267 Stay up with the latest sailing news, as it happens, on our website www.sail-world.com Volvo Ocean Race: Puma effects fuel transfer at sea + Video Amory Ross, Puma Ocean Racing have completed a mid-sea fuel transfer that will allow them to reach land, the first phase of their logistical battle to stay in the Volvo Ocean Race. 'These are our new best friends,' Puma skipper Ken Read of the 257-metre cargo ship ZIM Monaco. This is the first stage in a complex logistical plan to get Puma back on the start line for Leg 2 on 11 December... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race crews push the limits Sophie Luther, In the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, Puma is continuing at a slow pace towards the remote island of Tristan da Cunha whilst the leading crew aboard Telefonica are nearing the centre of the Saint Helena High. The team is watching the barometer carefully to gauge where they are in relation to the windless centre... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean race: Puma sets more sail as rescue plans announced Amory Ross, The dismasted Volvo 70, Puma Racing has increased her sail area over night and is making a good effort to get to Tristan da Cunha and Cape Town as soon as possible, ahead of the the race restart on 11 December. Kenny Read/skipper of Puma's Mar Mostro updates on the current plans to extract Puma from the South Atlantic... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race day 18 for Puma Ocean Racing Ken Read, It is now day 18 of Leg 1 in the Volvo Ocean Race for Puma Ocean Racing. Skipper Ken Read shares his time time spent on the road to drawing a conclusion and the realization that you never know what the coming day might bring. We were racing. Racing is great. Then, in one brief moment..... we started surviving.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race – Groupama 4 pull out all the stops Franck Cammas, Volvo Ocean Race – The unexpected dismasting suffered by Puma early afternoon on Monday hasn't affected the way in which the fleet is tackling the end of this first leg: Groupama 4 is focusing on making good speed towards a front in the Roaring Forties zone so as not to get left behind and hopefully make up some of the deficit in relation to her two predecessors.... [more] Share this story Volvo Legends: Great Britain II - Her builder's story Derek Kelsall, The ketch rigged Great Britain II was the first boat to finish in the first Whitbread Round the World Race which started in September 1973. Derek Kelsall was the builder of the 78ft maxi designed by Alan Gurney and skippered by Chay Blyth writes to give his perspective of how the foam sandwich ketch was constructed. She went on to compete in five round the world races:... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Telefónica pull away towards finish line Volvo Ocean Race, Volvo Ocean Race - Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg were weighing up their options today after dismasting in the South Atlantic, while Team Telefónica pulled away towards the finish line of the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Pre-race favourites Puma were headed in the direction of the remote volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha under jury rig fashioned from the remaining stump of the mast... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race – Life onboard Puma takes a new direction Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race - Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing reports on the crew's progress after their boat was dismasted in the South Atlantic: It's taken a night's sleep and a shockingly awkward awakening this morning to realize what happened has, in fact, happened. Our race took a pretty obvious turn for the worse yesterday, and it's certainly not something that anyone saw coming.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Self reliance a necessary option for Puma Racing Richard Gladwell, The stricken Puma Racing, which dismasted around 2100nm from Cape Town, will emulate to some extent the same moves and route that the New Zealand crew did aboard Ceramco in the 1981-82 Whitbread Race. In a later report a complex plan has been put in place to send a ship the 1800nm from South Africa and extract Puma from the ocean and return with her to Cape Town.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Racing: Video from on board a dismasted Puma Racing Amory Ross, Disaster struck Puma's Mar Mostro when they broke their mast on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race about 2,000nm from Cape Town, South Africa. On this video skipper Ken Read recounts what happened, and gives a first take on how they hope get out of it.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Puma Ocean Racing retire from leg 1 Lisa Ramsperger, Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg team has officially retired from Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 after suffering a broken mast. We've just withdrawn from the leg,' said skipper Ken Read. 'We have [the mast] jury rigged – we have about 15 feet of mast left. We have our trysail and storm jib awkwardly set.'... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean race: Camper crew member suffers injury + Video Thomas Pryor, Camper's bowman Mike Pammenter has sustained injuries after being thrown into the boat's shrouds while moving forward to do a sail change. Mike suffered a broken tooth, gash to the face and various bumps and bruises in the fall. He was stabilised immediately by onboard medic Tony Rae (Trae). Includes video of the operation on board Camper... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Puma breaks mast in South Atlantic Sail-World, Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reported that they had suffered a broken mast on the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, which began 17 days ago from Alicante, Spain. The crew are unhurt. The rig onboard Pumas Mar Mostro failed at around 1500 UTC in the southern Atlantic Ocean, about 2,150 nautical miles from Cape Town, South Africa.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Isolated onboard Puma Ocean Racing Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race - Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress: What's happening world? It's amazing how isolated we are and how little information reaches the boat. The trans-ocean quarantine has its appeal, and in a lot of ways it's what attracts some of us to this race.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race:Camper makes small gains and preparing for big breeze Thomas Pryor, On Day 16 of Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race, Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand has made further small gains and is preparing for the heavy weather associated with an imminent southerly front. The cold front that Camper along with the rest of the fleet expects to pick up in the next few days should deliver robust sailing conditions with winds of more than 30 knots and boat speeds averaging 25... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Franck Cammas and crew on the chase Franck Cammas, Volvo Ocean Race team Groupama 4 are currently 2,800 miles from the finish line of leg one in Cape Town, trailing the leaders by 419.90 nm at the 1600 UTC position report today. Franck Cammas and his crew have had a whole new 'slant' on things since leaving the Doldrums. Indeed, heeled over, sailing beam onto easterly tradewinds of around a dozen knots.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Staying positive onboard Puma's Mar Mostro Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race - Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress: Were it not for the almost constant talk of Cape Town delights I'd say life is as usual out here, only a bit more determined, a bit more focused. Since Telefónica got by there's been a lot less banter; there's an intensity I haven't seen before.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Puma Ocean Racing's lead evaporates Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race - Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress: I had just finished putting the last pot of water into yesterday's dinner when I tiptoed on deck. There wasn't much wind so I took a quiet seat on the sail stack, near Ken.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Onboard Camper as they play catchup + Video Sail-World, The front runners are pushing south in order to hook into the low pressure system that will slingshot them towards Cape Town. But with light winds forecast for the final entry to Cape Town, the chance for compression and the ability for passing opportunities lay on the cards... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Nico keeps faith while others lose hair + Video Lucy Harwood, The Volvo Ocean Race is currently underway and for the Camper crew who have now been at sea for thirteen days, they find themselves some one-hundred and fifty miles behind the leaders. But fortunes can quickly turn around in offshore sailing – just ask Groupama.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Routines onboard Puma's Mar Mostro Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race - Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress: Straight-line sailing can be monotonous, even on a Volvo 70. After 'rounding' Fernando de Noronha there's been little to do but critique sail trim, eat, sleep, laugh, and do whatever you can to stay cool or smell better (impossible, I say).... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Camper crosses the Line + Video Sail-World, Camper, sailed by Emirates Team New Zealand, has made it across the Equator in the Volvo Ocean Race. Time for the infamous rituals.... Rotting food, flying fish and cross-dressing sailors have been the order of the day for Camper as they crossed the Equator overnight and observed the centuries old tradition of ‘crossing the line'. Hamish Hooper and Adam Minoprio cop it....... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - King Neptune arrives on Puma's Mar Mostro Amory Ross, Volvo Ocean Race - Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress: Hello and goodbye! That's been the theme for the past 24 hours and it's a good reminder that this leg is far from over. We crossed the equator late yesterday morning, and we've just rounded the little rock of Fernando de Noronha at about 4:30 AM UTC.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Puma leads around Fernando by an hour Richard Gladwell, Puma Ocean Racing led the second placed yacht Team Telefónica, by an hour, as they passed the first mark off the western end of Fernando around 0400hrs UTC on 17 November.... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race: Knut Frostad explains the Doldrums Knut Frostad, Volvo Ocean Race, With the first boats preparing to cross the dreaded Doldrums from around midnight on Monday, we take a look at this notorious area of the ocean, with the help of someone who has negotiated them more times than he cares to remember, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad.... [more] Share this story Emirates Team NZ: Stu Bannatyne on Leg 1 and approaching the Doldrums Sail-World, Camper co-skipper Stu Bannatyne updates us on Day 9 of Leg 1 as Camper eases into the champagne sailing conditions of the trade winds and heads for the warmer weather of the Equator. Currently Camper sailed by Emirates Team NZ is on the fringe of the Doldrums, but hoping to pick a better route through the windless zone, and catch up some of the margin between them and the two front runners... [more] Share this story Volvo Ocean Race - Groupama's lead rapidly declines Franck Cammas, Volvo Ocean Race team Groupama 4 may have taken the lead so far in leg one but the chasing pack are catching up the miles. The very fast descent by the trio out West is set to slow up late this Saturday afternoon, as the powerful north-easterly winds give way to a lighter breeze below the Tropic of Cancer. As such the whole fleet will be sailing in similar weather conditions from tonight.... [more] Share this story 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race 01/01/10 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race... For more details and news for this event, go to: http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Eid=1359 Click HERE to give us your feed-back. 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