Volvo Ocean Race - Improbable match race for Team Brunel

by Team Brunel on 25 Oct 2014 After racing 2,500 nautical miles in the Volvo Ocean Race, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Team Brunel once again found themselves in an improbable match race in which the boat of skipper Ian Walker slowly gained ground and finally disappeared from sight yesterday. Now Pablo Arrarte is trimming the mainsail. Water drips from his nose. There is a 17-knot wind blowing from the south-east. Spray is lashing the deck. 'It didn’t go well last night. They had slightly more wind. But we’re not worried. It will come good,' laughs a satisfied Pablo Arrarte. 'We’re the comeback boys,' adds Gerd-Jan Poortman, cutting a dashing figure at the helm of the Dutch Volvo Ocean Race boat.

However, Louis Balcaen is indeed worried, but about something entirely different. 'Another two degrees further south and we’ll be on the Equator,' he mutters, as he trims the mainsail. Of course the Belgian is referring to the legend that rookies crossing the Line for the first time are subject to the rule of Neptune, god of the sea. Gerd-Jan Poortman, for example, once had his hair clipped when crossing the Equator. And sometimes your head is completely shaven or you have to dump a bucket full of waste water over your head. Skipper Bouwe Bekking has been looking forward to this for days. 'Neptune has a very long list of things that you’ve done wrong and he’s going to punish you for them.' His eyes gleam with pleasure and he rubs his hands together in anticipation.

'Capey seems to be the worst,' says Balcaen as the experienced navigator comes up on deck. But for now everything seems to be all right. 'You’re doing well, men. I’m satisfied,' he says. A gout of water pours down his neck but he doesn’t seem to care. 'We’ll make up ground on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing'. He’s somewhat less than impressed with my question as to whether he’s looking back with satisfaction at getting through the Doldrums. 'What do you think?' he asks, and I can see him thinking what a stupid question it is. 'Of course, I would have liked to have been in first place now, but second place isn’t Team Brunel website