Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 - Team Alvimedica geared up for Leg Zero

by Stefano Blin on 12 Sep 2014 Team Alvimedica’s preparations for the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean continue here today when the crew participates in Leg Zero. The two-day race sees the seven Volvo Ocean Race teams sailing to Majorca and back from Volvo Ocean Race headquarters.

Helmsman Alberto Bolzan stressed the importance of Leg Zero, with any team failing to complete the trip either having to return to do it again or at least complete any unfinished mileage.

'This will be a really important test for us and a chance to improve and work on a few things with just weeks to go before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race.' said the Italian. 'Leg Zero is a real race, and we will be treating it as such. It will be a very important exercise in terms of the sail changes and the tactics, and it will be important to learn from what the other teams do. We need to learn from this whole experience and see what we can do better, and that is the main goal.'

Bolzan insisted the crew was in good shape and that preparations had gone well since the crew arrived in Alicante last week.

'We are working hard and there isn’t much time before the start (of the Volvo Ocean Race),' he said. 'We are working hard from six in the morning to ten at night, using every minute of the day, but everything is going well so we are very happy.'

Team Alvimedica’s newest recruit, Frenchman Sebastien Marsset, will sail on Leg Zero.

Marsset was with Groupama for four years and played an important support role in the team’s successful 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race Event website