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Sail-World.com : Puma - 'it's like playing the world's slowest game of chess'
Puma - 'it's like playing the world's slowest game of chess'
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News from Puma, Day 18 leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Skipper Ken Read says he sounds like a broken record and that Puma is playing the world's slowest ever game of chess, while rick Deppe has 'fush and chips' on his mind.
PUMA LEG FIVE DAY 18 QFB: received 03.03.09 1612 GMT
I know I am sounding like a broken record, but the closeness of the racing out here is just phenomenal. We snuck by Ericsson 4 yesterday afternoon and they dogged us overnight gaining slightly as we sailed into lighter winds. It has been the nature of this leg so far for the leader to not have the chance to stretch, and so it went last night and this morning.
And as we went toe to toe with Ericsson 4, their other half – Ericsson 3 snuck up over the horizon and decided to play the game with us as well, so well that they blew right by the two of us as we sat in a hole.
The ridge that we had to get through proved to be our nemesis. We positioned ourselves to leeward of the two Ericssons, planning on getting headed throughout the day. And sure enough we did. Problem was, as both Ericsson 3 and us were headed, Ericsson 4 got on the other side of a cloud and literally sailed away over the horizon. Brutally frustrating for a team who has worked so hard.
So we shook it off and now are in a drag race with Ericsson 3 to the gate, with Ericsson 4 about seven miles in front. Breeze has filled and we pretty much went through our inventory today switching from the largest to now the smallest headsail we have as we went from four knots of wind at one stage to now 26 knots and climbing. Tight reaching, but at least putting some good miles under us.
Next issue is the dreaded scoring gate, a line of latitude. This line of latitude has forced the boats low toward New Zealand and taken about 300-400 miles from our trip towards Cape Horn and put us in a situation where we will most likely pass the line then turn and go hard on the wind to get away from New Zealand. Now, anyone could cut the corner and head toward the ice gate now, but nobody seems to want to give up the points. When Capey (Andrew Cape – navigator) told me about the 400 miles we will lose going to the scoring gate - I have to admit it was tempting, but we need the points and a extra half point may prove valuable in the end.
Our jaunt down the Pacific has pretty much come to a screeching halt as the fans have been turned on, the fire hose unscrewed and the temperature rapidly turned down. Back to fast wet sailing and chewing up the miles at least for the time being. Now I have to figure out a way to keep the Kiwi's on board as we brush by their beautiful island.
Kenny Read - skipper
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PUMA LEG FIVE DAY 18 QFB: received 0839 GMT
Spent the whole day sailing side by side and switching places with the Team Ericsson boats, Ken Read commented that it’s like the world’s slowest ever game of chess. In the last 24 hrs the weather has taken a noticeable cooling off, a temporarily pleasant reprieve before things change once again and then it’s probably thermals and foul weather gear for two weeks.
Some very interesting days ahead of Il Mostro in the short term as Ken and Capey (Andrew Cape/AUS – navigator) figure out ways to strategise the route between our present position, the scoring gate and then the ice gates. Looks like the weather will probably not be cooperating... once again!
All good on the vessel.
Rick Deppe MCM
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PUMA LEG FIVE DAY 18 QFB: received 03.03.09 0636 GMT
Can't stop thinking about fish and chips today! Or should I say fush and chups! I'm not talking about the English variety that I grew up with.
We are approaching the northern tip of New Zealand and I am reminded of a brilliant experience that I had last year in that part of the world.
In January of 2008 while Il Mostro was in the building stage I was sent to New Zealand to shoot some video of the sail development work that was going on at the wind tunnel facility operated by the University of Auckland. I spent a fascinating couple of days hanging out with Justin Ferris our onboard sail co-ordinator and JB Braun the team sail designer. 1: 5 scale models of the sails being tested are attached to a model boat that is loaded with sensors and strain gauges. The model boat and sails are placed in front of a giant wind fan. The data recorded allows the designers to make decisions based on hundreds of tests without the massive expense of building real sails. It’s a great resource for a one boat programme.
It was great to be in Auckland during the summer. I had last been there when the Whitbread stopover came through in 1997-98. Ten years....wow. It's a very easy city to be in with a very clean and compact city centre and a vibrant atmosphere especially at that time of year.
I had the weekend to kill until my return flight to the freezing cold North East USA (Philadelphia: where I live). What to do? Fortunately Justin jumped in and saved me by inviting me to his house for the weekend. I knew that Justin lived in the Bay of Islands, and that area is known as one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand, so there was no hesitation on my part. Plus it would be a great chance to get to know Justin, we were, after all, going to be spending a good part of the next two years living and working together.
So once done with the last testing session we jumped in the car and headed North over the harbour bridge and out of the city. Auckland is a major city, but I was amazed how quickly things got rural. It’s about a three hour drive from the city and Justin told me he makes the trip all the time, I asked why he didn't just move down to the city where all the sailing action is? He said it's worth the drive to be able live where he does.
Keri Keri (Justin's home town) and the Bay of Islands didn’t disappoint. We spent the first day running around running errands.
There was to be a birthday bash for Justin's Dad at the local yacht club that evening and I was very kindly invited; thank you Murray and Pauline for your hospitality. My sincere apologies for nearly burning the yacht club down in a nasty napkin and candle incident dangerously reminiscent of the notorious occurrence at the Ramada in Herzogenaurauch! I'm digressing way too much.
On the second day, Justin offered to drive me around and show me some of the local sights. I can see why the area has such a fantastic reputation as a place to visit - large hills covered in dense vegetation roll down to the sea, long sandy beaches and thousands of islands out to sea. I will return one day.
Anyway to cut a long story short, we ended up at the Manganui Fish and Chip shop and the place that is responsible for my current cravings. Sailing down towards the scoring gate we are so near, yet so far. The restaurant is just a shed on the end of a pier but the fish was as good as I ever had. Thanks to Justin and Kirsty for inviting into their home and taking me for fush and chups in Manganui. This evening on Il Mostro it’s going to be Beef Stroganoff.
Rick Deppe MCM
by Puma Ocean Racing Team
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5:14 AM Wed 4 Mar 2009 GMT
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